This study evaluated the clinical significance of human astrovirus-associated
gastroenteritis in young children in the community. Placebo- (n = 1207) and rhesus rotavirus tetravalent (
RRV-TV)
vaccine- (n = 1191) recipient children were followed from 2 mo to 2 y of age. Stool specimens from 1528 episodes of acute
gastroenteritis (805 in the placebo group and 723 in the
RRV-TV vaccine group) were tested for astrovirus with a sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and positive results were confirmed by Southern hybridization using probes specific for astrovirus serotypes 1 and 2. Astroviruses were detected in 144 (9%) episodes of
gastroenteritis; 92% of the findings were serotype 1 and 6% were serotype 2. The astrovirus peak season was in winter. Of the 102 children who had
gastroenteritis with astrovirus as the only diarrhoea virus in the stools, 72% had watery diarrhoea, 59% had
vomiting, 26% had
fever, 5% needed
oral rehydration and 3% were hospitalized. Overall, the clinical severity of astrovirus
gastroenteritis was much lower than that of rotavirus
gastroenteritis.
RRV-TV rotavirus vaccine did not protect against astrovirus
gastroenteritis. It is concluded that astroviruses are common causative agents in acute
gastroenteritis in young children, but the symptoms of astrovirus
gastroenteritis are usually mild and the illness is therefore only of minor clinical significance.