An outbreak of gastroenteritis in the infant–toddler unit
of a child care centre (CCC) in
Pretoria, South Africa, was investigated for possible viral enteropathogens.
Rotavirus was
found in association with seven (70%) diarrhoeal episodes. Co-infection
with rotavirus and
human astrovirus (HAstV) was demonstrated in two of these episodes, and
rotavirus, HAstV
and enteric adenovirus (EAd) co-infection in another. Rotavirus occurred
alone in four of the
diarrhoeal episodes, while HAstV and EAd were each detected alone in one
episode. Two
HAstV and one rotavirus asymptomatic infection episodes also occurred.
Overall, 8 of 10
children had rotavirus infections, of which 7 were symptomatic, 6 of
10 children had HAstV
infections (4 symptomatic), and 2 of 10 children had EAd infection, both
symptomatic. These
results highlight the diversity of viral enteropathogens that may be
associated with a diarrhoeal
outbreak in a CCC and emphasize the need to investigate the possibility
that multiple
enteropathogens may simultaneously cause a single outbreak of diarrhoea.