title: Molecular characterization of viruses associated with gastrointestinal infection in HIV-positive patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected patients worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the frequency of viral gastrointestinal infections among Brazilian HIV-infected patients with diarrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  A collection of 90 fecal specimens from HIV-infected individuals with diarrhea, previously tested for the presence of bacteria and parasite was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis for the presence of enteric viruses such as astrovirus, norovirus, rotavirus groups A, B and C, adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and human bocavirus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty patients (22.2%; n = 90) were infected with parasites (11 single infections and nine coinfected with virus). Enteropathogenic bacteria were not found. Virus infections were detected in 28.9% (26/90) of the specimens. Cytomegalovirus was the most common virus detected (24.4%; 22/90). Coinfections with viruses and/or parasite were observed in 10 (11.1%) samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastrointestinal virus infections were more frequent than parasitic or bacterial infections in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Instituto de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Fabrício J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Benati
authors.forename: Giselle P A
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Pena
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult