ADENOVIRUSES FROM STOOL SAMPLES IN AN UNI VERSITY HOSPITAL - COMPARISON WITH OTHER MAIN ENTEROPATHOGENS (ROTAVIRUS, CAMPYLOBACTER, SALMONELLA)

During a six-years period (1988-1993), a total of 14644 stool samples from in-patients of Limoges University Hospital were examined for the presence of principal enteric pathogens, such as adenovirus, rotavirus , Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella and others. Stools were processe d for identification of bacteria by standard methods and viruses were detected in fecal specimens using antigen detection methods: ELISA (En zyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and latex agglutination test. The dec reasing rates of presence of enteric agents were respectively 6% for r otavirus, 3.2% for Salmonella, 2% for adenovirus, 1.6% for Campylobact er and 0.2% for Shigella, but according to the lack of sensibility of latex agglutination test, adenovirus prevalence was probably underesti mated. Concerning the distribution of enteric pathogens throughout the year, our data demonstrate that rotavirus were rather shed during the months from January to April, adenovirus between April and August, Ca mpylobacter during summer and Salmonella from July to October. The two thirds of Campylobacter and rotavirus infections and the half of aden ovirus and Salmonella infections were identified during the ten first years of life. The highest prevalence occurs before 5 years old, durin g the 2(nd) year of life for adenovirus (4,4%) and rotavirus (22,3%) a nd during the 3(rd) year of life for Campylobacter (6,84%) and Salmone lla (8,6%).