INTRAFAMILIAL OUTBREAK OF ASTROVIRUS GASTROENTERITIS IN SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL

This report describes an intrafamilial outbreak of astrovirus-associat ed gastroenteritis that occurred among 5 children in a family living i n the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Astrovirus was detected by direct el ectron microscopy (DEM) and confirmed by solid phase immune electron m icroscopy (SPIEM) using astrovirus reference serum (T2-6-89). The rise in titre of astrovirus antibody in patients' sera was observed by IEM using acute and convalescent-phase sera. Combined use of the EM techn iques to detect virus in stool and antibody rise in sera led us to con clude that this intrafamilial outbreak might have been caused by astro virus infection. In Brazil, astrovirus may be a more common agent of g astroenteritis than is currently appreciated.