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Viral childhood diarrhoea in Rome: a diagnostic and epidemiological study
G Donelli1, F Superti, A Tinari
1Laboratorio di Ultrastrutture, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Insights
This study screened pediatric patients for viral gastroenteritis, finding rotaviruses in 18.2% of cases. Electron microscopy proved more reliable than enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for rotavirus detection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Viral gastroenteritis is a significant cause of pediatric hospitalizations.
- Accurate detection of enteric viruses is crucial for patient management and epidemiological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of rotaviruses, adenoviruses, and astroviruses in hospitalized children in Rome.
- To compare the diagnostic accuracy of direct electron microscopy (DEM) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for rotavirus detection.
- To characterize rotavirus strains using RNA polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE).
Main Methods:
- Faecal samples from 417 pediatric inpatients were analyzed.
- Direct electron microscopy (DEM) and rotavirus ELISA were employed for viral detection.
- Rotavirus RNA PAGE was used to determine electropherotypes.
Main Results:
- Rotaviruses were detected in 18.2% of samples, adenoviruses in 7%, and astroviruses in 1%.
- ELISA showed higher rotavirus detection rates than DEM, likely due to false positives.
- DEM-positive samples revealed diverse rotavirus electropherotypes, with a predominant long electropherotype (55.4%) and approximately 10.7% short electropherotype subgroup I.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis in hospitalized children in Rome.
- DEM is a more reliable method than ELISA for confirming rotavirus infections.
- Characterization of rotavirus electropherotypes provides insights into circulating strains.
Abstract:
During the period May 1987-January 1989, faecal samples from 417 paediatric inpatients admitted to the main paediatric hospital in Rome were screened by direct electron microscopy and rotavirus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Rotaviruses were detected in 18.2% of cases and adenoviruses in 7%, whereas astroviruses were found in 1% of cases. Different percentages of rotavirus excretors were revealed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and electron microscopy. This discrepancy seems to be due to false positive results introduced by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Analysis of electron microscopy-positive samples by rotaviral RNA polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed different electropherotypes of rotavirus among which a single, largely predominant long electropherotype (55.4%) was revealed. Short electropherotype subgroup I rotaviruses were demonstrated in about 10.7% of samples.