Abstract
Although viruses are well-established causes of acute gastroenteritis, few data on the circulation of these pathogens in Porto Velho, state of Rondônia, Brazil, are available. Thus, faecal samples from hospitalised diarrhoeic children, under six years of age, were collected and tested for the presence of norovirus (NoV), adenovirus (AdV) and astrovirus (AstV) from February 2010-February 2012. Specimens were screened by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and viruses were found in 10.7% (63/591) of the cases. NoV, AdV and AstV were detected in 7.8%, 2% and 0.8% of the samples, respectively. NoV infection was observed at all ages and was most prevalent in zero-18-month-old children (84.7%; p = 0.002). A higher incidence of NoV was detected from February-April 2010, when it was found in 52.2% of the cases. Co-infections involving these viruses, rotavirus and enteropathogenic bacteria were detected in 44.4% (28/63) of the children with viral diarrhoea. Nosocomial infections were demonstrated in 28.6% (18/63) of the cases in which viruses were detected. The present paper reports, for the first time, the circulation of NoV and AstV among the paediatric population of Porto Velho and it contributes to our understanding of the roles of these pathogens in gastrointestinal infections.
Highlights
Viruses are considered to be the major cause of acute diarrhoea in young children
In a previous study in Porto Velho, state of Rondônia (RO), in the western Brazilian Amazon, data on the aetiology of acute gastroenteritis was gathered in hospitalised children under five years of age from March 2000-March 2002; RVA was detected with a frequency of 23.6% and human AdV (HAdV) was detected with a frequency of 6.4% (Magalhães et al 2007)
The incidence of RVA was higher from February-September 2010, during which it was found in Monthly distribution of norovirus, astrovirus, adenovirus and rotavirus in 591 faecal samples collected from diarrheic children, Porto Velho, state of Rondônia, Brazil, February 2010-February 2012
Summary
From February 2010-February 2012, viral agents were detected in 10.7% (63/591) of the samples from children under six years of age with acute gastroenteritis symptoms. A total of 17.4% (103/591) of samples were determined to be positive for RVA by ELISA These samples were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis to confirm the results, as well as to observe the electrophoretic profile of the viral genome (Sandra et al 2013). NoV infections were observed at all ages and were most prevalent in zero-18-monthold children (p = 0.002). Co-infections involving these viruses, RVA and enteropathogenic bacteria were detected in 46% (29/63) of the children with viral diarrhoea (Table II). Two cases (6.9%) of triple infection were observed; HAdV, EAEC and Salmonella spp or RVA were detected in these cases. All children had typical symptoms associated with viral infection, including diarrhoea, vomiting and fever
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