PREVALENCE OF ENTERIC VIRUSES IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS SEROPOSITIVE PATIENTS IN VENEZUELA

The prevalence of enteric viruses associated with gastroenteritis was determined in 125 stool samples from patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with or without diarrhea. Diagnostic ass ays included enzyme immunoassays for the identification of rotavirus, adenovirus, and Norwalk virus; polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for atypical rotaviruses and picobirnaviruses and polymerase chain reactio n for astrovirus. Enteric viruses were detected in 6.4% (8 of 125) of the stools collected:five (4.0%) samples positive for adenoviruses, an d three (2.3%) samples positive for picobirnaviruses were detected. No rotavirus, astrovirus, or Norwalk virus were observed. Only one of th e viruses identified (adenovirus) was found in a sample from a patient with diarrhea. Viruses were detected in 10% of the patients with AIDS , 14% of the symptomatic patients, and none of the asymptomatic person s. These results do not support a major role for enteric viruses in th e diarrhea suffered by HIV-infected patients. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc .