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Electron microscopic findings in faeces from children with gastroenteritis
Insights
Gastroenteritis in young children is often caused by viruses like rotaviruses and adenoviruses. Immune electron microscopy is a valuable tool for rapid viral diagnosis in these cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Virology
- Diagnostic microbiology
Background:
- Gastroenteritis is a common illness in children, particularly infants.
- Viral pathogens are a significant cause of pediatric gastroenteritis.
- Accurate and rapid diagnosis is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of viral pathogens causing gastroenteritis in children in the Wellington region.
- To evaluate the utility of immune electron microscopy (IEM) for diagnosing viral gastroenteritis.
- To identify seasonal patterns of specific viral infections.
Main Methods:
- Immune electron microscopy (IEM) was used to examine 788 fecal samples from children with gastroenteritis.
- Viral identification included rotaviruses, adenoviruses, and small round viruses.
- Prevalence and seasonal distribution of identified viruses were analyzed.
Main Results:
- A virus was detected in 211 (27%) of the fecal samples.
- Rotaviruses were the most common (19%), followed by adenoviruses (5%) and small round viruses (3%).
- Infections were most frequent in infants under three years old, with seasonal peaks for rotaviruses and adenoviruses in winter, and small round viruses in summer and winter.
Conclusions:
- Immune electron microscopy is an effective and rapid diagnostic method for identifying viral gastroenteritis in children.
- Rotaviruses and adenoviruses are significant winter pathogens, while small round viruses show broader seasonal prevalence.
- The study highlights the challenges in culturing certain viruses, underscoring the importance of direct detection methods like IEM.
Abstract:
A total of 788 faecal samples from children in the Wellington region with symptoms of gastroenteritis were examined by immune electron microscopy. Virus was seen in 211 specimens; 87% of these were from infants less than three years of age. A viral diagnosis was made in 27% of cases consisting of rotaviruses (19%), adenoviruses (5%), and small round viruses (3%). Both rotaviruses and adenoviruses were most prevalent during the winter months, while the small round viruses peaked in summer and winter. The importance of fastidious adenoviruses is illustrated-of the 38 separate sightings only one was recovered in tissue culture. The value of the electron microscope as a rapid diagnostic tool in these cases is shown as it is often the only method of identification available.