Clinical Severity and Rotavirus Vaccination among Children Hospitalized for Acute Gastroenteritis in Belém, Northern Brazil.

In March 2006, Brazil introduced the monovalent rotavirus (RV) vaccine (Rotarix™) into the public sector. This study assessed the severity of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) according to the vaccination status among hospitalized children. We identified 1023 RVGE episodes among not vaccinated (n = 252), partially vaccinated (n = 156) and fully vaccinated (n = 615) children. Very severe gastroenteritis (scored ≥ 15) was reported in 16.7, 17.9 and 13.5% of not vaccinated, partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated children, respectively. There was a trend for a shorter duration of RV diarrhoea among vaccinated children than in not vaccinated children (p = 0.07). A protective effect of vaccination was noted when mean duration of symptoms and hospital stay are analysed, comparing unvaccinated, partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated children (p < 0.05). We showed a vaccination dose effect trend, with fully vaccinated children having less-severe RVGE than not vaccinated and partially vaccinated children.

Quantitative and molecular analysis of noroviruses RNA in blood from children hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis in Belém, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Noroviruses (NoVs) are a common cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and until now, little is known about its ability to spread outside the gut. OBJECTIVES: We aim to investigate the role of NoVs causing viremia in children hospitalized for AGE, as well as to correlate the presence of NoVs RNA in serum with clinical severity and stool viral load. STUDY DESIGN: Paired stool and serum samples were collected from 85 pediatric patients under 6 years hospitalized for AGE from March to September 2012 in Belém, Brazil. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) and reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to detect and quantify NoVs, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial ORF2 region was used to genotype the strains detected. RESULTS: NoVs were detected in 34.1% (29/85) of stool samples. By qRT-PCR, we found a high rate of NoVs' RNA in serum samples (34.5%) among NoVs-positive AGE cases, and was associated with a longer hospitalization (6.5 vs. 4.0 days; p=0.006), as well as with a higher stool viral load (3.9×10(11) vs. 1.1×10(11) GC/g; p=0.0472). NoVs strains were classified as GII.4 (90% of genotyped strains) and GII.7 (10%). The same genotype was found in paired stool and serum samples. CONCLUSION: Detection and molecular characterization of NoVs GII in paired stool and serum samples suggest that the dissemination of NoVs to the blood stream is not uncommon, but the role of viruses spread outside the gut and the relationship with disease severity need to be further addressed.

Effectiveness of the monovalent G1P[8] human rotavirus vaccine against hospitalization for severe G2P[4] rotavirus gastroenteritis in Belém, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Brazil initiated universal immunization of infants with the G1P[8] human rotavirus (RV) vaccine in March 2006. This study evaluated vaccine effectiveness (VE) against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) hospitalizations. METHODS: Matched case-control study conducted at 4 hospitals in Belém from May 2008 to May 2009. Cases were children hospitalized with RVGE age-eligible to have received 2 doses of the human RV vaccine (≥ 12 weeks of age and born after March 6, 2006). For each case, 1 neighborhood and 1 hospital control without gastroenteritis was selected, matching by birth date (± 8 and ± 6 weeks, respectively). Matched odds ratio of 2-dose RV vaccination in cases versus controls was used to estimate VE (1 - odds ratio × 100%). RESULTS: Of 538 RVGE cases, 507 hospital controls and 346 neighborhood controls included, 54%, 61%, and 74% had received both RV vaccine doses. VE against RVGE hospitalization was 75.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 58.1-86.0) using neighborhood controls and 40.0% (95% CI: 14.2-58.1) using hospital controls. VE in children 3 to 11 months and ≥ 12 months of age was 95.7% (95% CI: 67.8-99.4) and 65.1% (95% CI: 37.2-80.6) using neighborhood controls, and 55.6% (95% CI: 12.3-77.5) and 32.1% (95% CI: -3.7-55.5) using hospital controls. G2P[4] accounted for 82.0% of RVGE hospitalizations. G2P[4]-specific VE was 75.4% (95% CI: 56.7-86.0) using neighborhood controls and 38.9% (95% CI: 11.1-58.0) using hospital controls. CONCLUSIONS: Although fully heterotypic G2P[4] was the predominant RV strain, good VE was demonstrated. VE was highest in children aged 3 to 11 months. However, protection in children ≥ 12 months of age, important for optimal public health impact, was significantly sustained based on estimates obtained using neighborhood controls.