Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
15:16
Detection and Genogrouping of Noroviruses from Children's Stools By Taqman One-step RT-PCR
Published on: July 22, 2012
Viral causes of diarrhea
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. goodgame@bcm.tmc.edu
Gastroenterology Clinics of North America
|October 6, 2001
Summary
Caliciviruses are the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis epidemics in adults. Further research is needed to determine the role of other viruses like rotavirus in non-epidemic cases.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Viruses are significant contributors to diarrheal illnesses.
- In healthy adults, viral infections typically manifest as acute, self-limiting gastroenteritis.
- Molecular diagnostics have identified caliciviruses as frequent culprits in gastroenteritis outbreaks, often transmitted via contaminated food or person-to-person contact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of candidate viruses, including rotavirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus, in non-epidemic acute gastroenteritis among adults.
- To highlight the need for advanced diagnostic technologies to accurately assess viral causes of adult gastroenteritis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on viral gastroenteritis.
- Analysis of diagnostic advancements in identifying viral pathogens.
- Discussion of clinical presentations and transmission routes of various enteric viruses.
Main Results:
- Caliciviruses are identified as the primary cause of acute gastroenteritis epidemics in adults.
- The causative agents of acute infantile gastroenteritis include rotavirus, calcivirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus.
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause acute colitis in adults, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
Conclusions:
- Further application of molecular diagnostic technologies is essential to definitively establish the role of viruses like rotavirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus in nonepidemic adult gastroenteritis.
- While CMV and EBV primarily affect immunocompromised patients, they can cause diarrhea in adults.
- Viral gut infections in infants are common, while in adults, they are considered routine or rare clinical issues.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents
Acute diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal disturbance, is characterized by the rapid evacuation of fluid stools, leading to an excessive weight in fluid. This condition typically arises from disorders affecting intestinal water and electrolyte transport. It can be triggered by an increased osmotic load within the intestine, excessive secretion of electrolytes and water, mucosal exudation of protein and fluid, or altered intestinal motility. The primary risks of acute diarrhea are dehydration...
01:18Bacterial Gastroenteritis
Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
01:18Viral Meningitis
Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
01:17Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
01:25Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver. The...
01:28Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction
Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by infection with hepatotropic viruses, most commonly hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Despite variations in structure and transmission, all viruses mentioned infect hepatocytes and provoke immune responses that can hinder liver function. Additionally, some non-hepatotropic viruses can also lead to hepatic inflammation.Hepatitis A VirusHepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the fecal–oral route, typically by ingestion of food...