Astrovirus infection in children living in the central west region of Brazil

Resumo

This study presents data regarding the circulation of astrovirus in Goiânia-GO and Brasília-DF. These viruses were detected in fecal samples from hospitalized children up to five years old with and without acute gastroenteritis. A total of 1244 fecal samples were collected in two periods, 1994 to 1996 (Brasília) and 1998 to 2002 (Goiânia and Brasília), and were analyzed for viral RNA using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Positivity rates of 4.3 and 0.5% for astrovirus were observed in children with acute gastroenteritis and those without gastroenteritis, respectively. Among children with gastroenteritis no statisti-cally significant difference was seen with regards to viral positivity rates in relation to gender and age. How-ever, a higher incidence rate was observed for children from Brasília aged 36 months or more. Overall, astroviruses occurred predominantly from September to March in the two cities, suggesting a seasonal pattern for these viruses which coincides with the highest relative air humidity period. The results of this study high-light the importance of astrovirus as an etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis in children of the Central West region of Brazil.

Descrição

Palavras-chave

Brazil, Astrovirus, Gastroenteritis, Epidemiology, Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Goiás, Brasília

Citação

SANTOS, Rodrigo Alessandro Tôgo; BORGES, Ana Maria Tavares; COSTA, Paulo Sérgio Sucasas da; TEIXEIRA, José Marcus Sócrates; GIUGLIANO, Loreny Gimenes; LEITE, José Paulo Gagliardi; CARDOSO, Divina das Dôres de Paula. Astrovirus infection in children living in the central west region of Brazil. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, v. 102, n. 2, p. 209-213, 2007.