title: Clinical and molecular observations of two fatal cases of rotavirus-associated enteritis in children in Italy.
abstract: Two fatal cases of infantile rotavirus enteritis occurred in northern Italy in 2005. Both children were severely dehydrated, and death was related to severe cerebral edema. Histological examination demonstrated extensive damage of the intestinal epithelium, villous atrophy or blunting, and macrophage infiltration. The two rotavirus strains were of the G1P[8] type and the long electropherotype. The 2005 G1P[8] rotaviruses differed in the NSP4, VP3, VP4, and VP7 genes from G1P[8] rotaviruses circulating in 2004, suggesting the onset of a new G1P[8] strain in the local population.
authors.affiliation: Section of Microbiology, Unit of Paediatrics and Oncohematology, Maternal-Infantile Department, University Hospital of Parma, Viale A Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy. mariacristina.medici@unipr.it
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Medici
authors.forename: Laura Anna
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Abelli
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corradi
authors.forename: Icilio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dodi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tummolo
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Albonetti
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martella
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dettori
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chezzi
mesh_terms: D001929:Brain Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004751:Enteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005838:Genotype; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007558:Italy; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins