Of note was the detection of unusual G9P[4] and G2P[6] RV strains with 6.5% and 3.4% prevalence, respectively. A study from Ghana reported 7% of all strains genotyped to be of G2P[6] specificity [30]. Another study reporting on an unusual rotavirus outbreak observed 32% strains with G2P[6] specificity among rotavirus infected children in Philadelphia during 2005–2006 [31]. Studies have also reported sporadic detection of G9P[4] strains from countries including India [17], CHIR99021 [32] and [33]. However, in recent years studies report G9P[4]
prevalence as high as 66%, 36% and 15.3% in Guatemala, Honduras and Bangladesh, respectively [34] and [35]. An area of interest is whether G2P[6] and G9P[4] also emerge as dominant strains in India like the G12P[6] strains. The current genotyping data combined with that from our earlier study provides large information
regarding rotavirus diversity. However, it was limited to a single hospital (AIIMS) located in South Delhi. Hence, in this study, we sought to determine if distribution of rotavirus genotypes detected at AIIMS were similar to those detected at another distantly located hospital in Delhi. Previously, our group had conducted a two year long multi-centric study in South Delhi which included five hospitals besides AIIMS and observed similar distribution of rotavirus strains at all 6 hospitals [6]. However, in the present study we extended it beyond South Delhi and collected fecal samples from children admitted for diarrhea at KSCH in Central Delhi during November 2009 to May 2010. RV positive samples collected at AIIMS during the same time inhibitors period (November 2009 Torin 1 to May 2010) were much less (23/71) in comparison with those collected at KSCH (106/243). The reason behind this large sample collection at KSCH in comparison to AIIMS was not due to any difference in sampling strategies. However, it could be due to the fact that KSCH being one of the largest children hospitals in Asia is entirely
dedicated to child health and is not just a department, while AIIMS being a tertiary care hospital and tends to people for all age groups. Hence, to compare rotavirus strain distribution at the two hospitals, genotyping data obtained during the entire study period from AIIMS many (2007–2012) was included. We observed nearly similar percentage detection of the major G (G1, G2 and G9) and P (P[4], P[6] and P[8]) genotypes at both AIIMS and KSCH. Although we detected G12 genotypes at both hospitals, percentage prevalence was comparably higher at AIIMS hospital. Similarly, P[11] genotype although detected in low numbers was limited to AIIMS. This could be due to limited duration of sample collection (Nov 2009–May 2010) at KSCH. As early as 1986 and later in 2005, our study detected both P[11] and G12 genotypes, respectively, among newborns for the first time at AIIMS nursery [36] and [37].