Detection and characterisation of human astroviruses in children with acute gastroenteritis in Blantyre, Malawi.
In a 2-year hospital-based study of paediatric gastroenteritis in Blantyre, Malawi, astroviruses were detected by enzyme immunoassay in 15 (1.9%) of 786 inpatients and in 9 (2.3%) of 400 outpatients. Greater disease severity was noted in children coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Six human astrovirus (HAstV) genotypes were identified, including HAstV-1 (25%), HAstV-2 (21%), HAstV-3 (25%), HAstV-4 (13%), HAstV-5 (4%), and HAstV-8 (13%). Although astroviruses are not major causes of gastroenteritis among children admitted to hospital in Blantyre, concomitant HIV infection appears to be a risk factor for increased severity of disease.
Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, Universities of Malawi and Liverpool, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi. n.a.cunliffe@liv.ac.uk
Nigel A
NA
Cunliffe
Winifred
W
Dove
Jailosi S
JS
Gondwe
Benson D M
BD
Thindwa
Julie
J
Greensill
Jennifer L
JL
Holmes
Joseph S
JS
Bresee
Stephan S
SS
Monroe
Roger I
RI
Glass
Robin L
RL
Broadhead
Malcolm E
ME
Molyneux
C Anthony
CA
Hart
D000208:Acute Disease; D019350:Astroviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001257:Mamastrovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors