ABSTRACT

 Rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhea in children. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of rotavirus antigen in children below five years presenting with diarrhea in Gombe State. Thirty (30) stool samples were analysed using ELISA KIT. Out of the total number of samples analyzed, a prevalence of 6.67% was recorded all of which are between the age group 7-12 months. A more comprehensive survey is recommended to depict true states of rotavirus as an etiology of diarrhea in the study area.

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction:…………………………………………………………..1

1.1 Statement of problem:……………………………………………….2

1.2 Justification:……………………………………………………………3

1.3 Aims and objectives…………………………………………………..3

1.4 Scope / limitation:……………………………………………………4

Chapter Two

2.0 Literature review:……………………………………………………..5

2.1 Discovery of rotavirus:………………………………………………7

2.2 Importance of rotavirus infection…………………………………8

2.3 The rotavirus genome:………………………………………………9

2.4 Clinical symptoms of rotavirus infections:…………………….11

2.5 Transmission of rotavirus infections:…………………………..13

2.6 Pathophysiology of rotavirus diarrhea:…………………………14

2.7 The current model of diarrhea induction by rotavirus………18

2.8 The molecular basis of diarrhea induction………………….…20

2.9 Systemic infection with rotavirus:……………………………….26

Chapter Three

3.0 Methodology………………….………………………………………34

3.1 Study Site……………………………………………………………..34

3.2 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria.………………………………..35

3.3 Sample Collection..………………………………………………….35 

3.4 Methods……………………………………………………………….35

3.4.1 Procedure…………………………………………………………...35

Chapter Four

4.0 Result…………………………………………………………………..37

4.1 Table 4.1……………………………………………………………….38

4.2 Table 4.2……………………………………………………………….39

Chapter Five

5.0 Discursion……………………………………………………………..40

5.1 Conclusion…………………………………………………………….41

5.2 Recommendation…………………………………………………….41

References…………………………………………………………………43