TITLE:
Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Rotavirus in Meat Cuts, and Meat Handlers in Selected Abattoirs in Nairobi, Kenya
AUTHORS:
Brevin Ochieng Olunga, George Gachara Maina, James Nyangao, Carlene Sang, Naomi Chepkirui Koech, Beatrice Nthenya Kyalo, Catherine Nduta Wanyoike, Ernest Apondi Wandera
KEYWORDS:
Rotavirus, Adults, Meat Handlers, Meat Products, Abattoirs
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.12 No.12,
December
27,
2024
ABSTRACT: In Kenya, food screening exercises mostly applies to bacterial and parasitic agents, with enteric viral detection neglected. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and molecular characterization of rotavirus in beef and pork cuts, as well as among handlers, in four selected abattoirs in Nairobi. Rotavirus was preferred because of its high prevalence rates and its ability to cause pathophysiologic infective gastroenteritis in humans. It has diverse strains characterized as P and G genotypes based on the VP7 and VP4 proteins, respectively. This cross-section study involved the collection of a total of 467, (165) beef/pork cuts and (302) handlers’ fecal samples. Collected samples were prepared before rotavirus identification. Prepared meat and stool suspensions were subjected to direct RNA extraction and EIA detection respectively. All the stool suspensions and RNA extracted meat suspensions subjected to EIA and Two step RT-PCR were all non-reactive respectively. Therefore, there was no VP4 and VP7 genotyping for characterization purposes on confirmed primary PCR products. Eppicollect5 was also used to collect and store the descriptive data of study participants, and the analysis conducted using Power BI statistical software application. The study’s findings, indicating no human viral infections in meat cuts, enhance public health by reassuring consumers, guiding regulatory policies, emphasizing the need for ongoing surveillance, directing resources to pressing concerns, supporting safe food handling campaigns, establishing baseline data for future assessments, and encouraging best practices in both formal and informal markets.