REVERSE-TRANSCRIPTASE-PCR FOR THE DETECTION OF ASTROVIRUS IN CHILDREN WITH NOSOCOMIAL ACUTE DIARRHOEA IN NAPLES, ITALY

OBJECTIVE: This study was made to determine the incidence of nosocomial viral gastroenteritis in all children aged 0-4 years, admitted in the Pediatric Hospital over a 3-year period. METHODS: Astrovirus was detected by reverse transcriptase-PCR; routine diagnostic tests for Rotavirus, Adenovirus, and common bacterial pathogens were carried out on all samples. RESULTS: Of the 460 children with nosocomial diarrhea, 23 harbored Astrovirus (5%). Most cases occurred during the coldest months of the year. Children under 1 year of age were the most susceptible population. CONCLUSION: The collected data confirms the importance of viral etiology in nosocomial gastroenteritis. The reported rate of detection stresses the importance of Astrovirus in pediatric diarrhea. The authors recommend screening for this virus on a routine basis

Caprine herpesvirus-1 (CapHV-1) induces apoptosis in goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Abstract Programmed cell death (PCD), or apoptosis, is initiated in response to various stimuli, including virus infection. A number of studies have shown that deregulation of apoptosis is an important feature of virus-induced immunosuppression for various viral diseases. In the present study, CapHV-1 was found to cause apoptosis in mitogen-stimulated as well as nonstimulated caprine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Apoptotic index, as quantified by fluorescent dyes, revealed a significant increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells at 24 and 48 h postinfection as compared to their respective noninfected controls. Apoptosis specific internucleosomal laddering in DNA from CapHV-1 infected PBMC was seen in agarose gel electrophoresis. No DNA fragmentation was observed in control noninfected PBMC. Virus-induced apoptosis was reduced by Z-VAD-FMK, an aspecific caspase inhibitor, by AC-DEVD-CHO (caspase-3-specific) and AC-VEID-CHO (caspase-6-specific) treatment. PCD in CapHV-1 infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells occurs at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. However, penetration of virus particles and infection was not required for PCD, as UV-inactivated CapHV-1 induced apoptosis of mitogen-stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro