Intrafamilial outbreak of astrovirus gastroenteritis in São Paulo, Brazil

This report describes an intrafamilial outbreak of astrovirus-associated gastroenteritis that occurred among 5 children in a family living in the State of São Paul, Brazil. Astrovirus was detected by direct electron microscopy (DEM) and confirmed by solid phase immune electron microscopy (SPIEM) using astrovirus reference serum (T2-6-89). The rise in titre of astrovirus antibody in patients' sera was observed by IEM using acute and convalescent-phase sera. Combined use of the EM techniques to detect virus in stool and antibody rise in sera led us to conclude that this intrafamilial outbreak might have been caused by astrovirus infection. In Brazil, astrovirus may be a more common agent of gastroenteritis than in currently appreciated.