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Human torovirus: a new nosocomial gastrointestinal pathogen
F B Jamieson1, E E Wang, C Bain
1Department of Microbiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|October 21, 1998
Summary
Human torovirus is linked to gastroenteritis in children, particularly in immunocompromised and hospitalized patients. Torovirus infection presents with distinct clinical features compared to other viral causes of diarrhea.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Human torovirus (HToV) is a less-studied enteric virus.
- Its role in pediatric gastroenteritis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the association between human torovirus and gastroenteritis in children.
- To characterize the clinical presentation of torovirus-associated illness.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study compared torovirus fecal excretion in children with gastroenteritis versus asymptomatic controls.
- Clinical features of torovirus gastroenteritis were compared to rotavirus and astrovirus infections.
Main Results:
- Torovirus was detected significantly more often in children with gastroenteritis (35.0%) than in controls (14.5%).
- Torovirus-infected patients were more frequently immunocompromised (43.0%) and nosocomially infected (57.6%).
- Clinical differences included less vomiting but more bloody diarrhea in torovirus cases; antibody response was noted in older, non-immunocompromised children.
Conclusions:
- Human torovirus is associated with gastroenteritis in pediatric patients, especially those who are immunocompromised or hospitalized.
- Torovirus infection exhibits unique clinical characteristics in children, differing from rotavirus and astrovirus infections.