Impact of Vaccination on Rotavirus Genotype Diversity: A Nearly Two-Decade-Long Epidemiological Study before and after Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction in Sicily, Italy

• DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040424
• Publication Date: 2022-04-01T01:34:29Z
• Authors: Floriana Bonura; Leonardo Mangiara...; Chiara Filizzolo; Celestino Bonura; Vito Martella; Max Ciarlet; Giovanni M. Giamm...; Simona De Grazia
• Keywords: Molecular Epidemiology; Rotavirus vaccine

Sicily was the first Italian region to introduce rotavirus (RV) vaccination with monovalent G1P[8] vaccine Rotarix® in May 2012. In this study, seasonal distribution and molecular characterization of RV strains detected over 19 years were compared understand effect on evolutionary dynamics human RVs. A total 7846 stool samples collected from children < 5 age, hospitalized acute gastroenteritis, tested for detection genotyping. Since 2013, coverage has progressively increased, while prevalence decreased 36.1% 13.3% a loss seasonality. The local genotypes changed time possibly due introduction, drastic reduction replaced by common novel emerging strains, such as equine-like G3P[8] 2018−2019 season. Comparison VP7 VP4 amino acid (aa) sequences cognate genes RotaTeq® showed specific aa changes antigenic epitopes VP8* portion strains. Molecular epidemiological surveillance data are required monitor emergence ascertain if these may affect efficacy vaccines.