Somayeh Jalilvand - Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Farzin Roohvand - Virology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Arash Arashkia - Virology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Zabihollah Shoja - Virology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

Rotaviruses are the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children under ۵ years of age worldwide with a higher prevalence in developing countries. In accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for the global use of rotavirus vaccines, it is important to review trends of rotavirus epidemiology, distribution and diversity of rotavirus strains in the pre-vaccine period. In Iran, the average rotavirus positivity rate is ۴۰.۰۴% in all patients under ۵ years of age hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Studies have shown a substantial increase in the rotavirus detection rate over time from ۱۹۸۶ to ۲۰۱۳. Moreover, there has been continued predominance of G (G۱) and P (P[۸]) genotypes, although the peak prevalence of G۱ appeared to decline in ۲۰۰۷-۲۰۱۱ compared to ۲۰۰۱-۲۰۰۶. The data presented in this review, which suggests a change in the pattern of rotavirus genotypes in the Iranian population, further highlights the important role of continuous monitoring of rotavirus genotypes before starting any national rotavirus vaccination program.

Rotavirus Group A, Epidemiology, Genotype, Iran