title: Astrovirus infection in children living in the Central West region of Brazil.
abstract: This study presents data regarding the circulation of astrovirus in Goiânia-GO and Brasília-DF. These viruses were detected in fecal samples from hospitalized children up to five years old with and without acute gastroenteritis. A total of 1244 fecal samples were collected in two periods, 1994 to 1996 (Brasília) and 1998 to 2002 (Goiânia and Brasília), and were analyzed for viral RNA using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Positivity rates of 4.3 and 0.5% for astrovirus were observed in children with acute gastroenteritis and those without gastroenteritis, respectively. Among children with gastroenteritis no statistically significant difference was seen with regards to viral positivity rates in relation to gender and age. However, a higher incidence rate was observed for children from Brasília aged 36 months or more. Overall, astroviruses occurred predominantly from September to March in the two cities, suggesting a seasonal pattern for these viruses which coincides with the highest relative air humidity period. The results of this study highlight the importance of astrovirus as an etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis in children of the Central West region of Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Setor Universitário, Goiânia, GO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Alessandro Tôgo
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Ana Maria Tavares
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Paulo Sérgio Sucasas
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: José Marcus Sócrates
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Loreny Gimenes
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Giugliano
authors.forename: José Paulo Gagliardi
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Divina das Dôres de Paula
authors.initials: Dd
authors.lastname: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D019350:Astroviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D001257:Mamastrovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons