title: Pleomorphic, enveloped, virus-like particles associated with gastrointestinal illness in neonates.
abstract: Pleomorphic, enveloped, virus-like particles were detected by electron microscopy in the stools of symptomatic infants during an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in a neonatal intensive-care unit. To determine the incidence of virus-like particles in the stool and their relation to gastrointestinal symptoms, eight surveys of stools for the particles were conducted over 40 weeks. The incidence of virus-like particles in the stool decreased from 69% to less than 10% over the study period. Most infants surveyed were premature; overall, 32 (36%) of 88 neonates were positive for virus-like particles. Statistically significant associations were found between virus-like particles in the stool and gastrointestinal symptoms within one week of each survey. These symptoms included water-loss stools, blood in the stool, gastric retention, bilious gastric aspirates, and abdominal distention. Several infants with virus-like particles whose mothers had gastrointestinal or "flu-like" symptoms before delivery were identified in the community (not part of the survey study).
mesh_terms: D003332:Coronaviridae / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003333:Coronaviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy