Etiological Surveillance of Viral Gastroenteritis in Children Aged Less Than 5 Years in Tehran Province, Iran, 2023–2024 Publisher Pubmed

Summary: Which viruses drive childhood gastroenteritis in Iran? A study identified adenovirus and rotavirus as contributors, supporting surveillance. #ChildHealth #Virology

Fakhr S S H ; Karami H ; Shafiei M ; Ahmadi Z ; Fereydouni Z ; Jalilvand S ; Shoja Z ; Maleki A
Source: Virology Journal Published:2026

Abstract

Background: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a primary cause of death in children less than five years old in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), mostly caused by viral intestinal infections. While the disease poses a significant global burden, further investigation is needed to clarify the role of enteric viruses in disease pathogenesis. This work aimed to study the frequency of five major enteropathogenic viruses—Rotavirus (RV), Norovirus (NoV), Adenovirus (AdV), Sapovirus (SaV), and Astrovirus (AstV)— in stool samples of young children in Tehran, Iran, during 2023–2024. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 203 stool samples collected from children under 5 years of age clinically diagnosed with AGE. Viral genomic RNA was extracted and amplified for the most common AGE viruses using the RT-qPCR assay. Results: Out of 203 tested samples, 101 (49.8%) were positive for at least one of the viruses assessed. The most frequently detected enteropathogenic viral agents in children under 5 years were RV and AdV, while AstV was rarely detected. The positivity rate varies by age, gender, and season. Mixed infections were determined in 16 (7.9%) patients, with a predominance of RV and AdV. Infection with enteric viruses can occur throughout the year (peaking during mild-to-cold months), with fever, diarrhea, and nausea/vomiting being the most common symptoms among children. Conclusions: Enteric viruses, particularly AdV and RV, contribute greatly to AGE among children in Iran. Continuous surveillance and long-term monitoring of enteropathogenic agents is essential to provide insight into the local circulation and characterization of AGE-causing viruses, guiding the implementation of targeted interventions and public health strategies to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks in the region. © The Author(s) 2026.