2. Viral Gastroenteritis
Viruses probably cause upto 3/4 of all infective
diarrheas.
The second most common viral illness after upper
respiratory tract infection.
In developing countries, a major killer of
undernourished infants.
Rotaviruses cause of half a million deaths per year.
Only some gut-asociated viruses cause
gastroenteritis.
5. Rotaviruses
Naked ds RNA viruses, 80 nm in diameter.
50-80% of all cases of viral gastroenteritis.
Severe symptoms in neonates and young children.
Up to 30% mortality rate in malnourished children,
responsible for up to half a million deaths per year.
Symptomatic infections again common in people
over 60.
7. Rotaviruses
Faecal-oral spread
Incubation period 24-48 hr
Abrupt onset of vomiting and diarrhoea,
a low grade fever may be present
Live attenuated vaccines now available
for use in children
10. Diagnosis of Rotavirus Infection
Rapid antigen testing of the stool, either by
ELISA (>98% sensitivity and specificity)
Anti-rotavirus antibodies (IgM and IgA) are
excreted in the stool after the first day of
illness
Antibodies remain positive for 10 days after
primary infection and longer after re-infection
80% of the population have antibody against
rotavirus by the age of 3
Electron microscopy
11. Enteric Adenoviruses
Naked DNA viruses, 75 nm in diameter.
Types 40 and 41are associated with gastroenteritis.
Possibly the second most common viral cause of
gastroenteritis (7-15% of all endemic cases).
Most people have antibodies against enteric
adenoviruses by the age of 3.
Diagnosed by electron microscopy or by the
detection of adenovirus antigens in faeces by
ELISA