Global study of viral diarrhea in hospitalized children in Spain: Results of Structural Surveillance of Viral Gastroenteritis Net Work (VIGESS-net) 2006-2008

Background and objectives: Detection and characterization of gastroenteritis cases (viruses) was conducted during eleven years through the surveillance VIGESS-net, which was created in an effort to conduct a structured surveillance of rotavirus genotypes co-circulating in Spain. Study design and results: This phase includes the study of 2048 fecal samples from children <5 years old, hospitalized in fifteen different hospitals throughout Spain from March 2006 to March 2008. Of them, 821 (40.1%) samples were rotavirus positive. Rotavirus was identified as the only etiological agent in 694 (33.9%) cases and in 127 (6.2%) was found as coinfection with other enteric viruses, mainly with noroviruses. Predominant G genotypes detected were G1 (49.8%) followed by G9 (32.9%), G3 (2.6%), G8 (1.0%), G4 (0.4%), G6 (0.2%) and G12 (0.2%). The G2 was encountered in 3.2% of cases. Rotavirus mixed G-types infections occurred in 3.9% of cases. The main G/P combinations were G1P[8] (51.9%) and G9P[8] (35.6%), which predominates alternatively in the first and second period of the study. More rare combinations occur in less than 7.4% of cases. Conclusion: The diversity of rotavirus circulating strains suggests to maintain a surveillance system through different regions of the country. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.