Background: Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children in the world. Knowing the prevalence and genotypes of these infections is important for implementing vaccination programs.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence and genotypes of rotavirus infections in Shanghai, China between 2001 and 2005.
Study design: Stool specimens were analyzed from children under 5 years old who were hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis.
Results: Of 5411 specimens, 1436 (26.5%) were rotavirus-positive. More than 80% of children with rotavirus infections were younger than 2 years old. Prevalence peaked from October to December each year. The G3, P[8], and P[8]G3 genotypes were the most common during these 5 years. The prevalence of the G1 genotype decreased from 29% in 2001 to 2% in 2004.
Conclusions: In Shanghai, use of currently available vaccines against rotaviruses would be effective, especially for infants less than 2 years old. Information on the variations of circulating genotypes in this area of China provides useful data for formulating vaccine policy and evaluating vaccine efficacy.