Epidemiology of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis and Circulating Genotypes Among Hospitalized Children Aged Under 5 Years in Rajkot, Gujarat.

Objectives: In Gujarat, indigenous oral pentavalent rotavirus vaccine, ROTASIIL was introduced in July 2019; however, post marketing research on this vaccine is currently lacking. This cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged < 5 y hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in Rajkot, Gujarat with an aim to investigate the epidemiology of rotavirus gastroenteritis following rotavirus vaccine introduction in the Universal Immunization Program (UIP) of Gujarat.

Methods: Children aged < 5 y admitted with acute gastroenteritis between February 2021 and December 2023 were enrolled in the study. Data were collected on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and a copy of the child's vaccination card. Stool samples were collected and tested for rotavirus using an enzyme immunoassay. Rotavirus-positive samples were genotyped using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Of the 288 stool samples tested, 66 (22.9%) were rotavirus positive. The prevalence of rotavirus positivity was higher in children with five or more diarrheal episodes within 24 h than in those with fewer episodes and higher in vaccinated than in unvaccinated children. The prevalence of rotavirus positivity was lower in those with a length of hospital stay ≥ 5 d than in those with shorter stays, and in infants aged 0-5 mo than in older children. G3P[8] (48.5%) was the most prevalent rotavirus genotype, followed by G2P[4] (37.9%).

Conclusions: Rotavirus diarrhea remains prevalent among children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in Rajkot. G3P[8] and G2P[4] are the predominant circulating rotavirus strains.