Potential spectrum of etiological agents of viral enteritis in hospitalized infants

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Fecal specimens were obtained from 1160 infants and young children with acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis over 2 yr; 100 specimens were obtained from age-matched asymptomatic controls. The specimens were examined for the presence of viruses by EM. Viruses or virus-like particles frequently associated with enteritis were detected in 27% (314 of 1160) of the symptomatic patients. No viruses or virus-like particles were detected in control subjects. Rotavirus was detected in 73% (230 of 314) of the virus-positive samples. The mean age of rotavirus-positive patients was 11.5 mo.; patients ranged in age from 2 wk-5 yr. Of the symptomatic patients, 45 (14%) exhibited small virus-like particles (15-40 nm) in the feces in the absence of any other detectable pathogen. Some of the virus-like particles observed in these patients appeared to be similar to astrovirus; some appeared to be similar to the Otofuke agent or possibly minireovirus. The mean age of infants with enteritis from whom these small virus-like particles were recovered was 4.5 mo. (range, 10 days-19 mo.). Evidently, rotaviruses constitute the most important cause of viral enteritis in young children. Small viruses may be an important cause of gastroenteritis in infants under 5 mo. of age.