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Updated: Aug 12, 2025

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Rotavirus epidemiology and genotype distribution in hospitalised children, Greece, 2008 to 2020: A prospective

Dimitra-Maria Koukou1, Athanasios Michos1, Panagiota Chatzichristou1

  • 1First Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Euro Surveillance : Bulletin Europeen Sur Les Maladies Transmissibles = European Communicable Disease Bulletin
|January 25, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Rotavirus (RV) vaccination in Greece showed changes in hospitalised children

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccinology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Rotavirus (RV) vaccines were introduced in Greece in 2006 and integrated into the national immunization program in 2012.
  • This study investigates the epidemiology and genotype distribution of RV in children during the post-vaccination period.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze rotavirus epidemiology and genotype distribution in hospitalized children in Greece after vaccine introduction.
  • To assess the impact of increasing rotavirus vaccination coverage on disease patterns and circulating strains.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, multicenter, hospital-based study included 3,874 children (≤16 years) with RV-positive fecal samples from 2008-20.
  • Epidemiological data and RV genotyping were performed, comparing periods of low (2008-12) and moderate (2012-20) vaccination coverage.
  • Statistical analyses included chi-squared, Mann-Whitney U tests, and logistic regression.

Main Results:

  • The most common RV genotypes detected were G4P[8] (44.1%), G1P[8] (25.4%), and G2P[4] (14.9%).
  • Most RV-infected children were under 3 years old and hospitalized between December and May.
  • With moderate vaccination coverage, the seasonal peak shifted earlier, children were older, and partially or fully heterotypic genotypes increased (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Rotavirus epidemiology in hospitalized Greek children has evolved during the era of moderate vaccination coverage.
  • The majority of circulating rotavirus strains remain homotypic or partially heterotypic to the available vaccines.
  • Ongoing epidemiological surveillance and genotyping are crucial for monitoring vaccine impact and potential shifts in rotavirus strains.

Keywords:
GreeceRotaviruschildrengastroenteritisgenotypes

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