Detection and identification of enteroviruses circulating in children with acute gastroenteritis in Pará State, Northern Brazil (2010–2011)

Abstract

Although acute gastroenteritis (AGE) has been reported as a common infectious disease in children, there is scarce information about enterovirus (EV) circulating associated with AGE cases in Brazil. The purpose of the present study was to identify and characterize the enteroviruses associated with AGE in children in Belém, Brazil. A total of 175 stool samples were obtained from children hospitalized revealing the presence of EV in 26.3% (46/175) of infections. EV type was identified in 78.3% (36/46) and EV-B species (61.1%; 22/36) was the most prevalent EV-detected followed by EV-C (25%; 9/36) and EV-A (13.9%; 5/36). This study has provided important information about the enterovirus circulation in Pará state, Northern Brazil.

High Heterogeneity of Echoviruses in Brazilian Children with Acute Gastroenteritis

“…This is especially valuable considering the capacity of EV to remain in asymptomatic circulation in populations [ 6 ]. The data obtained here together with recent reports [ 17 , 43 , 46 , 47 ] reinforce the urgent need to establish an effective non-polio EV surveillance system in Brazil.…”

“…Multiple investigations have described the molecular epidemiology of echovirus globally in both clinical and environmental samples [ 13 , 42 , 43 ] including in Brazil [ 16 , 36 ]. Nevertheless, there are limited echovirus nucleotide sequences available in the GenBank database [ 21 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ], especially full-genome sequences [ 6 ].…”

“…It has been suggested that E3 exhibits a distinct epidemic pattern of circulation with regular increases every four to seven years [ 7 , 60 ]. In recent years, E3 has been identified with increased frequency in Brazil, although maintaining its minor pattern of prevalence [ 17 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Sequencing methods have become more accessible, and genetic characterization of EV strains is the basis for current EV genotyping [ 60 ], perhaps leading to an increased E3 identification.…”

Comments on “Detection and identification of enteroviruses circulating in children with acute gastroenteritis in Pará State, Northern Brazil (2010–2011)”

“…I read with interest Machado et al [ 1 ] investigation of human enterovirus (EV) associated to acute gastroenteritis in children from the state of Pará, Northern Brazil. This study would be valuable to formulate future plans to screen diarrheic fecal specimens in order to address EV diversity circulating in the country as well as worldwide.…”

“…On the other hand, EVs ( Enterovirus genus, Picornaviridae family) are well known causative agents associated with a spectrum of human diseases, including acute febrile illness, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, acute flaccid paralysis, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, myocarditis, acute respiratory syndrome and neonatal sepsis, but not acute gastroenteritis [ 5 , 6 ]. Indeed, none of the studies cited [ 7 – 9 ] by Machado et al [ 1 ] stated the association of EV with acute diarrhea, including those one from Brazil [ 10 , 11 ].…”