NRC_Belgium24

Scripts and data to reproduce figures from our rotavirus A surveillance study at the National Reference Center for Rotaviruses in Belgium.

Publication

Citation: Karataş, M., Bloemen, M., Cuypers, L., Wollants, E., Van Ranst, M., & Matthijnssens, J. (2025). 14 years of rotavirus A surveillance: unusual dominance of equine-like G3P[8] genotype with DS-1-like genotype constellation after the pandemic, Belgium, 2009 to 2023. Euro Surveill, 30(12), 2400442. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.12.2400442

Repository Structure

├── main_figures/
│   ├── code/
│   │   ├── Figure.1.A.R
│   │   ├── Figure1.B.R
│   │   ├── Figure.2.R
│   │   ├── Figure.3.A.R
│   │   ├── Figure.3.B.R
│   │   ├── Figure.3.C.R
│   │   ├── Figure.4.A.R
│   │   ├── Figure.4.B.R
│   │   ├── Figure.4.C.R
│   │   ├── Figure.5.A.R
│   │   ├── Figure.5.B.R
│   │   ├── Figure.5.C.R
│   │   └── Figure.5.D.R
│   └── png/
│       ├── figure1.png
│       ├── figure2.png
│       ├── figure3.png
│       ├── figure4.png
│       └── figure5.png
└── supplementary_files/
    ├── Supplementary_1.R
    ├── Supplementary_2.R
    └── Supplementary_3.R

Abstract

This study presents 14 years of rotavirus A surveillance conducted by the National Reference Center for Rotaviruses in Belgium from 2009 to 2023. We analyzed 8,024 rotavirus-positive stool samples collected throughout Belgium, with G and/or P genotypes determined for 6,352 samples through sequencing of genes encoding outer capsid proteins VP7 and VP4.

The study reveals unusual dominance of equine-like G3P[8] genotype with DS-1-like genotype constellation after the COVID-19 pandemic, providing crucial insights into rotavirus epidemiology changes during and post-pandemic periods.

Key Findings

• Analysis of 8,024 rotavirus-positive samples over 14 years
• Significant impact of COVID-19 pandemic on rotavirus surveillance numbers
• Unusual dominance of equine-like G3P[8] genotype post-pandemic
• DS-1-like genotype constellation characteristics
• Temporal and demographic analysis of rotavirus genotypes in Belgium

Contact

For questions about the code or data, please open an issue on GitHub or contact:

• Mustafa Karataş: mustafa.karatas@kuleuven.be

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) for funding Mustafa Karataş with the PhD Fellowship fundamental research grant (11P7I24N).

UZ/KU Leuven, as national reference centre for rotavirus is supported by Sciensano and funded by RIZIV-INAMI, which are gratefully acknowledged.

We acknowledge all healthcare providers and laboratories throughout Belgium who contributed samples to this surveillance study.

About

National Reference Center for Rotaviruses in Belgium. Research material, codes and data linked to 14 years of rotavirus A surveillance study (2009-2023).