Human viral gastroenteritis.

Between September 1st, 2002 and August 31st, 2003, a panel of 1,000 stool samples was collected from patients presenting with diarrhea in the three major urban centers of Saudi Arabia; Riyadh, Mecca, and Jeddah. Each sample was tested for rotavirus, and astrovirus by ELISA, G and P type was determined for all rotaviruses. Adenoviruses were sought by hexon-specific PCR and identified by RFLP. A subset of 253 samples was also tested for norovirus by ELISA. Data were analyzed for seasonality of infection, patient nationality and likelihood of hospitalization. Although the overall incidence of rotavirus identification in acute diarrheal stool continued to decline, this was still the virus identified most commonly (6%). Norovirus accounted for 3.5%, astrovirus, 1.9% and adenovirus, 1.4%. Type G9 rotavirus was found to be present (and already common) in 2003, predating its first reported identification in the country in 2004. Most of the virus infections (and most of the G9 detections) occurred in April, the month following the occurrence of the Hajj in the study year. Although most viruses were spread equally in the population, rotaviruses were significantly more common in non-Saudis than in Saudi citizens. Overall the data are consistent with an increase in all virus infections following al Hajj and the potential introduction of novel strains (such as the G9 rotaviruses) by pilgrims. Hospitalization was significantly associated only with norovirus infections.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Enteric viruses in pediatric diarrhea in Saudi Arabia

Tayeb

Cruz

Al‐Qahtani

et al. 2008

“…Maternal rotavirus antibody levels wane between 3 and 6 months of age, when rotavirus infection begins to be associated with a signifi-cant risk of gastroenteritis [Centers for Disease Control, 19901. The rate of disappearance of maternal antibody to subgenus F adenoviruses and astroviruses is not, however, known [Christensen, 1989;Centers for Disease Control, 19901. Between 1984 and 1986 a decline was found in the proportion of typable subgenus F adenovirus strains which were type 40. This decline was apparently geographically widespread, being reported in Newcastleupon-Tyne, England [Willcocks et al, 19881, in Tokyo, Japan [Shinozaki et al, 19911, and in the Netherlands [J. de Jong, personal communication].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The differences between the epidemiology of rotavirus, subgenus F adenovirus, and astrovirus gastroenteritis highlighted in the present study largely defy explanation. All 3 viruses are shed in diarrhoeal stool specimens [Christensen, 1989; Centers for Disease Control, 19901 and therefore transmission by the faecaloral route is possible. With rotaviruses this route of transmission is further supported by the occurrence of outbreaks linked to contamination of the water supply or food [Centers for Disease Control, 19901.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative epidemiology of rotavirus, subgenus F (types 40 and 41) adenovirus, and astrovirus gastroenteritis in children

Bates¹,

Bailey²,

Wood³

et al. 1993

We report a 5 year prospective study of episodes of rotavirus, subgenus F adenovirus, and astrovirus gastroenteritis diagnosed by electron or immune electron microscopy in a single regional virology laboratory. Of 1426 total infections, the numbers in each category were 1117 (78.3%), 254 (17.8%), and 20 (7.9%), respectively. Using restriction endonuclease analysis or immune electron microscopy, all but 20 of the subgenus F adenovirus strains were classified as type 40 (n = 50) or type 41 (n = 184). Rotavirus and astrovirus infections were more prevalent in winter than summer, whereas subgenus F (either type 40 and 41) adenoviruses showed no seasonal variation in prevalence. The ratio of type 40 to all typable subgenus F adenoviruses declined between 1984 and 1986 and then increased again. Adenoviruses were relatively more important as causes of viral gastroenteritis in infants aged less than 6 months than in toddlers aged 12 months or more, but even in young infants more rotavirus than adenovirus infections were diagnosed. Our data confirmed the epidemiological differences between rotavirus, subgenus F adenovirus and rotavirus gastroenteritis and documented the shared epidemiological characteristics of type 40 or 41 adenovirus infections.

“…The main viruses concerned are the human rotaviruses (HRV), adenoviruses group F (serotypes 40 and 41), human astroviruses (HAstV), and the human caliciviruses: norovirus (NoV) and sapovirus (SaV) [Christensen, 1989; Clark and McKendrick, 2004; Clark et al, 2004].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular epidemiology of human astrovirus infections in Saudi Arabia pediatric patients

Tayeb

Al‐Ahdal

Cartear

et al. 2010

Earlier work Tayeb et al. [Tayeb et al. (2008): J Med Virol 80: 1919-1929] set out to study the epidemiology of diarrhea viruses in pediatric populations. The study addressed initially rotavirus, enteric adenovirus, and astrovirus but was later expanded to include norovirus (NoV). Viruses were sought in fecal specimens and characterized for genotype using molecular methods (PCR, RT-PCR, and RFLP) for the first time in KSA. The survey focused on three locations; Jeddah, Makkah, and Riyadh. During the Hajj, the chief population fluxes are via Jeddah to Makkah. One thousand samples were obtained from children (aged 6 years or less) presenting with diarrhea and thus representing community acquired rather than nosocomial infections. Rotavirus was identified in 6% of the samples followed by NoV accounted for 3.5%, astrovirus 1.9%, and adenovirus 1.4%. Rotavirus G9 was characterized for the first time in Saudi Arabia. Adenoviruses were confirmed and further typed using hexon-specific PCR and RFLP. These data were published by Tayeb et al. [Tayeb et al. (2008): J Med Virol 80: 1919-1929]. However, the nature of astrovirus identified was not investigated further. Therefore, more analysis details are appropriate for astrovirus in the Kingdom. As an extension of earlier work carried out on astrovirus serotype distribution in the Kingdom [Tayeb et al. (2008): J Med Virol 80: 1919-1929], a major objective of the project is to use molecular methods to determine the distribution of astrovirus genotype. Such data will help to provide valuable insights into genetic identities and possible sources of virus strains involved not only in pediatric gastroenteritis but also possible outbreaks in the community.