Surveillance of Human Astrovirus Infection in Brazil: The First Report of MLB1 Astrovirus.
Human astrovirus (HAstV) represents the third most common virus associated with acute diarrhea (AD). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HAstV infection in Brazilian children under 5 years of age with AD, investigate the presence of recently described HAstV strains, through extensive laboratory-based surveillance of enteric viral agents in three Brazilian coastal regions between 2005 and 2011. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the overall HAstV detection rate reached 7.1% (207/2.913) with percentage varying according to the geographic region: 3.9% (36/921) in the northeast, 7.9% in the south (71/903) and 9.2% in the southeast (100/1.089) (p < 0.001). HAstV were detected in cases of all age groups. Detection rates were slightly higher during the spring. Nucleotide sequence analysis of a 320-bp ORF2 fragment revealed that HAstV-1 was the predominant genotype throughout the seven years of the study. The novel AstV-MLB1 was detected in two children with AD from a subset of 200 samples tested, demonstrating the circulation of this virus both the in northeastern and southeastern regions of Brazil. These results provide additional epidemiological and molecular data on HAstV circulation in three Brazilian coastal regions, highlighting its potential to cause infantile AD.
Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology-Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Maria da Penha Trindade Pinheiro
Mda P
Xavier
Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology-Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Filipe Aníbal
FA
Carvalho Costa
Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology-Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Mônica Simões
MS
Rocha
Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology-Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Juliana da Silva Ribeiro de
Jda S
Andrade
Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology-Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Fernanda Kreischer Bandeira
FK
Diniz
Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology-Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Thais Ramos de
TR
Andrade
Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology-Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Marize Pereira
MP
Miagostovich
Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology-Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
José Paulo Gagliardi
JP
Leite
Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology-Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Eduardo de Mello
Ede M
Volotão
D019350:Astroviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D001257:Mamastrovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012621:Seasons