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Epidemiology of Human Astroviruses

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Astrovirus Research

Abstract

Molecular surveillance of viral gastroenteritis reveals that human astroviruses (HAstV) are one of the most important agents of acute pediatric diarrhea after rotaviruses and arguably caliciviruses. Sequence analysis of the capsid region enables the determination of HAstV genotype/serotype and their distribution into eight genotypes (HAstV-1–HAstV-8), with subtypes or lineages within the different genotypes. Additionally, two differentiated genogroups, A (containing HAstV-1–HAstV-5 and HAstV-8) and B (containing HAstV-6 and HAstV-7), have been defined based on the well-conserved partial sequence close to the protease motif coding region in the ORF1a. Worldwide, HAstV-1 is the most prevalent type.

In the recent years, metagenomic analysis of children’s stool has led to the discovery of new HAstV strains highly divergent from the previously known genotypes and apparently related to animal astroviruses.

In temperate regions, HAstV infection occurs mostly in winter, although cases may be observed in summer, which may reflect a better stability of the virus at cold temperature. HAstV are transmitted through the fecal–oral route, and food and waterborne outbreaks have been reported in the literature. Moreover, fecally contaminated environmental surfaces act as vehicles for the transmission of the infection in day care centers, hospitals, nurseries, schools, and military institutions.

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Acknowledgments

These studies were funded in part by projects SGR: 2009SGR24 and the Catalonian Network of Biotechnology of the Generalitat de Catalunya and project Consolider: CDS2007-00016 of the Spanish Ministery of Science and Innovation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Enteric Virus Laboratory and Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Avenue Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain

    Albert Bosch Ph.D., Susana Guix Ph.D. & Rosa M. Pintó Ph.D.

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  1. Albert Bosch Ph.D.
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  2. Susana Guix Ph.D.
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  3. Rosa M. Pintó Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Albert Bosch Ph.D. .

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  1. , Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, 38105, Tennessee, USA

    Stacey Schultz-Cherry

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Bosch, A., Guix, S., Pintó, R.M. (2012). Epidemiology of Human Astroviruses. In: Schultz-Cherry, S. (eds) Astrovirus Research. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4735-1_1

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