BACKGROUND: To date little conclusive evidence exists on the seasonality of rotavirus incidence in the tropics. We present a systematic review and meta-analysis on the seasonal epidemiology of rotavirus in the tropics, including 26 studies reporting continuous monthly rotavirus incidence for which corresponding climatological data was available. METHODS: Using linear regression models that account for serial correlation between months, monthly rotavirus incidence was significantly negatively correlated with temperature, rainfall and relative humidity in 65%, 55% and 60% of studies, respectively. We carried out pooled analyses using a generalized estimating equation (GEE) that accounts for correlation from between-study variation and serial correlation between months within a given study. RESULTS: For every 1 degrees C (1.8 degrees F) increase in mean temperature, 1 cm (0.39 in.) increase in mean monthly rainfall, and 1% increase in relative humidity (22%) this analysis showed reductions in rotavirus incidence of 10% (95% CI: 6-13%), 1% (95% CI: 0-1%), and 3% (95% CI:0-5%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the evidence, we conclude that rotavirus responds to changes in climate in the tropics, with the highest number of infections found at the colder and drier times of the year.
BACKGROUND: To date little conclusive evidence exists on the seasonality of rotavirus incidence in the tropics. We present a systematic review and meta-analysis on the seasonal epidemiology of rotavirus in the tropics, including 26 studies reporting continuous monthly rotavirus incidence for which corresponding climatological data was available. METHODS: Using linear regression models that account for serial correlation between months, monthly rotavirus incidence was significantly negatively correlated with temperature, rainfall and relative humidity in 65%, 55% and 60% of studies, respectively. We carried out pooled analyses using a generalized estimating equation (GEE) that accounts for correlation from between-study variation and serial correlation between months within a given study. RESULTS: For every 1 degrees C (1.8 degrees F) increase in mean temperature, 1 cm (0.39 in.) increase in mean monthly rainfall, and 1% increase in relative humidity (22%) this analysis showed reductions in rotavirus incidence of 10% (95% CI: 6-13%), 1% (95% CI: 0-1%), and 3% (95% CI:0-5%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the evidence, we conclude that rotavirus responds to changes in climate in the tropics, with the highest number of infections found at the colder and drier times of the year.
Authors: Y Soenarto; T Sebodo; R Ridho; H Alrasjid; J E Rohde; H C Bugg; G L Barnes; R F Bishop Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 1981-08 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Kristina Elfving; Maria Andersson; Mwinyi I Msellem; Christina Welinder-Olsson; Max Petzold; Anders Björkman; Birger Trollfors; Andreas Mårtensson; Magnus Lindh Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2014-01-08 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Millie R Chang; Grace Velapatiño; Miguel Campos; Elsa Chea-Woo; Nelly Baiocchi; Thomas G Cleary; Theresa J Ochoa Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2015-03-16 Impact factor: 2.345