Development of RT-multiplex PCR assay for detection of adenovirus and group A and C rotaviruses in diarrheal fecal specimens from children in China.

Rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus, sapovirus and astrovirus are considered to be significant global enteropathogens associated with sporadic cases and outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis. Therefore, a rapid and sensitive assay is preferred to screen for the presence of these viruses in diarrheal fecal specimens. In a previous study, we developed a reverse transcription single-round multiplex polymerase chain reaction (RT-smPCR) assay for the simultaneous detection of norovirus (genogroup I, genogroup II), sapovirus and astrovirus in fecal specimens (Yan et aL, 2003). Recently, we developed another RT multiplex PCR for one-step amplification of all subgenera A to F adenoviruses, and group A and C rotaviruses. In this study, a total of 207 fecal specimens collected from children with acute gastroenteritis between December 2001 and April 2003 in Yunnan Province, China were examined for the presence of adenoviruses, and group A and C rotaviruses, by RT-multiplex PCR. The detection rate of these three viruses was 55.1% (114 out of 207 specimens), among which adenovirus and group A and C rotaviruses were identified in 11, 101 and 1 fecal specimen, respectively. Furthermore, one specimen was found to be positive for co-infection with adenovirus and group A rotavirus. An epidemic of acute gastroenteritis was also identified as peaking mainly in October and November. Taken together, our results clearly indicate that this novel assay provides a potentially rapid and convenient tool for epidemiologic investigation of diarrhea caused by adenovirus and group A and C rotaviruses.