PREVALENCE OF ADENOVIRUS AND ROTAVIRUS IN PATIENTS WITH GASTROENTERITIS: A FIVE-YEAR EVALUATION

Melahat Gürbüz*, Cengiz Demir, Selahattin Ünlü and Yeliz Çetinkol

Background: Acute gastroenteritis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young children worldwide. Rotavirus and adenovirus have been reported as the primary viral agents associated with this disease. During diarrheal outbreaks, rapid diagnosis is essential to ensure timely implementation of appropriate treatment and control measures. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of rotavirus and adenovirus among patients with acute gastroenteritis and analyze their distribution by sex, age, and season. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the presence of adenovirus and rotavirus in stool samples sent from different clinics with a prediagnosis of acute gastroenteritis during the five-year period from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023 using an immunochromatographic method-based kit (Microcult, Biotech, China). Results: In the study, 1,205 (11.5%) of 10,486 samples were positive for rotavirus and 268 (2.6%) were positive for adenovirus. In the 2-5 age group, rotavirus positivity was detected in 730 (60.6%) and adenovirus positivity in 169 (63.1%) patients. A statistically significant difference was found between age groups (p=0.001). Rotavirus was detected in 79.3% and adenovirus in 69.4% of patients admitted to pediatric emergency department. Co-infection of rotavirus and adenovirus was detected in 57 cases (0.5%). In terms of seasonal distribution, rotavirus was most frequently detected in spring and winter, while adenovirus was detected in summer. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the important role of rotavirus and adenovirus as primary viral agents in pediatric gastroenteritis. The high prevalence of rotavirus infections highlights the urgent need for the integration of rotavirus vaccines into routine immunization programs in Turkey. Furthermore, the use of rapid immunochromatographic tests and molecular diagnostic tools is essential to improve clinical management and outbreak surveillance. These findings support public health strategies focused on vaccination and enhanced diagnostics to reduce the burden of viral gastroenteritis and improve healthcare outcomes.