Development and evaluation of molecular methods for characterization of enteric caliciviruses in food borne disease and human infections

Abstract

Pediatric gastroenteritis is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. In developing countries, diarrhea remains the second most common cause of death among children under 5 years of age, with the majority of disease occurring in infants under 1 year of age. Infection rates in young children and infants living in developing countries may have been underestimated in previous studies due to the lack of sensitive diagnostic techniques for identification of viral particles in stool specimens. Diarrheal diseases are a significant cause for morbidity across all age groups. newlineThe role of HuCVs in causing acute gastroenteritis in young children has not been comprehensively studied in India due to the lack of sensitive and specific diagnostic techniques. This is clear by the limited number of published data (n=4) from India. The present study, for the first time in India, has developed and standardized methods for molecular characterization of HuCVs, and estimated their prevalence in a large cohort of symptomatic and asymptomatic children in both the community (n = 559 and n= 210, respectively) and hospital settings (n= 350 and n=100, respectively) . newlineIn summary, we have described the prevalence of co-circulating HuCVs in children with or without gastroenteritis in Vellore, southern India using sensitive and validated molecular diagnostic tools. The public health impact of HuCVs will not be fully appreciated, nor will interventions be completely evaluated, until methods to detect these viruses are more routinely used. Frequent symptomatic HuCV infections in infants and young children living in developing countries may impact quality of life substantially and contribute to dehydration and malnutrition. newlineThese studies have provided valuable insights to the current understanding of the burden of HuCV related diarrheal disease in India and will form the base for further elucidation of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of HuCV infections. newline newline