Sonja Jacobsen1, Marina Höhne1, Andreas Mas Marques1, Klara Beslmüller1, C-Thomas Bock2, Sandra Niendorf3. 1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit Viral Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis Pathogens and Enteroviruses, Robert Koch Institute, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany; Consultant Laboratory for Noroviruses, Robert Koch Institute, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany. 2. Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit Viral Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis Pathogens and Enteroviruses, Robert Koch Institute, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany. 3. Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit Viral Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis Pathogens and Enteroviruses, Robert Koch Institute, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany; Consultant Laboratory for Noroviruses, Robert Koch Institute, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: NiendorfS@rki.de.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: In order to analyze the molecular epidemiology of human astroviruses (HAstV) in Germany, a retrospective long-term study was performed to characterize circulating human astrovirus in patients with acute gastroenteritis in Germany. METHODS: A total of 2877 stool samples, collected between January 2010 and December 2015 from sporadic cases and outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis were retrospectively analyzed for astrovirus. A two-step PCR algorithm was developed and used to identify and characterize human astrovirus infections. RESULTS: Overall, 143 samples were astrovirus-positive (5.0%). Astrovirus infection was most frequently detectable in samples from children of 3-4 years (15%) followed by children of 1-2 years (8.6%), detection rates in adults were lower (1%-3.6%). A high number (71.3%) of co-infections, mainly with noro- or rotaviruses, were identified. Genotyping revealed that at least ten genotypes from all four human MAstV species were circulating in the study population. HAstV-1 was predominant in different age groups. Novel HAstV (MLB and VA genotypes) were also circulating in Germany. CONCLUSION: Our findings give new insights into the circulation and genetic diversity of human astroviruses in patients with acute gastroenteritis. The novel HAstV-MLB and -VA genotypes could be characterized firstly in Germany while the analysis showed that these viruses have been dispersed in Germany since 2011 as a causative agent of acute gastroenteritis.
OBJECTIVES: In order to analyze the molecular epidemiology of human astroviruses (HAstV) in Germany, a retrospective long-term study was performed to characterize circulating human astrovirus in patients with acute gastroenteritis in Germany. METHODS: A total of 2877 stool samples, collected between January 2010 and December 2015 from sporadic cases and outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis were retrospectively analyzed for astrovirus. A two-step PCR algorithm was developed and used to identify and characterize humanastrovirus infections. RESULTS: Overall, 143 samples were astrovirus-positive (5.0%). Astrovirus infection was most frequently detectable in samples from children of 3-4 years (15%) followed by children of 1-2 years (8.6%), detection rates in adults were lower (1%-3.6%). A high number (71.3%) of co-infections, mainly with noro- or rotaviruses, were identified. Genotyping revealed that at least ten genotypes from all four human MAstV species were circulating in the study population. HAstV-1 was predominant in different age groups. Novel HAstV (MLB and VA genotypes) were also circulating in Germany. CONCLUSION: Our findings give new insights into the circulation and genetic diversity of human astroviruses in patients with acute gastroenteritis. The novel HAstV-MLB and -VA genotypes could be characterized firstly in Germany while the analysis showed that these viruses have been dispersed in Germany since 2011 as a causative agent of acute gastroenteritis.