Enteric adenovirus associated with acute gastroenteritis among hospitalized and healthy children under five-years of age in Basrah, Iraq

الملخص EN

Background: Enteric Adenovirus are second to rotavirus as viral cause of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children.

Aims of the study: This study aimed on determination of the incidence of enteric adenovirus-associated gastroenteritis in infants and young children below five years of age, and to detect the season and age related distribution of enteric adenovirus infections as well as the major clinical symptoms associated with these virus infections.

Objective: A total of 400 stool specimens (200 symptomatic diarrheal cases and 200 asymptomatic normal children) were collected during the period from March 2011-March 2012.

All relevant informations were obtained on special questionnaire form.

Viral genomic DNA was extracted from stool specimens by using a spin column technique according to the instructions given by QIAamp-MinElute virus spin kit for purification of virus genome (Qiagen, Germany).

Results: Enteric adenovirus was detected by the use of specific primers.

Enteric Adenovirus was detected in 3% of diarrheal cases in hospitalized children whereas all healthy children were negative for enteric adenovirus.

Age group analysis revealed that children at age groups of 9-11 and 12-17 months were more affected.

The monthly distribution of enteric adenovirus cases showed to be confined to a period of 4 months (August through November).

The clinical symptoms associated with adenovirus gastroenteritis was dehydration (80%), vomiting (60%) and fever (60%) while abdominal pain was not recorded.

Conclusion: Enteric adenovirus is common enteric pathogens as that for rotavirus in our community.

Key words: Enteric adenovirus, childhood gastroenteritis