Rotavirus and adenovirus prevalence in patients with acute viral gastroenteritis in Denizli, Turkey, 2017–2021

Abstract This study aims to determine retrospectively the prevalence of rotavirus and enteric adenovirus in patients with gastroenteritis symptoms and the distribution of pathogens by gender, age, seasons, and years. The stool samples sent to Pamukkale University Healthcare Research and Practice Hospital's Medical Microbiology laboratory between January 2017 and December 2021 were evaluated for rotavirus/adenovirus antigen positivity. Rotavirus and adenovirus antigens were studied with the Rotavirus‐Adenovirus Combo Rapid Cassette Test (Acro Biotech) kit. Rotavirus was detected in 683 (8.2%) of the 8315 stool samples evaluated, and 180 (2.2%) samples were positive for adenovirus. Coinfection was detected in 21 (0.25%) samples. Rotavirus was found at the highest rate in 2019 ( p = 0.001). The adenovirus was detected in 2020 at a lower rate than in other years ( p = 0.0001). The rotavirus was observed at a higher rate in 0–<3, 3–<6, and 6–<13 age groups and adenovirus was detected at a higher rate in 3–<6 and 6–<13 age groups compared to other age groups ( p = 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively). The highest rate of incidence of the rotavirus was found in spring and adenovirus in winter. In the etiology of gastroenteritis, especially in children, adenovirus and rotavirus should not be ignored in winter and spring. The prevalence of rotavirus was observed to have decreased in 2020 and onwards, and the prevalence of adenovirus decreased in 2020.