Astrovirus infection in young Kenyan children with diarrhoea

Nicholas M. Kiulia; Jason M. Mwenda; Atunga Nyachieo; Julia K. Nyaundi; Andrew D. Steele; Maureen B. Taylor

doi:10.1093/tropej/fml093

Astrovirus infection in young Kenyan children with diarrhoea

Nicholas M. Kiulia, Jason M. Mwenda^*, Atunga Nyachieo, Julia K. Nyaundi, Andrew D. Steele, Maureen B. Taylor

^*Corresponding author for this work

Virological Pathology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Human astroviruses (HAstV) have been commonly identified worldwide as important aetiological agents of acute gastroenteritis in all age groups including the young, elderly and immunocompromised. However, limited data exist on the prevalence of this important pathogen in Kenya. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence of astrovirus (AstV) infection in Kenyan children younger than 10 years of age with diarrhoea. During the period February 1999 to September 2005, stool samples were collected from 476 children attending clinics in Nairobi (and its environs) and the Maua Methodist Hospital, Meru North, Kenya. The faecal specimens were tested by a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit for HAstV. AstV prevalence rates were found to be 6.3%. There was significantly high prevalence of AstV infection in children ≤5 years [5.3≤ (25/476)] than those ≤5 years [0.2% (1/476)] (p ≤ 0.01). Also, we showed a significantly high prevalence of AstV infection in children of ≤5 years [5.8% (20/341)] in Nairobi (urban setting) as compared with those of similar age in Maua (a rural setting) [3.7% (5/135)] (p le; 0.01). This study indicates that HAstV is an important pathogen associated with diarrhoea in young Kenyan children.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	206-209
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
Volume	53
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/tropej/fml093
Publication status	Published - Jun 2007

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@article{4daf2fe70b2a4c62a90cfd788e3a67cc,

title = "Astrovirus infection in young Kenyan children with diarrhoea",

abstract = "Human astroviruses (HAstV) have been commonly identified worldwide as important aetiological agents of acute gastroenteritis in all age groups including the young, elderly and immunocompromised. However, limited data exist on the prevalence of this important pathogen in Kenya. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence of astrovirus (AstV) infection in Kenyan children younger than 10 years of age with diarrhoea. During the period February 1999 to September 2005, stool samples were collected from 476 children attending clinics in Nairobi (and its environs) and the Maua Methodist Hospital, Meru North, Kenya. The faecal specimens were tested by a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit for HAstV. AstV prevalence rates were found to be 6.3%. There was significantly high prevalence of AstV infection in children ≤5 years [5.3≤ (25/476)] than those ≤5 years [0.2% (1/476)] (p ≤ 0.01). Also, we showed a significantly high prevalence of AstV infection in children of ≤5 years [5.8% (20/341)] in Nairobi (urban setting) as compared with those of similar age in Maua (a rural setting) [3.7% (5/135)] (p le; 0.01). This study indicates that HAstV is an important pathogen associated with diarrhoea in young Kenyan children.",

author = "Kiulia, {Nicholas M.} and Mwenda, {Jason M.} and Atunga Nyachieo and Nyaundi, {Julia K.} and Steele, {Andrew D.} and Taylor, {Maureen B.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was funded in part by grants from the Poliomyelitis Research Foundation and NEPAD/National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa (Prof MB Taylor). We thank Prof. Maureen Taylor for providing the Dako EIA kits used in this study. We acknowledge the technical assistance provided by Erick Omolo and Mary Galo. Thanks also to Medical Officer in Charge Maua Methodist Hospital (MMH), and Provincial Medical Officer, Nairobi for providing permission to collect faecal samples. The parents and children for their contributions to the success of this study.",

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AU - Steele, Andrew D.

AU - Taylor, Maureen B.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was funded in part by grants from the Poliomyelitis Research Foundation and NEPAD/National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa (Prof MB Taylor). We thank Prof. Maureen Taylor for providing the Dako EIA kits used in this study. We acknowledge the technical assistance provided by Erick Omolo and Mary Galo. Thanks also to Medical Officer in Charge Maua Methodist Hospital (MMH), and Provincial Medical Officer, Nairobi for providing permission to collect faecal samples. The parents and children for their contributions to the success of this study.

PY - 2007/6

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N2 - Human astroviruses (HAstV) have been commonly identified worldwide as important aetiological agents of acute gastroenteritis in all age groups including the young, elderly and immunocompromised. However, limited data exist on the prevalence of this important pathogen in Kenya. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence of astrovirus (AstV) infection in Kenyan children younger than 10 years of age with diarrhoea. During the period February 1999 to September 2005, stool samples were collected from 476 children attending clinics in Nairobi (and its environs) and the Maua Methodist Hospital, Meru North, Kenya. The faecal specimens were tested by a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit for HAstV. AstV prevalence rates were found to be 6.3%. There was significantly high prevalence of AstV infection in children ≤5 years [5.3≤ (25/476)] than those ≤5 years [0.2% (1/476)] (p ≤ 0.01). Also, we showed a significantly high prevalence of AstV infection in children of ≤5 years [5.8% (20/341)] in Nairobi (urban setting) as compared with those of similar age in Maua (a rural setting) [3.7% (5/135)] (p le; 0.01). This study indicates that HAstV is an important pathogen associated with diarrhoea in young Kenyan children.

AB - Human astroviruses (HAstV) have been commonly identified worldwide as important aetiological agents of acute gastroenteritis in all age groups including the young, elderly and immunocompromised. However, limited data exist on the prevalence of this important pathogen in Kenya. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence of astrovirus (AstV) infection in Kenyan children younger than 10 years of age with diarrhoea. During the period February 1999 to September 2005, stool samples were collected from 476 children attending clinics in Nairobi (and its environs) and the Maua Methodist Hospital, Meru North, Kenya. The faecal specimens were tested by a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit for HAstV. AstV prevalence rates were found to be 6.3%. There was significantly high prevalence of AstV infection in children ≤5 years [5.3≤ (25/476)] than those ≤5 years [0.2% (1/476)] (p ≤ 0.01). Also, we showed a significantly high prevalence of AstV infection in children of ≤5 years [5.8% (20/341)] in Nairobi (urban setting) as compared with those of similar age in Maua (a rural setting) [3.7% (5/135)] (p le; 0.01). This study indicates that HAstV is an important pathogen associated with diarrhoea in young Kenyan children.

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U2 - 10.1093/tropej/fml093

DO - 10.1093/tropej/fml093

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JO - Journal of Tropical Pediatrics

JF - Journal of Tropical Pediatrics

IS - 3

ER -

Astrovirus infection in young Kenyan children with diarrhoea

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