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An outbreak of gastroenteritis associated with calicivirus in an infant home
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Calicivirus caused an acute infectious diarrhea outbreak in a Japanese infant home. This study confirmed calicivirus
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- An outbreak of acute infectious diarrhea occurred in an infant home in Sapporo, Japan, in October 1977.
- The outbreak affected 26 out of 34 residents (77%), aged two to 20 months, with some cases accompanied by vomiting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causative agent of the acute gastroenteritis outbreak in an infant home.
- To establish the association between calicivirus and the observed gastrointestinal illness.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopy was used to identify viral particles in fecal specimens.
- Immune electron microscopy was employed to detect antibody responses against isolated calicivirus strains in paired sera.
- Periodic surveys monitored enteric viruses circulating in the infant home.
Main Results:
- Typical calicivirus particles were identified in 28% of affected infants' fecal specimens and 13% of unaffected infants'.
- Seroconversions, indicating an immune response to calicivirus, were observed in 95% of affected infants and 75% of unaffected infants.
- Calicivirus was specifically linked to the gastroenteritis outbreak during periodic surveys.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide strong evidence for the causative role of calicivirus in acute gastroenteritis among children.
- Calicivirus infection should be considered in pediatric gastroenteritis outbreaks.
- Further research into pediatric viral gastroenteritis is warranted.
Abstract:
In October 1977 an outbreak of acute infectious diarrhea occurred in an infant home in the city of Sapporo, Japan. Of 34 residents aged two to 20 months, 26 (77%) suffered from diarrhea. In ten of these patients the diarrhea was accompanied by vomiting. Electron microscopic examinations revealed typical calicivirus particles in eight faecal specimens, seven of which were from the group of 26 affected patients (28%) and one of which was from the group of eight infants without symptoms (13%). Immune electron microscopy tests for antibody responses against one of the isolated strains of calicivirus were carried out on 27 paired pre- and post-outbreak sera. Seroconversions were demonstrated in 18 of 19 (95%) affected infants and in six of eight (75%) unaffected infants. One patient with lack of antibody response was the youngest child--two months old. Periodic surveys on enteric viruses circulating in the home revealed that calicivirus was specifically associated with the outbreak of gastroenteritis. These observations provide further evidence for the causative role of calicivirus in acute gastroenteritis in children.