Background: Acute diarrheal disease is a common infection of young children and adults which is characterized by rapid dehydration of body fluid. Iidentification of the causative agent and timely treatment can be life saving of children. The objective of this study was to detect Rotavirus (RV) in stool samples and to compare ELISA and RT-PCR techniques.

Methods: Hospitalised children less than 5 years admitted for acute diarrhea were examined and clinical profile of diarrhea in the children. Detection of Rotaviral antigen in stool samples was done by a commercial Enzyme Immuno Solvent Assay Premier Rotaclone kit (Meridian Bioscience, Inc.) and the samples were processed for extraction of nucleic acid using an automated extraction system and RT-PCR was performed.

Results: A total of 135 stool samples were tested by ELISA and RT-PCR. A total of 20/135 (14.81%) samples were found to be positive for RV infection by ELISA. Positivity of RV by RT-PCR was 33/135 (24.44%). The positivity by ELISA was significantly lower than by RT-PCR. The sensitivity and specificity of PCR for detection of RV was 100%.

Conclusion: RT-PCR is a better and sensitive technique as compared to ELISA for detection of Rotavirus.

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Neeraj Kumar