Frequency, clinical characteristics, and genotype distribution of rotavirus gastroenteritis in Greece (2007-2008).
Rotavirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis among young children worldwide. A prospective multi-center study was conducted (2007-2008) in five Pediatric Hospitals to determine the prevalence, the clinical characteristics, and genotype distribution of rotavirus infection in Greece. Faecal samples were examined for the presence of group A rotavirus antigen by immunochromatography. Rotavirus strains were subjected to G and P genotyping by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing. A total of 393 children (216 boys) of median age 23 months, participated in the study. Rotavirus was the cause of acute gastroenteritis in 166 children, 42.3% (CI 95%, 37.4-47.1%) of non-hospitalized and 47.8% (CI 95%, 41.7-53.9%) of hospitalized patients. Rotavirus gastroenteritis occurred between December and April in 78.6% of the cases. Most children with RVG (77.8%) were between 3 months and 3 years old. The mean value of Clark severity score was 12.9 ± 5.1 for RVG and 10.5 ± 4.9 for non-RVG (P < 0.01). Genotypes were determined in 117 strains and their distribution was as following: G1P[8], 49%; G2P[4], 31%; G4P[8], 10%; G9P[8], 9%; and G8P[14], 1%. In conclusion, rotavirus is a frequent cause of acute gastroenteritis in Greece. The genotypes circulating are similar with those of other European countries.
First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Dimitra
D
Koukou
Ioanna
I
Grivea
Eleftheria
E
Roma
Heleni
H
Tsioni
Georgios
G
Trimis
Emmanuel
E
Galanakis
Evagelia
E
Farmaki
Elias
E
Iosifidis
Athanassios
A
Michos
Antigoni
A
Siamopoulou-Mavridou
Maria
M
Kalmanti
Heleni
H
Papadopoulou
Emmanuel
E
Roilides
Maria
M
Theodoridou
George A
GA
Syrogiannopoulos
Vassiliki
V
Syriopoulou
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral