Resumo

WILDERMANN, Natalie et al. Calicivirus and enterovirus molecular detection through RT-PCR in children under 5 years old with diarrheal syndrome. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2010, vol.30, n.2, pp.145-150. ISSN 1315-2556.

Worldwide, diarrhea is one of the most important morbility-mortality causes in the general population. In Venezuela, there are annual reports of around 480,000 consultations and 706 deaths due to diarrhea, 32% of which are registered in Zulia State. Calicivirus and enterovirus are among the viruses with pathogenic capacity involved in diarrheal episodes. With the purpose of evaluating the prevalence of these viruses at the Maracaibo Municipality, we collected 150 diarrheal feces samples from children under 5 years old, and calicivirus and enterovirus presence was determined through RT-PCR. There was a greater prevalence of enterovirus infections (31.3%), which indicates the probable existence of hygiene problems and/or water contamination. There was also evidence of a decrease of enterovirus contamination with age, possible due to the development of antibodies during previous exposure to the virus. Calicivirus prevalence in this population was low (2.9%), and they were considered as isolated cases. Absence of this virus during the first year of life is favored by the immunological protection conferred by maternal breast-feeding. The present study indicates that enteroviruses are important diarrheal etiologic agents in the child population studied

Palavras-chave : calicivirus; enterovirus; RT-PCR; children; diarrheal syndrome.