Affiliations: Virology Laboratory, Regional Research Center "Dr.
Hideyo Noguchi", Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Maria Del Refugio González-Losa, Centro
de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Avenida Itzaezy calle 59
No. 490 CENTRO, CP 97000, Mérida, Yucatán, México. Tel.: +11 52 999
9 24 64 12; Fax: +11 52 999 9 23 61 20; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Infectious gastroenteritis is one of the most common illnesses among
children and is caused by many etiological agents; however, viruses are
responsible for 50 to 75% of all cases. A laboratory-based study was carried
out from 2005–2006 aiming to describe epidemiological aspects of rotavirus
(RV), astrovirus, and adenovirus associated with gastroenteritis in Mexican
children. Children younger than 5 years with acute diarrhea from four clinics
and eight daycare centers were studied. The presence of RV was determined using
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with silver staining. Negative
samples were further tested for RV, adenovirus, and astrovirus using
immunoassays. A total of 727 children were studied. The RV prevalence by PAGE
was 56.8% (413/727). Out of 314 samples that were PAGE negative, 18.1%
(57/314) were positive for any virus; the prevalence for the specific viruses
was 9.5% (30/314); for RV, 4.4% (14/314); for astrovirus; 3.8%
(12/314); for adenovirus, and 0.3% (1/314) with RV and astrovirus mixed
infection. Viruses are responsible of more than 60% of acute diarrhea
diseases among Mexican children.
