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. 2024 Dec 20;16(12):1949.
doi: 10.3390/v16121949.

High Detection Rate of Rotavirus Infection Among Children Admitted with Acute Gastroenteritis to Six Public Hospitals in Luanda Province After the Introduction of Rotarix® Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study

Dikudila Vita  1 , Manuel Lemos  1 , Zoraima Neto  2 , Mathebula Evans  3 , Ngiambudulu M Francisco  2 , Filomeno Fortes  4 , Ema Fernandes  1 , Celso Cunha  4 , Claudia Istrate  5
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High Detection Rate of Rotavirus Infection Among Children Admitted with Acute Gastroenteritis to Six Public Hospitals in Luanda Province After the Introduction of Rotarix® Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study

Dikudila Vita et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Rotavirus group A (RVA) is a major cause of pediatric acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Vaccination is an effective public health strategy and Angola implemented it in 2014. This hospital-based study aimed to estimate the prevalence of RVA infection and the severity of AGE in children under five years of age treated at six hospitals in Luanda Province. Between April 2021 and May 2022, 1251 fecal samples were screened by an immunochromatographic rapid test (SD Bioline). Data on socio-demographic profile, nutritional status, and clinical assessment were obtained. The association of RVA infection and AGE severity with possible risk factors was evaluated with a binary logistic regression model. Overall, the detection rate was 57.8% and girls tend to be more often infected than boys (55.2%). Infection was more common in the youngest group (1 to 6 months, 60.3%). Important sources of RVA infection were drinking water kept in tanks (57.9%) and private sanitary facilities with piped water (61%). Surprisingly, according to the Vesikari Scale score, the most severe symptoms were observed in children vaccinated with two doses (80.7%). RVA prevalence remains high despite vaccination, and further studies should address the association between infection sources and disease severity, as well as the causes underlying vaccine (un)effectiveness.

Keywords: Luanda, Angola; acute gastroenteritis; children; rotavirus; vaccine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Geographical location of the study sites in the Province of Luanda, Angola. Hospitals participating in this study were pointed out by specific signs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Seasonal variation in RVA prevalence in six hospitals of Luanda Province from April 2021 to May 2022.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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