Article

Nationwide surveillance study of human astrovirus infections in an Italian paediatric population.

Dipartimento di Scienze per la Promozione della Salute 'G. D'Alessandro', Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Epidemiology and Infection (impact factor: 2.84). 05/2012; DOI:10.1017/S0950268812000945 pp.1-5
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT The study investigated the genetic diversity of human astroviruses (HAstVs) detected in children hospitalized with gastroenteritis in Italy in 2008-2009. A total of 1321 faecal samples were collected in Parma (northern Italy), Bari (southern Italy), and Palermo (Sicily) and screened for the presence of HAstVs. RT-PCR amplification of a portion at the 5'-end of ORF2 allowed the detection of HAstVs in 3·95% of the patients. Four different genotypes (HAstV-1, HAstV-2, HAstV-4, HAstV-5) were found to be circulating during the study period, with HAstV-1 being the predominant type. Interestingly, a novel lineage, proposed as HAstV-2d, was found to have emerged in Parma in 2009. Investigating the genetic variability of HAstVs will be important for understanding the epidemiological trends and evolution of these viruses.

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Keywords

1321 faecal samples
 
different genotypes
 
epidemiological trends
 
gastroenteritis
 
genetic diversity
 
genetic variability
 
HAstV-1
 
HAstV-4
 
HAstVs
 
human astroviruses
 
Interestingly
 
Italy
 
northern Italy
 
Parma
 
RT-PCR amplification
 
Sicily
 
southern Italy
 
study period
 
viruses