Monitoring of children with acute gastroenteritis in Madrid, Spain, during 2010–2011: Rotavirus genotype distribution after the vaccines introduction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A structured surveillance study was conducted on children with diarrhea who were hospitalized in Madrid (Spain) during 2010-2011, in order to describe temporal, geographic, and age-related trends in rotavirus (RV) strains after the introduction of the RV vaccines in our country. STUDY DESIGN AND RESULTS: A total of 370 children were enrolled, with RV being detected in 117 (31.6%) cases. Coinfections were detected mainly with rotavirus, astrovirus and norovirus. The most prevalent rotavirus G type was G1 (60.7%) followed by G2 (16.09%), G9 (5.9%), and G12 (5.1%). The G12 genotype appeared for the first time in 2008 in Spain, and it has increased to 5.1% of the cases in this report. Some uncommon P genotypes, such as P[14] and P[6], both with a low percentage, were found. The samples with G1 G2, G9 and G12 genotypes appeared in all ages, but were significantly higher in children under 2 years old. CONCLUSIÓN: A long-term structured surveillance is required in the Spanish post vaccine era, in order to determine the prevalence and variability of RV genotypes. This will especially be needed to distinguish between changes occurring as a result of natural fluctuation in genotype or those (changes) that could be mediated by population immunity to the vaccines. In addition, it will be necessary to study the impact of the current vaccines on the circulating rotavirus strains and on the overall reduction in the prevalence of rotavirus disease among children in Spain

INTRODUCCIÓN: durante el período 2010-2011 se llevó a cabo un estudio de vigilancia entre los niños con diarrea que fueron hospitalizados en Madrid (España), con el fin de describir los genotipos circulantes de rotavirus (RV) después de la introducción de las vacunas en nuestro país. MÉTODO Y RESULTADOS: Un total de 370 niños fueron incluidos en el estudio. RV se detectó en 117 (31.6%)casos. Las coinfecciones detectadas fueron rotavirus, astrovirus y norovirus. El genotipo más prevalente fue G1 (60.7%) seguido de G2 (16.09%), G9 (5.9%) y G12 (5.1%). G12 apareció por primera vez en 2008 en España y ha aumentado hasta el 5.1% de los casos en este estudio. Algunos genotipos P infrecuentes como P[14] y P[6], fueron identificados, ambos con un porcentaje bajo. G1,G2, G9 y G12 se aislaron en todas las edades, pero son significativamente más frecuentes en los niños menores de 2 años de edad. CONCLUSIÓN: Con el fin de conocer la prevalencia y variabilidad de los genotipos de RV, la vigilancia a largo plazo será necesaria en la era postvacunal. Esta será especialmente necesaria para distinguir entre cambios que se producen como resultado de la fluctuación natural del genotipo o los cambios que podrían estar mediados por inmunidad de la población a las vacunas. Además, será necesario estudiar el impacto de las vacunas actuales sobre las cepas de rotavirus circulantes y en la reducción global de la prevalencia de la enfermedad por rotavirus en nuestro país

Monitoring of children with acute gastroenteritis in Madrid, Spain, during 2010-2011: rotavirus genotype distribution after the vaccines introduction.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A structured surveillance study was conducted on children with diarrhea who were hospitalized in Madrid (Spain) during 2010-2011, in order to describe temporal, geographic, and age-related trends in rotavirus (RV) strains after the introduction of the RV vaccines in our country. STUDY DESIGN AND RESULTS: A total of 370 children were enrolled, with RV being detected in 117 (31.6%) cases. Coinfections were detected mainly with rotavirus, astrovirus and norovirus. The most prevalent rotavirus G type was G1 (60.7%) followed by G2 (16.09%), G9 (5.9%), and G12 (5.1%). The G12 genotype appeared for the first time in 2008 in Spain, and it has increased to 5.1% of the cases in this report. Some uncommon P genotypes, such as P[14] and P[6], both with a low percentage, were found. The samples with G1 G2, G9 and G12 genotypes appeared in all ages, but were significantly higher in children under 2 years old. CONCLUSION: A long-term structured surveillance is required in the Spanish post vaccine era, in order to determine the prevalence and variability of RV genotypes. This will especially be needed to distinguish between changes occurring as a result of natural fluctuation in genotype or those (changes) that could be mediated by population immunity to the vaccines. In addition, it will be necessary to study the impact of the current vaccines on the circulating rotavirus strains and on the overall reduction in the prevalence of rotavirus disease among children in Spain.