title: Astrovirus and digestive disorders in neonatal units.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe clinical signs associated with Human Astrovirus (HAstV) in stools in neonatal units.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 2005-2006, all stool virology performed for isolated digestive symptoms or suspicion of neonatal infection was tested for HAstV by an amplified enzyme-linked immunoassay (IDEIA™ Astrovirus test, Dako Cytomation). Each newborn with a positive result (HAstV+ group) was retrospectively matched with the first following symptomatic newborn in the same care unit having a negative stool virology (HAstV- group). Clinical data were collected during two 3-day periods (just after faecal samples collection and 1 week before) and compared within and between each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human astrovirus was detected in faeces of 68 newborns [gestational age: 31.4(28.8-34) weeks] at a post-natal age of 23 (15-42) days without seasonal dominance. Human astrovirus+ and HAstV- groups were comparable. Bloody stool (54.4% versus 14.7%, p < 0.01) and stage II-III necrotizing enterocolitis (20.6% versus 4.4%, p < 0.05) were more frequently observed in HAstV+ than in HAstV- group; these associations were confirmed by logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This descriptive study argues for a possible association between HAstV and digestive symptoms in newborns specifically in preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics CHU Rennes, Rennes, France. celinechappe80@gmail.com
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chappé
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minjolle
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabadie
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colimon
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pladys
mesh_terms: D019350:Astroviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D001257:Mamastrovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D012189:Retrospective Studies