Development of simple latex agglutination test for detection of astrovirus serotype 1

Astroviruses are small RNA viruses associated with pediatric gastroenteritis. A latex agglutination (LA) test is more convenient and rapid than electron microscopy, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detection of astroviruses in stool specimens was developed by using polyclonal antibody against cultured serotype 1 astrovirus, and tested on astrovirus positive- and negative- samples collected between 1985 and 1993 in Ehime, Japan. Cultured serotype 1 astrovirus was detected by the LA test, but serotype 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 viruses could not be detected, although they yielded high titer of the viruses. When tested on the 27 clinical samples, all 8 serotype 1 astroviruses determined previously by EIA were positive by the LA test, however, 9 other serotype astroviruses and 10 astrovirus negative-samples were all negative. PT-PCR was found to be the most sensitive followed by EIA and LA test. Further development of LA test with other serotypes is necessary.