title: Cytomegalovirus and other common enteric viruses are not commonly associated with NEC.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Changes in gut microbiota may contribute to NEC, but most studies focus on bacteria. Case reports suggest a link between cytomegalovirus (CMV) or other enteric viruses and NEC, but there are few case series systematically looking at common potential viral causes. We aimed to assess the presence of candidate viruses in blood or stool of a case series of infants with NEC managed in one surgical centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 22 infants diagnosed with NEC (from November 2011 to March 2014): 17 had suitable blood stored, of whom 14 also had suitable stool samples stored. Blood was analysed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for CMV, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and adenovirus, and stool by PCR for norovirus, sappovirus, astrovirus, adenovirus and rotavirus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All samples were negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although case reports indicate an episodic association of enteric viruses in NEC, the inability to detect any of these viruses in our 17 NEC infants suggests that a viral aetiology is unlikely to be causative for most sporadic forms of NEC.
authors.affiliation: Newcastle Neonatal Service, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skeath
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Waugh
authors.affiliation: Newcastle Neonatal Service, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Embleton
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.affiliation: Newcastle Neonatal Service, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berrington
mesh_terms: D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis
keywords: Cytomegalovirus; Necrotising Enterocolitis; PCR; Virus