Detection of common diarrhea-associated viruses in 142 stool samples collected from adult diarrhea patients in 1980s

ObjectiveTo understand the common diarrhea-associated viral pathogens in 142 stool samples collected from adult diarrhea patients in 1980s.

MethodsPolymerase chain reaction was used to detect rotavirus, norovirus, enterovirus and astrovirus in 142 stool samples collected from adult diarrhea patients and stored in virus strain stock of National Institute for Viral Disease Prevention and Control, China CDC since 1980s, and the types of these viruses were determined through sequencing.

ResultsAt least one virus was detected in 120 stool samples (84.51%, 120/142). The detection rate of rotavirus B was 42.96% (61/142), no rotavirus A and C were detected. The detection rate of norovirus was 0.70% (1/142). The detection rate of intestinal adenovirus was 4.23% (6/142), including two type 4 strains, two type 7 strains, one type 40 strain and one type 41 strain. The detection rate of astroviruses was 34.51% (49/142) and all the strains belonged to type 5. The detection rate of swine enterovirus was 1.41% (2/142). The detection rate of coxsackie virus was 0.70% (1/142). The detection rate of mixed infection was 24.65% (35/142). No poliovirus was detected.

ConclusionRotavirus B was the main pathogen detected in stool samples collected from adult diarrhea patients in 1980s, and the rate of mixed infection with astrovirus was 21.13% (30/142), and the rotavirus B strains shared 94.67%–96.52% nucleotide sequence homology with standard strain of rotavirus in adult diarrhea patients. Other viruses showed similarities with viruses detected nowadays. Swine enterovirus was detected from the stool samples, which might be explained by sample contamination due to environment condition in 1980s.