Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T06:20:09.736Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Occurrence of viruses in human stools in the Ahaggar (Algeria)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2010

J. M. L. Puel
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Central de Microbiologie, CHU Purpan, 31059 Toulouse and Centre de Microscopie Electronique appliquée à la Biologie Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
M. S. Orillac
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Central de Microbiologie, CHU Purpan, 31059 Toulouse and Centre de Microscopie Electronique appliquée à la Biologie Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
R. M. Bauriaud
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Central de Microbiologie, CHU Purpan, 31059 Toulouse and Centre de Microscopie Electronique appliquée à la Biologie Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
R. Boughermouh
Affiliation:
Institut Pasteur d'Algérie, Alger
O. Akacem
Affiliation:
Institut Pasteur d'Algérie, Alger
Ph. Lefevre-Witier
Affiliation:
Laboratoire d'Hémotypologie du C.N.R.S., Hôpital Purpan 31059 Toulouse, France
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

From October 1977 to May 1980, 243 stools collected in sedentary and semi-nomadic populations of the Ahaggar (Algerian Sahara) were examined using immunoelectronmicroscopy and tissue culture inoculation. Immunoelectron-microscopy revealed the presence of rotaviruses in 8, coronaviruses in 26, adenoviruses in 5 and small round viruses in 4. Enteroviruses were isolated in tissue culture from 24 stools.

Rotaviruses were present in the Ahaggar but were associated with little acute enteric disease. The high frequency of coronaviruses both in gastroenteritis patients and in patients without disease was surprising. The prevalence of enteroviruses in this hyperarid zone was similar to or higher than that found in noticeably more humid countries.

Further systematic bacterial, viral and parasitic examinations are required to clarify the role of the above viruses in the aetiology of gastroenteritis in this region.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

References

REFERENCES

Caul, E. O. & Clarke, S. K. R. (1975). Coronavirus propagated from patient with non-bacterial gastroenteritis. Lancet, ii, 953954.Google Scholar
Flewett, T. H. (1977). Acute non-bacterial infectious gastroenteritis: an assay in comparative virology. In Recent Advances in Clinical Virology, vol. 1 (ed. Watereon, A. P.), Pp. 151169. Edinburgh, London, New York: Churchill Livingstone.Google Scholar
Heiber, J. P., Shelton, E., Nelson, J. D., Leon, J. & Mohs, E. (1978). Comparison of human rotavirus disease in tropical and temperate settings. American Journal of Diseases of Children 132, 853858.Google Scholar
Koornhof, H. J., Robins-Brownl, R. M., Richardson, N. J. & Cassel, R. (1979). Etiology of infantile enteritis in South Africa. Israel Journal of Medical Sciences 15, 341347.Google Scholar
Lim, K. A. & Benyesh-Melnick, M. (1960). Typing of viruses by combinations of antiserum pools: application to typing of enteroviruses (coxsackie and echo). Journal of Immunology 84, 309317.Google Scholar
Maiya, P. P., Pereira, S. M., Mathan, M., Bhat, P., Albert, M. J. & Baker, S. J. (1977). Aetiology of acute gastroenteritis in infancy and early childhood in Southern India. Archives of Disease in Childhood 52, 482485.Google Scholar
Mathan, M., Mathan, V. I., Swaminathan, S. P., Yesudoss, S. & Baker, S. J. (1975). Pleomorphic virus-like particles in human faeces. Lancet, i, 10681069.Google Scholar
Mathur, A., Kapoor, A. K., Chaturvedi, U. C., Tandon, H. O., Das, S. L. & Agrawal, S. K. (1978). A continuous one-year study for prevalence of enteroviruses in normal healthy children in a rural community. Indian Journal of Medical Research 67, 884902.Google Scholar
Schnagl, R. D., Holmes, I. H. & Mackay-Scollay, E. M. (1978 a). A survey of rotavirus associated with gastroenteritis in aboriginal children in Western Australia. Medical Journal of Australia 1, 304307.Google Scholar
Schnagl, R. D., Holmes, I. H. & Mackay-Scollay, E. M. (1978 b). Coronavirus-like particles in aboriginals and non aboriginals in Western Australia. Medical Journal of Australia 1, 307309.Google Scholar
Schnagl, R. D., Morey, F. & Holmes, I. H. (1979). Rotavirus, coronavirus-like particles, bacteria and parasites in central Australia. Medical Journal of Australia 2, 115118.Google Scholar