Incidence of Human Astrovirus in Central Australia (1995 to 1998) and Comparison of Deduced Serotypes Detected from 1981 to 1998

Abstract

The incidence of astrovirus infection was determined among infants and young children admitted to Alice Springs Hospital (central Australia) with gastroenteritis from 1995 to 1998. Astrovirus was detected by reverse transcription-PCR in 33 of 495 stool samples, and this represented 4.3% of a total of 774 stool samples tested for astrovirus, rotavirus, and Norwalk-like viruses. Astrovirus incidence was substantially lower than that of rotavirus but higher than that of Norwalk-like viruses both overall and in each of the 4 years individually. Over the period from 1981 to 1998, including the period from 1981 to 1994 during which astrovirus was identified only by electron microscopy, astrovirus serotypes (deduced from genotypes) 1, 2, 3, and 4 were identified. Deduced serotypes 1, 3, and 4 all appeared regularly over this 18-year period. Also over this period, nucleotide variation (in some cases substantial) in a section of the capsid protein precursor region of the virus genome was evident among strains of all four of the deduced central Australian serotypes. Consequent amino acid changes were, however, only evident among deduced serotype 3 strains. Geographic variation at both the genome and the resultant amino acid levels was evident among strains of all four of the deduced central Australian serotypes and their respective prototypes isolated in the United Kingdom.

Astrovirus infection in children living in the Central West region of Brazil

“…Studies have shown that astroviruses occur preferentially during the colder months of the year (Phan et al 2004, Galdiero et al 2005) even though other investigations have shown a higher viral incidence during warmest months (Guerrero et al 1998, Naficy et al 2000. Other studies report a year-round occurrence of astroviurs infection (Schnagl et al 2002, Giordano et al 2004. In this study, the infection by astrovirus occurred mainly from September to March, considered the rainy season in the region.…”

Use of a Heminested Reverse Transcriptase PCR Assay for Detection of Astrovirus in Environmental Swabs from an Outbreak of Gastroenteritis in a Pediatric Primary Immunodeficiency Unit

“…Astroviruses have been increasingly identified as important agents of acute gastroenteritis in children (7,14,23,31,32) and the elderly (11). Outbreaks of astrovirus gastroenteritis have been reported for young adults, including military recruits (2), students, teachers (28), and children (25).…”

Human Astrovirus Gastroenteritis in Children, Madagascar, 2004–2005

“…HAstVs were detected throughout the year. Two co-infections with G2P [4] rotavirus were confi rmed by RT-PCR. No co-infection with norovirus was found ( Table).…”

“…Today, astroviruses, along with rotaviruses and caliciviruses, are considered important viral agents of acute pediatric gastroenteritis (2). These viruses have been associated with endemic diarrheal episodes and outbreaks of gastroenteritis in industrialized (4,5) and nonindustrialized countries (6,7). Although Madagascar is a society of considerable diversity, no studies have yet been reported on the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of HAstV among children with acute gastroenteritis in the country.…”