A search for faecal viruses in new-born and other infants

Faecal specimens were collected at weekly intervals over the winter months from 141 new-born infants without diarrhoea. Contrary to the findings in other studies, no viruses were detected by electron micriscopy or culture in any of these specimens. Over the same period faecal specimens were collected from 84 infants up to four years of age admitted to hospital. Rotaviruses or adenoviruses were found in 48% of infants with gastroenteritis. Enteroviruses and other small round virus-like particles were found in infants both with and without gastroenteritis. No viruses or pathogenic bacteria could be found in 34% of specimens from infants with gastroenteritis.