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J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.02438-07
Copyright (c) 2008, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Acute infantile gastroenteritis associated with human enteric viruses in Tunisia

Laboratory of infectious diseases and biological agents, Faculty of Pharmacy, TU-5000, Monastir, Tunisia; National Reference Center for enteric viruses, Laboratory of Virology, University Hospital of Dijon, F-21000, Dijon, France; Pediatric Department, University Hospital Fattouma Bourguiba, TU-5000, Monastir, Tunisia; Laboratory of Immunology, University Hospital Fattouma Bourguiba, TU-5000, Monastir, Tunisia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: pierre.pothier{at}u-bourgogne.fr.

	Abstract

This prospective study, conducted from January 2003 to June 2005, investigates the incidence and the clinical role of various enteric viruses responsible for infantile gastroenteritis in 632 Tunisian children presenting in dispensaries (380) or hospitalized (252) for acute diarrhea. At least one enteric virus was found in 276 samples (43.7%). A single pathogen was observed in 234 samples and mixed infections were found in 42 samples. In terms of frequency, rotavirus and norovirus were detected in 22.5 and 17.4% of the samples respectively, followed by astrovirus (4.1%), Aichi virus (3.5%), types 40/41 adenovirus (2.7%) and sapovirus (1.0%). The seasonal distribution of viral gastroenteritis showed a winter peak but also an unusual peak from May to September. The severity of the diarrhea was evaluated in hospitalized infants. No significant difference was observed between rotavirus and norovirus infections with regard to the incidence and the clinical severity of the disease, especially dehydration.