An outbreak of gastroenteritis associated with astrovirus serotype 1 in a day care center, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Between June 4th and June 20th 1996 rotavirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus ( HAstrV) were investigated in jecal samples from 27 children under three yea rs old with acute diarrhea, attending the Bertha Lutz day, care center, in Rio de Janeiro. All fecal samples were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel elect rophoresis (PAGE), reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) , enzyme immunoassays (EIA), and electron microscopy, (EM). Nine of them (3 3%) showed positive results for-HAstrV by at least one of the employed meth odologies. Eight were positive by RT-PCR and EIA, and six by EM. All positi ve samples were inoculated onto HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma) cultured cells for-HAstrV isolation and seven were positive after three passages. T he sequencing analysis of eight RT-PCR products (449 hp) from gene that cod ifies VP2 protein, showed a total nucleotide identity among them and 98% wi th HAstrV-1 (strain oxford type 1). This is the first report of a gastroent eritis outbreak associated with HAstrv-1 in a day care center in Rio de Jan eiro and it reinforces the importance of this virus in association with inf antile acute gastroenteritis.