Adenovirus and Rotavirus Associated Diarrhoea in under 5 Children from Enugu Rural Communities, South East Nigeria

Globally, diarrhoea is the second commonest infectious cause of death in children less than 5 years old. It is estimated that more than one billion diarrhoea episodes occur every year causing up to 700,000 deaths among children younger than 5 years of age. Seventy-two percent of these deaths occur in children below two years and enteric viruses have been recognized as a major cause of childhood diarrhoea. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of enteric Adenoviruses and Rotaviruses in children with diarrhoea in rural Enugu communities of Enugu State South East Nigeria. Methods: Stool samples were collected from children less than 5 years with diarrhoea seen in any of the participating hospitals in Enugu State. Samples were collected between June 2015 and May 2017. Detection of rotavirus and enteric adenovirus antigens were performed using commercially available ELISA kit (Oxoid-ProspecT®). Demographic data of the children were also collected. Results: Of the 290 stool samples that had sufficient materials for adenovirus and rotavirus ELISA, 14 (4.8%) and 89 (30.7%) were positive for enteric adenovirus and rotavirus respectively. 3 (1%) were co-infected with adenovirus and rotavirus. Rotavirus positive cases were more among hospitalized patients while enteric adenovirus was more among outpatients. Marked peaks of rotavirus positivity were seen in January of each year but no peak was seen among adenovirus positive cases. Higher vomiting frequencies and severe dehydration were more among rotavirus positive cases compared to adenovirus positive cases (p = 0.030 and 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Many diarrhoea cases among children aged <5 in the population studied were associated with enteric adenoviruses and rotavirus. This finding suggests that enteric viral agents (adenovirus and rotavirus) are important aetiologies for childhood diarrhoea in Enugu state Nigeria. Appropriate preventive, diagnostic and treatment interventions should be instituted so as to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with these viruses.