Affiliations: Department of Microbiology, Jahanghirnagar University,
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Note: [] Correspondence: Shuvra Kanti Dey, PhD, MPH, MS, Department of
Microbiology, Jahanghirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh. Tel.:
+8801759588088; Fax: +88027791052; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Acute gastroenteritis is still a health burden in developed and
developing countries. Acute gastroenteritis consistently ranks as one of the
top causes of all deaths. The mortality among children due to acute
gastroenteritis is greater in developing than in developed countries. Globally,
while deaths from childhood diarrhea have decreased during the past two
decades, the proportion of hospitalizations due to diarrheal diseases may have
increased. In developing countries, gastroenteritis is a common cause of death
in children < 5 years of age. In developed countries, while deaths from
diarrhea are less common, these illnesses lead to hospitalization or doctor
visits. The viruses which cause gastroenteritis are primarily from four
distinct families – group A rotaviruses, caliciviruses, enteric
adenoviruses and astroviruses. Other viruses, such as picobirnaviruses and
picornavirus (the Aichi virus) may also play a role. Viral gastroenteritis is
still a burden of disease in most Asian countries. In many Asian countries, the
most prevalent causative agent of viral gastroenteritis is rotavirus followed
by norovirus, sapovirus, adenovirus, human astrovirus and aichi virus. The
G1P[8] rotavirus and GII/4 norovirus are the most common genotypes responsible
for acute gastroenteritis among Asian pediatric populations. The other
interesting feature of this review article is the high prevalence of diarrheal
viruses in developing countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Vietnam,
China) than in developed countries (Japan, South Korea). The molecular
characterization of many of these gastroenteritis viruses has led to advances
both in understanding of the pathogens themselves and in development of a new
generation of diagnostics. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the molecular
epidemiology of these viruses for controlling diarrheal diseases. The
information in this review article should be useful for knowledge of diarrheal
viruses, virus control, and viral vaccine design and provide clues to a
strategy for developing vaccines against diarrheal viruses.
Keywords: Molecular epidemiology, viral gastroenteritis, Asia
