G2 as an emerging rotavirus strain in pediatric XXXX in southern Italy.

@entity1 @entity294 @entity697 @entity1902
BACKGROUND: @entity1 rotaviruses (HRVs) represent a major cause of @entity697 in @entity1 worldwide. It is estimated that they are responsible for a large number of @entity294 -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 @entity1 with severe @entity1902 diagnosed in the town of Portici, Campania, southern Italy. METHODS: A total of 421 stool specimens from @entity1 between 6 months and 5 years of age and presenting acute @entity294 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.
