title: [Rotavirus and malabsorption. Immunofluorescence microscopy studies of small intestine specimens].
abstract: Only 20% of the total of diarrheas in childhood are caused by bacteria . Compared to it, very often the causes for such diseases are viruses, especially rotavirus. The virus - localisation is known to be in enterocytes of the duodenal or jejunal mucosa. So it is probable that a destruction of villous structure linked with diminishing of enzyme activities-especially of lactase--can occur. 53 mucosa specimens were investigated from children by means of fluorescence microscopy. Cryo-cut-slices (8-10 mu) were fixed in acetone and marked with self-prepared rotavirus-hyperimmuneserum (against SA11-virus) and examined using the microscope Fluoval. The distribution of fluorescence along the villi or flat surface was semiquantitatively evaluated. All the investigated children - aged 1-15 years - had been suspected for malabsorption. In 23 of them rotavirus antigen was detected and partly a low activity of disaccharidases, especially of lactase, but also there were simultaneously 7 cases of confirmed coeliac disease in this group. So we conclude: In some patients the rotavirus infection is a complication of malabsorption syndromes; or in other cases it is an asymptomatic accidental finding in the small intestine mucosa.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000473:pathology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000473:pathology*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000473:pathology*
vernacular_title: Rotavirus und Malabsorption. Immunfluoreszenzmikroskopische Untersuchungen an Dünndarmexzisaten.