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Amoroso MG, Pucciarelli A, Serra F, Ianiro G, Iafusco M, Fiorito F, Polverino MG, Dimatteo M, Monini M, Ferrara D, Martemucci L, Di Bartolo I, De Carlo E, Fusco G. Ten different viral agents infecting and co-infecting children with acute gastroenteritis in Southern Italy: Role of known pathogens and emerging viruses during and after COVID-19 pandemic. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29679. [PMID: 38767190 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) represents a world public health relevant problem especially in children. Enteric viruses are the pathogens mainly involved in the episodes of AGE, causing about 70.00% of the cases. Apart from well-known rotavirus (RVA), adenovirus (AdV) and norovirus (NoV), there are various emerging viral pathogens potentially associated with AGE episodes. In this study, the presence of ten different enteric viruses was investigated in 152 fecal samples collected from children hospitalized for gastroenteritis. Real time PCR results showed that 49.3% of them were positive for viral detection with the following prevalence: norovirus GII 19.7%, AdV 15.8%, RVA 10.5%, human parechovirus (HPeV) 5.3%, enterovirus (EV) 3.3%, sapovirus (SaV) 2.6%. Salivirus (SalV), norovirus GI and astrovirus (AstV) 1.3% each, aichivirus (AiV) found in only one patient. In 38.2% of feces only one virus was detected, while co-infections were identified in 11.8% of the cases. Among young patients, 105 were ≤5 years old and 56.0% tested positive for viral detection, while 47 were >5 years old with 40.0% of them infected. Results obtained confirm a complex plethora of viruses potentially implicated in gastroenteritis in children, with some of them previously known for other etiologies but detectable in fecal samples. Subsequent studies should investigate the role of these viruses in causing gastroenteritis and explore the possibility that other symptoms may be ascribed to multiple infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Amoroso
- Department of Animal Health, Unit of Virology, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, Italy
| | - Alessia Pucciarelli
- Department of Animal Health, Unit of Virology, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, Italy
| | - Francesco Serra
- Department of Animal Health, Unit of Virology, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, Italy
| | - Giovanni Ianiro
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Iafusco
- Pediatrics Department, "Pediatria 2", National Specialty Hospital Santobono Pausilipon, Napoli, Italy
| | - Filomena Fiorito
- Department of Veterinary Science and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Polverino
- Department of Animal Health, Unit of Virology, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, Italy
| | - Maria Dimatteo
- Department of Animal Health, Unit of Virology, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, Italy
| | - Marina Monini
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Ferrara
- Pediatrics Department, "Pediatria 2", National Specialty Hospital Santobono Pausilipon, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luigi Martemucci
- Pediatrics Department, "Pediatria 2", National Specialty Hospital Santobono Pausilipon, Napoli, Italy
| | - Ilaria Di Bartolo
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Esterina De Carlo
- Department of Animal Health, Unit of Virology, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, Italy
| | - Giovanna Fusco
- Department of Animal Health, Unit of Virology, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, Italy
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A Retrospective Study of Viral Molecular Prevalences in Cats in Southern Italy (Campania Region). Viruses 2022; 14:v14112583. [PMID: 36423192 PMCID: PMC9699332 DOI: 10.3390/v14112583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
From 2019 to 2021, a retrospective molecular study was conducted in the Campania region (southern Italy) to determine the prevalence of viral diseases in domestic cats. A total of 328 dead animals were analyzed by Real-Time PCR for the presence of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline enteric coronavirus (FCoV), rotavirus (RVA), feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1), and feline calicivirus (FCV). The possible presence of SARS-CoV-2 was also investigated by Real-Time PCR. The cats included in this study were specifically sourced and referred by local veterinarians and local authorities to the Zooprofilactic Experimental Institute of Southern Italy (IZSM) for pathological evaluation. The samples consisted of owners, catteries, and stray cats. Results revealed: 73.5% positive cats for FPV (189/257), 23.6% for FeLV (21/89), 21.5% for FCoV (56/266), 11.4% for RVA (16/140), 9.05% for FeHV-1 (21/232), and 7.04 for FCV (15/213). In contrast, SARS-CoV-2 was never detected. FPV was more prevalent in winter (p = 0.0027). FCoV FHV-1, FCV, and RVA predominated in autumn, whereas FeLV predominated in summer. As expected, viral infections were found more frequently in outdoor and shelter cats than in indoor ones, although no statistical association was found between animal lifestyle and viral presence. The study showed a high prevalence of FPV, FeLV, and FCoV and a moderate prevalence of RVA, FHV-1, and FCV. Moreover, the prevalence of these pathogens varied among the cat populations investigated.
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