Viruses associated with acute gastroenteritis in young children
P. J. Middleton, M. T. Szymanski and M. Petric
Conventional virologic investigations generally failed to implicate viruses
as a cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children. When
negative-contrast stain electron microscopy was used for the examination of
stool samples from affected patients, several candidate etiologic agents
were discovered. Rotavirus (otherwise known as orbivirus, reo-like agent,
and infantile gastroenteritis virus) emerged as an important causative
agent. In a considerable number of patients, however, no causative agent
was identified. Several other candidate etiologic viruses now "stand in the
wings" awaiting additional evidence as to their role in the pathogenesis of
acute gastroenteritis. In a study period of 12 months, 669 patients were
found to be shedding virus in association with symptoms of diarrhea,
vomiting, and temperature elevation. Approximately one third of these
patients acquired their infection in hospital.
