MOLECULAR DETECTION OF ADENOVIRUS AND ROTAVIRUS CO-INFECTION IN CHILDREN WITH GASTROENTERITIS

Background: Acute gastroenteritis is one of the leading causes of illness and hospitalization among children under five years of age. Rotavirus and enteric adenovirus are among the most common viral pathogens, while co-infection with both viruses may contribute to a more severe clinical course. Objective: To determine the frequency of rotavirus, adenovirus, and rotavirus–adenovirus co-infection among children with acute gastroenteritis and to evaluate their association with demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and disease severity. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2025 at Ibn Saif Al-Janabi Hospital for Pediatrics, Babylon, Iraq. One hundred children aged 6 months to 5 years presenting with acute gastroenteritis were enrolled. Stool specimens were screened for rotavirus and adenovirus antigens using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and positive samples were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Demographic and clinical data, were analyzed using SPSS version 17.