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G2 as an emerging rotavirus strain in pediatric gastroenteritis in southern Italy

  • Clinical and Epidemiological Study
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Abstract

Background

Human rotaviruses (HRVs) represent a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in children worldwide. It is estimated that they are responsible for a large number of diarrhea-associated hospitalizations in childhood each year. In Italy, limited data are available on the patterns of distribution of HRV G and P types. We report here the results of 2 years of rotavirus strain surveillance among children with severe gastroenteritis diagnosed in the town of Portici, Campania, southern Italy.

Methods

A total of 421 stool specimens from children between 6 months and 5 years of age and presenting acute diarrhea were collected and tested by routine diagnostic tests for HRV, adenovirus, astrovirus, norovirus, and common bacterial pathogens.

Results

The laboratory results showed that 110 of the 225 (26.1%) virus-positive samples contained HRVs. The different G and P rotavirus genotypes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the VP7 genotypes identified, G1 and G2 were predominant, with percentages of 48.2 and 30.9%, respectively. G4, G9, and G10 were detected in a minority of cases. Among the VP4 genotypes, P[8] occurred the most frequently (56.4%), followed by P[4] (31.8%), and only a few P[10] and P[11] at percentages of 1.8 and 0.9%, respectively.

Conclusion

Our epidemiological data of HRV strains will contribute to assessing the magnitude of the problem of HRV in the south of Italy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Second University of Naples, Via De Crecchio, 7, 80138, Naples, Italy

    E. Finamore, M. Vitiello, A. Kampanaraki, M. Rao, Massimiliano Galdiero, P. Bevilacqua & Marilena Galdiero

  2. Department of General Physiology, Faculty of Science MM.FF. NN., Hygiene and Microbiology Section, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy

    E. Galdiero

  3. Diagnostic Centre Sanciro srl, National Laboratory of Research, Portici, Naples, Italy

    M. A. Gallo

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  1. E. Finamore
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  2. M. Vitiello
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  3. A. Kampanaraki
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Correspondence to Marilena Galdiero.

Additional information

E. Finamore and M. Vitiello contributed equally to the work.

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Finamore, E., Vitiello, M., Kampanaraki, A. et al. G2 as an emerging rotavirus strain in pediatric gastroenteritis in southern Italy. Infection 39, 113–119 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-011-0102-z

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