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Published on: July 22, 2012
Rotavirus infection in gastroenteritis in children
Morphologie Et Embryologie
|July 1, 1985
Insights
Electron microscopy detected rotavirus-like particles in 31% of young children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis. These viral particles were found in fecal samples and intestinal biopsies, indicating their presence within enterocytes.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Acute gastroenteritis is a common illness in infants and children.
- Identifying the causative agents of gastroenteritis is crucial for effective treatment and prevention.
- Electron microscopy offers a direct visualization method for detecting viral pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of rotavirus-like viral particles in young children with acute gastroenteritis.
- To determine the location of these viral particles within the gastrointestinal tract.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopic examination of biological samples.
- Analysis of fecal materials and intestinal mucous biopsies.
- Inclusion of 19 children and sucklings diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.
Main Results:
- Rotavirus-like viral particles were identified in 31% of the cases studied.
- Viral particles were observed within the cytoplasm of enterocytes in intestinal villi.
- Particles were also detected in fecal material suspensions.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus-like particles are present in a significant subset of young patients with acute gastroenteritis.
- The findings suggest enterocytes are a site of viral replication or accumulation.
- Electron microscopy is a viable tool for diagnosing viral gastroenteritis in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The electron microscopic investigation of biological materials (faeces, intestinal mucous biopsies) from 19 children and sucklings with clinically diagnosed acute gastroenteritis evidenced the presence of some rotavirus-like viral particles in 31 percent of cases. The age of hospitalized subjects varied between 4 months and three years. There have been identified viral particles in the cytoplasm of enterocytes of the intestinal villi and in suspensions of the fecal materials.
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