Characterization of astrovirus-associated gastroenteritis in hospitalized children under five years of age

•Incidence and genetic diversity of AstV was first reported in Lebanon.•Astrovirus incidence among children hospitalized for non-rotavirus gastroenteritis was 5.5%.•AstV1 was the most prevalent genotype in Lebanon.•Non-classical MLB-like and VA-like strains were also detected.•Evolutionary history revealed several recombination events among classical genotypes.