Epidemiology and genetic diversity of classic human astrovirus among hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis in Uruguay

Abstract

Classic Human Astrovirus (Classic HAstV) are one of the most important causes of pediatric acute gastroenteritis (AGE), after rotaviruses and arguably caliciviruses. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular epidemiology of Classic HAstV from 175 clinical samples, being 153 stools and 22 vomits, collected from pediatric hospitalized patients with AGE in Salto city, Uruguay, from January 2011 to December 2012. Classic HAstV were detected and genotyped by using a qualitative Retro Transcription-Polimerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) directed to the Open Reading Frame-2 (ORF2) region C. Amplicons were sequenced and phylogenetic analyses were carried out in order to determine genotypes and lineages. Classic HAstV were detected in 18 out of 175 analyzed samples (10.3%) and 14 of them (78.0%) were successfully sequenced being 6 (42.8%) classified as HAstV-1 (1a lineage), 4 (28.6%) as HAstV-2 (2c lineage), and 4 (28.6%) as HAstV-3 (3c lineage). A higher detection of Classic HAstV infections was observed in autumn for both years of surveillance, and the majority of the positive cases were observed in 2011. The group of children between 2 and 5 years old presented the higher percentage of infections. To our knowledge, the present study represents the first report of astrovirus from acute gastroenteritis cases in Uruguay, evidencing its role as a relevant etiologic agent in severe cases of this disease.

Human enteric viruses in a wastewater treatment plant: evaluation of activated sludge combined with UV disinfection process reveals different removal performances for viruses with different features

“…; Lopez et al . ). This information raises the need to evaluate the wastewater treatment process existing in the country to assure viral removal from wastewater and reach effluent of good quality.…”

“…Despite the lack of studies describing in depth the impact of NoV and HAdV in the health of Uruguayan children, all the above-mentioned viruses have been reported as acute gastroenteritis causing agents in Uruguayan paediatric population, with incidences according the expected for RVA (37%) and HAstV (10%). Moreover, a wide dispersion as well as a wide genetic diversity in the Uruguayan environment has been recently reported for these viral pathogens (Victoria et al 2014(Victoria et al , 2016Lizasoain et al 2015;Tort et al 2015;Varela et al 2015;Lopez et al 2017). This information raises the need to evaluate the wastewater treatment process existing in the country to assure viral removal from wastewater and reach effluent of good quality.…”

Molecular epidemiology of astrovirus in children with gastroenteritis in southwestern Nigeria

“…This difference may be due to viral detection methods, sample size, period of study, and indistinct seasonality. The predominant coinfection was HAstV with RVA, which has also been reported in Uruguay [11] and Italy [32], but this is in contrast with reports by Japhet et al [21], Ouédraogo et al [33], and Sequeira et al [34] who detected RVA with NoV, RVA with HAdV, and HAstV with NoV, respectively. The results of our study imply that HAstV and RVA coinfection occurs frequently in AGE children, which contrast with the report by Sequeira et al [34], who suggested that this is a rare occurrence.…”

“…Generally, HAstV-1 is the most common genotype found worldwide, followed by genotypes 2 to 5, which are usually associated with diarrheal outbreaks, whereas HAstV-6 to -8 are seldom detected [5,10]. However, the predominant genotype varies with time and location [11].…”

Astrovirus Gastroenteritis in Children Younger than 5 Years in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso): Prevalence and Risks Factors Influencing Severity

“…In others studies, no pattern of seasonality between the HAstVs positivity rate and climate variables was observed [29,32]. However, astrovirus infections have been found in both hot and cold weather [29,33]. The high prevalence of astroviruses during the dry season might be explained, by a decrease in humidity and precipitation favoring the drying of soil, increasing the transport of dry fecal contaminated particles through the air [34].…”