Astrovirus gastroenteritis in children in Taipei.
OBJECTIVE
A prospective study was initiated to study astroviral infections in Taiwan.


METHODS
A total of 415 stool samples were collected and assayed for astrovirus antigen using an enzyme immunoassay.


RESULTS
Twelve (2.9%) stool samples from 12 patients were positive for astrovirus antigen. Most patients (8/12) had watery diarrhea which lasted for 2-6 days. The majority of patients recovered without specific treatment, except for two patients who were treated with antibiotics for possible bacterial infections. One patient developed chronic diarrhea and two episodes were nosocomially acquired. A clustering in the autumn and winter, with a peak in December (5/12), was noted. Growth on Caco-2 cells was performed for four specimens with positive astroviral RT-PCR results, and a characteristic cytopathic effect was observed after 4 days. Astroviral RNA was detected in six stool samples using RT-PCR. Five of six strains were serotype 1 and one strain was serotype 3. Sequence homology among the six strains was between 80.5% and 100%. A higher degree of homology (89.9-100%) was noted in the five strains of serotype 1. A phylogenetic study demonstrated two clusters in our strains and Oxford reference strain types 1 and 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study results provide further information about the prevalence and span of clinical spectra associated with astroviral infections in Taiwan. The current study showed that infection with astroviruses may be an important cause of gastroenteritis, as well as respiratory symptoms, in infants and children in Taipei.
Lin
Hsiao-Chuan
HC
Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Kao
Chuan-Liang
CL
Chang
Luan-Yin
LY
Hsieh
Yu-Chia
YC
Shao
Pei-Lan
PL
Lee
Ping-Ing
PI
Lu
Chun-Yi
CY
Lee
Chin-Yun
CY
Huang
Li-Min
LM
D017677:Age Distribution; D019350:Astroviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001257:Mamastrovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons; D012703:Serotyping; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology