Abstract
Acute gastroenteritis is still a health burden in developed and developing countries.
Acute gastroenteritis consistently ranks as one of the top causes of all deaths. The
mortality among children due to acute gastroenteritis is greater in developing than
in developed countries. Globally, while deaths from childhood diarrhea have decreased
during the past two decades, the proportion of hospitalizations due to diarrheal diseases
may have increased. In developing countries, gastroenteritis is a common cause of
death in children < 5 years of age. In developed countries, while deaths from diarrhea
are less common, these illnesses lead to hospitalization or doctor visits. The viruses
which cause gastroenteritis are primarily from four distinct families – group A rotaviruses,
caliciviruses, enteric adenoviruses and astroviruses. Other viruses, such as picobirnaviruses
and picornavirus (the Aichi virus) may also play a role. Viral gastroenteritis is
still a burden of disease in most Asian countries. In many Asian countries, the most
prevalent causative agent of viral gastroenteritis is rotavirus followed by norovirus,
sapovirus, adenovirus, human astrovirus and aichi virus. The G1P[8] rotavirus and
GII/4 norovirus are the most common genotypes responsible for acute gastroenteritis
among Asian pediatric populations. The other interesting feature of this review article
is the high prevalence of diarrheal viruses in developing countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh,
India, Nepal, Vietnam, China) than in developed countries (Japan, South Korea). The
molecular characterization of many of these gastroenteritis viruses has led to advances
both in understanding of the pathogens themselves and in development of a new generation
of diagnostics. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the molecular epidemiology of
these viruses for controlling diarrheal diseases. The information in this review article
should be useful for knowledge of diarrheal viruses, virus control, and viral vaccine
design and provide clues to a strategy for developing vaccines against diarrheal viruses.
Keywords
Molecular epidemiology - viral gastroenteritis - Asia
