Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.  2006 Sep;9(2):139-146.

Molecular Epidemiology of Human Astrovirus Infection in Hospitalized Children with Acute Gastroenteritis

• Chung JY
• Huh K
• Kim SW
• Shin BM
• Han TH
• Lee JI
• Song MO

Abstract

PURPOSE
Human astrovirus (HAstV) is known to be an important etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. However, the prevalence of HAstV infection varies according to geographic region and patient age. The purpose of our study was to investigate the incidence of HAstV infection among hospitalized children at a tertiary hospital in Seoul.
METHODS
Fecal samples were collected from hospitalized children up to five years of age with acute gastroenteritis. A total of 812 fecal samples were collected from hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis between February 2004 and January 2005. Fecal specimens were screened for rotavirus, enteric adenovirus and norovirus by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HAstV positive samples were characterized by RT-PCR.
RESULTS
Rotavirus was detected in 16.9% (138/812), norovirus in 11.6% (94/812), and adenovirus in 4.0% (33/812) of the study population. HAstV was detected in 4.0% (33/812) samples by RT- PCR. The age distribution of HAstV positive patients was as follows: <12 month old, 82.0% (27/ 33); 1~2 years old, 6.0% (2/33); 2~5 years old, 12.0% (4/33). The seasonal distribution of HAstV positive samples was as follows; April (3), May (5), June (4), August (12), September (4), October (2), November (2), and December (1). The peak rate of HAstV infection was observed during the summer season, 2004. A mixed infection of viral agents was confirmed in 2.7% (22 /812) of the study population, most commonly with rotavirus and norovirus, and with rotavirus and HAstV. Genotype 1 was the predominant type (91%, 20/22) and genotype 8 was detected in two cases.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of HAstV infection was 4.0% in hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis, and was especially high in infants. HAstV can be considered as an important etiologic agent of gastroenteritis in children.

Keyword

Human astrovirus; Children; Acute gastroenteritis

MeSH Terms

Adenoviridae
Age Distribution
Child
Child, Hospitalized*
Coinfection
Gastroenteritis*
Genotype
Humans*
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Incidence
Infant
Mamastrovirus*
Molecular Epidemiology*
Norovirus
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Prevalence
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rotavirus
Seasons
Seoul
Tertiary Care Centers