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- Title
Virologic features of an astrovirus diarrhea outbreak in a day care center revealed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.
- Authors
Mitchell DK; Monroe SS; Jiang X; Matson DO; Glass RI; Pickering LK; Mitchell, D K; Monroe, S S; Jiang, X; Matson, D O; Glass, R I; Pickering, L K
- Abstract
Astroviruses cause outbreaks of diarrhea in children attending day care centers (DCCs). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was compared with EIA detection of astrovirus in stool specimens to characterize further the molecular epidemiology of an outbreak of astrovirus-associated gastroenteritis. Three hundred sixty-eight stool specimens collected prospectively from 36 children enrolled in a DCC during an 11-week outbreak of diarrhea were evaluated by EIA and RT-PCR. Astrovirus was detected in 32% of specimens by RT-PCR versus 10% by EIA (P < .001) and in 89% of children by RT-PCR versus 50% by EIA. The median duration of astrovirus excretion episodes detected by EIA was 1.5 days versus 4 days by RT-PCR (P = .06). Astrovirus was excreted for prolonged periods by immunocompetent children during this outbreak. RT-PCR was more sensitive than EIA for detection of astrovirus in stool specimens and redefined the epidemiology of astrovirus infection in this setting.
- Publication
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1995, Vol 172, Issue 6, p1437
- ISSN
0022-1899
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1093/infdis/172.6.1437