Abstract

Julius Tieroyaare Dongdem*, Jonathan Adjimani and George Armah

More than a billion diarrheal cases occur each year among children below five years resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Rotaviruses, the single leading cause of diarrhea in children below five years, cause more than 130 million episodes of severe diarrhea throughout the world. While treated water has been identified as a route of transmission, rotavirus in treated water has not been investigated in Ghana. Since the presence of rotaviruses in drinking water is unacceptable, a virological survey to detect and characterize rotavirus was conducted on tap water in the western part of Accra. Treated water samples were collected from five zones within the distribution network of Weija Water Works. Two litres of each sample were concentrated 4,000 fold and the viral particles extracted. Viral RNA was extracted from all concentrates using phenol/chloroform, purified with the RNaid® kit and reverse transcribed. The cDNA was amplified by semi-nested PCR using P and G genotype- specific primers and analyzed an agarose gel. Rotavirus was detected in 48.1% of samples. Nine rotavirus P-types and 12 G-types were detected. The detection pattern showed increased viral pollution with distance from the treatment plant and in areas with high human activity.