Annals of Clinical Microbiology, The official Journal of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology

Trends in Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Korea from 1989 through 1998 and comparison of Slidex Rota-kit 2 and VIDAS Rotavirus

Original article

Annals of Clinical Microbiology (Ann Clin Microbiol) 1999 December Volume 2, Issue 2, pages 152-157.

Trends in Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Korea from 1989 through 1998 and comparison of Slidex Rota-kit 2 and VIDAS Rotavirus

Jung Oak Kang, M.D., Sun-E Kim, M.D., Think-You Kim, M.D., Ile Kyu Park, M.D. and Tae Yeal Choi, M.D.

Department of Clinical Pathology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Background: Rotavirus activity in Korea has been reported beginning in October, peak in November, continuing in winter and ending in spring. But the peak month and the incidence of rotavirus seems to be changed recently. So we investigated the trends of rotavirus activity for the last 10 years in Hanyang University Hospital (HUH). Also latex agglutination test was compared with automated enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay for the detection of rotavirus in stool specimens.

Methods: Stool specimens (3,636 from HUH, 1989-1998; 1,171 from Hanyang University Kuri hospital, HUKH, 1996-1998) from pediatric patients with acute diarrhea were tested for rotavirus,. Sixty specimens were tested by latex agglutination test (Slidex Rota-kit 2, bioMerieux Vitek, France) and enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay (VIDAS Rotavirus, bioMerieux Vitek, France) according to the instructions from the manufacturer.

Results: The annual incidence of rotavirus diarrhea from 1989 to 1998 was 47%, 32%, 33%, 25%, 26%, 24%, 24%, 17%, 17%, 14%, respectively. Positive rate of rotavirus was 25% for the 10 year period in HUH, 20% for the recent 3 years in HUKH. Peak month was November (46%) in the first 5 year, but November incidence decreased to 17% in the last 5 year, and the peak moved to January, February, and March (34%, 35%, 33%, respectively). Epidemic period was from October to February during the first 5 year, but from December to April during the last 5 year period. The agreement rate of the two methods was 90% and VIDAS Rotavirus showed significantly higher sensitivity compared to Slidex Rota-kit 2.

Conclusions: The incidence of rotavirus diarrhea decreased gradually for the last 10 years and the peak month of rotavirus activity was changed from November to January, February, and March. The VIDAS Rotavirus was more sensitive than the Slidex Rota-kit 2 for the detection of rotavirus in stool. (Korean J Clin Microbiol 1999;2:152-157)

Keywords

Rotavirus gastroenteritis, Korea, Slidex Rota-kit 2, VIDAS Rotavirus