Viral Enteropathogens in Pediatric Populations

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Viral Gastroenteritis, INEI-ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán”, Av. Vélez Sársfield 563, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Interests: diarrhea; rotavirus; norovirus; enteric adenovirus; sapovirus; astrovirus; infectious diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Viral enteropathogens remain among the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis worldwide, disproportionately affecting children under five years of age. Despite the remarkable progress achieved through the introduction of rotavirus vaccines and the growing implementation of molecular diagnostics, viral gastroenteritis continues to represent a major public health concern. Norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, astrovirus, and sapovirus are responsible for a considerable burden of morbidity, hospitalizations, and even mortality in pediatric populations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Beyond their immediate clinical consequences, these infections also have long-term impacts on child health, growth, and development.

This Special Issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, entitled “Viral Enteropathogens in Pediatric Populations”, aims to provide a comprehensive platform to advance knowledge in this field. We welcome original research articles, narrative reviews, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews that explore the epidemiology, clinical features, molecular diversity, pathogenesis, immunological responses, and vaccine impact of viral enteropathogens in children. Studies addressing novel diagnostic approaches, innovative surveillance strategies, and the influence of socioeconomic and environmental determinants are also strongly encouraged.

By bringing together contributions from diverse geographical and scientific perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to foster a deeper understanding of viral enteric infections in childhood and to identify evidence-based strategies for prevention, control, and management. We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and to working together toward reducing the burden of these infections on children’s health globally.

Dr. Juan Ignacio Degiuseppe
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • diarrhea
  • virus diseases
  • pediatrics
  • rotavirus infections
  • caliciviridae infections
  • adenoviridae infections
  • astroviridae

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 3327 KB  
Article
Zoonotic Spillover of a Canine-like Rotavirus A G3P[3] Strain in a Brazilian Child
by Vanessa Cristina Martins Silva, Lais Sampaio Azevedo, Raquel Guiducci and Adriana Luchs
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(6), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11060144 - 26 May 2026
Viewed by 164
Abstract
Rotavirus A (RVA) G3P[3] genotype is widely reported in dogs and less frequently in cats, with only sporadic human cases worldwide. All reported human infections have occurred in children, suggesting increased susceptibility likely linked to close contact with pets and age-related hygiene practices. [...] Read more.
Rotavirus A (RVA) G3P[3] genotype is widely reported in dogs and less frequently in cats, with only sporadic human cases worldwide. All reported human infections have occurred in children, suggesting increased susceptibility likely linked to close contact with pets and age-related hygiene practices. The identification of a novel genotype constellation in Brazilian canine G3P[3] strains in 2017 prompted full-genotype characterization of the historical RVA/Human-wt/BRA/IAL-R451/2011/G3P[3] strain, previously sequenced only for VP7 and VP4, to define its genomic constellation and relatedness to canine strains. All 11 segments were analyzed by RT-PCR, sequencing and phylogenetics. The rare genotype–lineage constellation G3.III-P[3]-I2.XX-R3.II-C2.V-M3.II-A9-N2.XXIV-T3.II-E3.II-H6.I, shared with Brazilian canine strains, was identified, supporting a potential common origin. RVA/Human-wt/BRA/IAL-R451/2011/G3P[3] strain showed high genetic similarity (93.2–99%) with canine, feline and canine/feline-like human strains worldwide, with six genes (VP1, VP6 and NSP2–NSP5) closely related to Brazilian dog isolates (97.6–99%), indicating its canine origin. NSP2 clustered with strains from domestic (bovine), synanthropic (rat) and human hosts, while VP7 and VP4 were associated with wildlife (bat; raccoon dog) and environmental (sewage; river water) strains, supporting interhost reassortment and highlighting aquatic environments as reservoirs for interspecies transmission. Identification of new lineages (VP1, VP3 and NSP2) within the AU-1-like backbone reflects its underexplored diversity. This novel constellation likely circulated in dogs and may spill over to humans via close contact, reinforcing a One Health approach to understand RVA zoonotic risk, especially in hotspot regions like Brazil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Enteropathogens in Pediatric Populations)
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12 pages, 598 KB  
Article
Laboratory-Based Surveillance and Genetic Diversity of Enteric Adenovirus Among Children in Argentina, 2022–2024
by Juan Ignacio Degiuseppe, Paula Mabel Moron, Christian Barrios Mathieur and Argentinean Surveillance Network for Viral Gastroenteritis
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(2), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11020035 - 25 Jan 2026
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Abstract
Enteric adenoviruses are recognized causes of pediatric acute gastroenteritis, yet national-level data on their epidemiology and genetic diversity in Argentina remain limited. This study aimed to describe the laboratory-based surveillance of enteric adenoviruses and to characterize the circulating genotypes among children during the [...] Read more.
Enteric adenoviruses are recognized causes of pediatric acute gastroenteritis, yet national-level data on their epidemiology and genetic diversity in Argentina remain limited. This study aimed to describe the laboratory-based surveillance of enteric adenoviruses and to characterize the circulating genotypes among children during the 2022–2024 period. Data were obtained from the Argentine National Health Surveillance System, including weekly aggregated reports of adenovirus testing results from clinical laboratories nationwide. Detection frequencies were analyzed by year, age group, clinical setting, geographic region, and epidemiological week. Molecular characterization was performed using partial hexon gene sequencing. A total of 22,826 stool samples were tested, of which 1530 (6.7%) were positive for adenovirus, with no significant differences in positivity across years. Detection rates were highest among children under 1 year of age and were consistently greater in outpatient and emergency department settings compared with hospitalized patients. No clear seasonal pattern was observed. Genotyping revealed a predominance of HAdV-F41, with sporadic detection of non-enteric adenovirus types. These findings provide the first nationwide overview of enteric adenovirus circulation and genetic diversity in Argentina, highlighting stable transmission patterns and supporting the value of sustained laboratory surveillance to better characterize viral gastroenteritis etiology in the post-rotavirus vaccination era. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Enteropathogens in Pediatric Populations)
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