title: First description of gastroenteritis viruses in Lebanese children: a pilot study.
abstract: Human enteric viruses are important causes of acute gastroenteritis in infants and children. The role of rotaviruses, adenoviruses, human caliciviruses and astroviruses in the development of severe acute gastroenteritis requiring hospitalization of infants and young children in North Lebanon was investigated. Stool specimens collected between April and May 2010 from 79 Lebanese infants and children hospitalized for severe acute gastroenteritis, were screened for enteric viruses by immunoassays and internally controlled multiplex PCR assay. Out of 79 stool samples, 38 (48%) were positive for rotavirus, and 5 (6%) were positive for norovirus genogroup II. Enteric adenoviruses, sapoviruses and human astroviruses were not detected. Children with severe rotavirus gastroenteritis were younger than those with severe norovirus gastroenteritis. These results highlight the importance of rotavirus and norovirus as causes of severe gastroenteritis in Lebanese children, and the need to incorporate routine screening tests for norovirus infection in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and its Applications, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Randa Meraabi
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Al-Ali
authors.forename: Wassim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chehadeh
authors.forename: Monzer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamze
authors.forename: Fouad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dabboussi
authors.forename: Sani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hlais
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mallat
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007223:Infant; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*