Detection of Rotavirus in Respiratory Specimens from Bangladeshi Children aged under 2 years Hospitalized for Acute Gastroenteritis.

To examine the potential for respiratory transmission of rotavirus, we systematically assessed if rotavirus RNA is detectable by qRT-PCR from nasal and oropharyngeal swab specimens of Bangladeshi children with acute rotavirus gastroenteritis. Forehead swabs were collected to assess skin contamination. Among 399 children aged <2 years hospitalized for gastroenteritis during peak rotavirus season, rotavirus RNA was detected in stool, oral, nasal and forehead swab specimens of 354 (89%). A subset were genotyped; genotype was concordant within a child's specimen set and several different genotypes were detected across children. These findings support possible respiratory transmission of rotavirus and warrant further investigation.