[Pilot experience of studying calicivirus infection in Moscow children]

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Molecular Biology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Acute gastroenteritis in children is a significant public health concern.
• Identifying the causative agent is crucial for effective management and control.
• Caliciviruses, particularly Noroviruses, are common causes of viral gastroenteritis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for detecting calicivirus RNA.
• To determine the prevalence of specific calicivirus genotypes (NLV-1, NLV-2, SLV) in children with acute gastroenteritis.
• To assess the utility of the developed assay in diagnosing cases of gastroenteritis with uncertain etiology.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel RT-PCR assay for calicivirus RNA detection.
• Testing of fecal samples from 124 children diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.
• Genotyping of detected calicivirus isolates to determine nucleotide homology with known strains.

Main Results:

• Calicivirus infection was identified in 6.4% of the pediatric gastroenteritis cases studied.
• All detected calicivirus isolates belonged to the non-homogeneous Norwalk-like Virus 2 genotype.
• The RT-PCR assay successfully identified the etiology in 22.2% of cases with previously uncertain causes of acute gastroenteritis.
• Isolates showed highest nucleotide homology to strains found in the UK and Japan.

Conclusions:

• The developed RT-PCR assay is effective for detecting calicivirus RNA in pediatric acute gastroenteritis.
• Norwalk-like Virus 2 genotype is a significant cause of gastroenteritis in the studied pediatric population.
• This molecular diagnostic tool enhances etiological identification for acute gastroenteritis of unknown origin.