Title: An outbreak of group C rotavirus gastroenteritis among children attending a day-care centre in Belém, Brazil.

POPLINE Document Number: 276682

Author(s):

Gabbay YB
Jiang B
Oliveira CS
Mascarenhas JD
Leite JP

Source citation:

Journal of Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, 1999 Jun;17(2):69-74.

Abstract:

In August 1993, an outbreak of group C rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis occurred among children attending a day-care centre in Belém, Brazil. Of the 64 children, 21 (33%) became ill. Group C rotavirus was identified in faecal specimens from 8 (38%) children with diarrhoea by electron microscopy (EM) and an enzyme immunoassay (EIA), using antibodies specific to the Cowden strain of porcine group C rotavirus. By polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), a pattern similar to that of group C rotavirus was observed in 5 (62.5%) of the 8 EM- and EIApositive samples. These 5 faecal samples were confirmed to be positive for group C rotavirus by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, using specific VP6 and VP7 primers. This is the first report of an outbreak of diarrhoea in North Brazil associated with group C rotavirus. These findings suggest that group C rotavirus may be an important aetiological agent of diarrhoea in this region, which requires further study. (author's)

Spanish Abstract:

En agosto de 1993, se produjo un brote de gastroenteritis asociada al rotavirus grupo C entre los niños que asistían a una guardería diurna en Belém, Brasil. Veintiuno (33%) de los 64 niños contrajo la enfermedad. Se identificó rotavirus grupo C en las muestras de materia fecal de 8 (38%) niños con diarrea mediante microscopía electrónica (EM, electron microscopy) y enzimoinmunoensayo (EIA, enzyme immunoassay), utilizando anticuerpos específicos contra la cepa Cowden del rotavirus porcino grupo C. Mediante electroforesis en gel de poliacrilamida (PAGE, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) (PAGE), se observó un patrón similar al del rotavirus grupo C en 5 (62,5%) de las 8 muestras positivas determinadas por las técnicas mencionadas. Se confirmó que las 5 muestras fecales eran positivas para el rotavirus grupo C mediante transcriptasa inversa y reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), utilizando cebadores específicos de VP6 y VP7. Éste es el primer informe de un brote de diarrea en el norte de Brasil asociado con rotavirus grupo C. Estos hallazgos sugieren que rotavirus grupo C podría ser un agente etiológico importante de diarrea en la región y que, en consecuencia, requiere un estudio adicional. (del autor)

Keywords:

Brazil
Research Report
Clinical Research
Child
Gastrointestinal Effects
Rotavirus
Diarrhea
Epidemiology
Examinations and Diagnoses
Developing Countries
South America, Eastern
South America
Latin America
Americas
Research Methodology
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Physiology
Biology
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Public Health
Health