Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases 2003; 16(3):247-253
Astrovirus
infection in children
Jolan E Walter; Douglas K Mitchell
Purpose of review
Public health concerns related to enteric
viral agents, such as astroviruses and caliciviruses, include their
ability to cause sporadic diarrhea, large outbreaks of gastroenteritis,
and hospitalizations or deaths resulting from vomiting, diarrhea, and
dehydration. Improved surveillance and application of sensitive molecular
assays has increased awareness of these enteric pathogens and reduced the
'diagnostic gap' or unknown causes of non-bacterial gastroenteritis.
Recent findings
Molecular assays have been applied to further
describe the epidemiology of human astroviruses from a variety of
geographic areas. The burden of astrovirus infections compared with other
enteric viral agents, including rotaviruses, caliciviruses, and enteric
adenoviruses have been reported. New methods for detection of astroviruses
such as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and molecular
typing methods have advanced the understanding of the epidemiology.
Additional molecular studies have described the protein processing
mechanisms of this single-stranded RNA virus.
Summary
Astroviruses are increasingly recognized as
significant gastrointestinal pathogens. The understanding of molecular
epidemiology and molecular processing of the virus may lead to specific
prevention strategies.
Center for Pediatric Research,
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters and Eastern
Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Correspondence to Douglas K.
Mitchell, MD, Center for Pediatric Research, 855 West
Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510-1001, USA Tel: +1 757 668
6467; fax: +1 757 668 6476; e-mail: dkmitchel@chkd.com
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases 2003; 16(3):247-253
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