Rotavirus antigenemia as a common event among children hospitalised for severe, acute gastroenteritis in Belém, northern Brazil.

Background: Rotavirus antigenemia and RNAemia (the presence of rotavirus RNA in serum) have been commonly identified among paediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis. In this study we examined the association between rotavirus antigenemia and clinical features, and sought to determine the genotypes of rotaviruses detected in paired stool and serum samples.

Methods: Paired stool and serum samples were obtained from children hospitalised for acute gastroenteritis in Belém, Brazil, between June 2012 and June 2015.