Rotavirus H (RVH) is a double‑stranded RNA virus belonging to group H rotaviruses (family Sedoreoviridae). Like other rotaviruses, its genome consists of eleven segments enclosed in a triple‑layered capsid. RVH has been detected in humans, pigs and bats and can cause gastroenteritis, but it is less studied than the better known group A rotaviruses.
Virology, epidemiology and host range
RVH was first identified in China in sporadic human gastroenteritis cases in 1987–1988 and caused large outbreaks in Beijing in 1994 and Shijiazhuang in 1997. It was initially referred to as “adult diarrhoea rotavirus” (ADRV‑N). The virus has also been found in pigs; RVH was first described in diarrhoeic piglets in Japan between 1991 and 1995. Subsequent surveillance detected RVH in pig herds across the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Vietnam, China and several European countries. Detection rates in symptomatic pigs range from 9 % to 14 %. These observations indicate that RVH is relatively widespread in swine populations. Genetic analyses show that human RVH strains are highly homogeneous whereas porcine strains are diverse. This pattern suggests that human RVH may have emerged from a recent bottleneck event in an unidentified animal host, emphasising the importance of ongoing surveillance.
Notable reports and research insights
Early reports linked RVH to adult gastroenteritis outbreaks in Chinese cities during the late 1980s and 1990s. In pigs, the virus often co‑infects with other rotavirus groups and the impact of these co‑infections on disease severity is still unclear. Surveillance from 2008 to 2022 demonstrated that RVH occurs in pigs on several continents, with detection rates reaching double digits. Molecular studies propose a genotype classification scheme for RVH similar to that used for group A rotaviruses; however, complete genome sequences remain scarce. Continued monitoring and sequencing are necessary to clarify RVH evolution and its potential for interspecies transmission.
RVH remains an understudied pathogen. It infects humans, pigs and possibly bats, yet most data come from porcine studies. Although human cases have been limited to Asia, the presence of the virus in swine populations across multiple regions underscores the need for vigilance and improved diagnostic methods. Future research should focus on the virus’s genetic diversity, mechanisms of interspecies transmission and potential impact on public health.
Related Terms: Rotavirus A, Rotavirus B, Rotavirus C, Colorado Tick Fever Virus, Rabies Lyssavirus