Three-year survey of the epidemiology of rotavirus, enteric adenovirus, and some small spherical viruses including "Osaka-agent" associated with infantile diarrhea.
Studies were made by electron microscopy (EM) on the viruses associated with diarrhea of outpatients at a pediatric clinic in Osaka Prefecture during the three year period from 1980 through 1982. The viruses detected by EM by negative staining with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) were classified morphologically into 6 groups: rotavirus, adenovirus and four kinds of small spherical viruses, calicivirus, astrovirus, picornavirus/parvovirus (P/P)-like agent and Osaka-agent. Osaka-agent seems to be a newly identified small virus. It is 35-40 nm in diameter with a fringe of spike-like structures on its surface. Viruses were detected in 181 of the 395 cases of diarrhea (45.8%). Rotavirus was detected in 122 (30.9%) of the total cases and in 67.4% of the virus-positive cases, while other viruses were detected in 15% of the total cases; adenovirus in 23 (6%) and small agents in 36 (9%). Rotavirus infection showed a distinctive seasonal variation, being mainly restricted to cooler months, but infections with other viruses did not show any seasonal variation. The age distribution of patients suggested that infants of 0 to 2 years old are very susceptible to all viruses. Attempts to cultivate these viruses in vitro were successful with only two isolates of adenovirus type 5.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure