2 Rotaviruses are classified into seven major groups (A through G), but most of infections are associated to rotavirus A, although groups B and C have been found in human illness. Among RVA, distinct

genotypes (G and P outer capsid antigen) have been described, with G1P[8], G2P[4], Tanespimycin mw G3P[8], G4P[8], and G9P[8] the most commonly identified worldwide and in Brazil.3 Several reports have demonstrated the importance of this pathogen as responsible for hospitalization of children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE). In Brazil, epidemiological findings suggest detection rates ranging from 12% to 42%.4 The Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná (HC-UFPR) is a tertiary center that receives patients referred from Curitiba and the metropolitan region. Analyzes of the cause of all cases of gastroenteritis admitted to the HC-UFPR have shown that RVA is the most frequently found pathogen (20%) in the studied population.5 In 2006, two rotavirus vaccines became available, a monovalent rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix®, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals Inc) and a pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5; RotaTeq®, Merck & Co., Inc.). Both vaccines are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and have been used in several countries, and they have demonstrated a significant reduction

of hospitalization and mortality due to rotavirus gastroenteritis.6 and 7 Brazil was one of the first countries to introduce universal vaccination Buparlisib solubility dmso against RVA, Rotarix®, which has been provided free through the public health system since March of 2006. The vaccine coverage in all the country in 2006 and 2007 was 60% and 75%, respectively.8 However, the South and Southeast Regions had the highest vaccine coverage, and it the largest

reduction in the rate of hospitalization of children due to AGE was observed Orotidine 5′-phosphate decarboxylase there.9 Previous analysis conducted in 2009 at this hospital to assess the impact of vaccination against RVA showed a reduction of 54.2% and 39.4% in medical consultations for children less than 12 months old and between 12 and 60 months, respectively. Furthermore, there was a reduction of 43.9% and 33.3% in the number of hospitalizations for gastroenteritis in children under 12 months and aged 12–60 months, respectively, considering the coverage of around 80% in the abovementioned period (unpublished data). Epidemiological surveillance for RVA diarrheal illness was established in the country to monitor the genotypic diversity of circulating RVA, as well as the rise of emerging and re-emerging RVA strains .10 Several studies involving the genetic variability of RVA have been published in Brazil; nonetheless, the majority of these were conducted in the Central and Southeast Regions, and the information about other regions is scarce.