Investigação de patógenos virais associados à gastrenterite infantil aguda

Abstract

This study aimed to detect the presence of rotavirus, adenovirus and astrovírus in cases of gastroenteritis in children; assess the prevalence and seasonality of these infections and characterize the samples of rotavirus detected. Fecal specimens were obtained from children from 0 to 5 years, suffering of gastroenteritis in Juiz de Fora city, during 2005 and 2006. The detection of rotavirus and adenovirus was performed by enzyme immunoassay technique (EIARA). The positive rotavirus samples were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) for molecular characterization. The detection of astrovírus was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). From 338 fecal samples tested for rotavirus, 61 were found to be positive (18.04%). The electrophoretic analysis showed samples with characteristic profiles of the group A rotavirus. In 2005, all rotavirus strains presented long profile, in 2006 long and short profiles. Of the 316 samples tested for presence of adenovirus, 17 were positive (5.38%). Of the 131 samples tested for the presence of astrovírus 2 were positive (1.53%). As seen in this study, these enteroviruses are prevalent in infant diarrhea and may play important role in the disease development reinforcing the need of prospective epidemiological surveillance.