SMALL, ROUND-STRUCTURED VIRUSES (SRSVS) ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS OUTBREAKS IN GIFU, JAPAN

Two outbreaks of non-bacterial gastroenteritis occurred in Gifu prefec ture in January 1989 and in January 1991. Both outbreaks were closely related to the consumption of raw oysters, and showed similar clinical features. Small, round-structured virus particles were found in patie nt stools in both outbreaks by electron microscopy. The role of these particles as the causative agents of the outbreaks were strongly sugge sted by immune electron microscopy and/or western-blotting immunoassay . When compared with SRSV-9 (Tokyo/SRSV/86-510) reported previously (H ayashi et al, J. Clin. Microbiol., 27: 1728-1733, 1989), it was found that these viral particles were antigenically similar to SRSV-9, and h ad a major structural protein of 63 kilodaltons (kDa). Further, the pr evalence of this agent in Gifu area was examined by western blot antib ody assay using 67 serum samples collected from the inhabitants in 199 1. The results indicated the circulation of the same or antigenically similar agent in this area.