[First detection of human calicivirus infection in Hungary]

Human caliciviruses (HuCVs) are important pathogens all over the world. They cause acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis in humans in all age-groups. The aim of the study was to detect HuCV infection in Hungary. Stool samples examined were received from a food-borne outbreak in nursery and elementary school in Szeged and Algyó areas November 1998. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was successfully used for the detection of HuCVs in all stool samples received. This is the first description of HuCVs in Hungary and the verification of them as causative agents in a food-borne outbreak.