Abstract:
OBJECTIVE : To determine whether gastroenteritis viruses and other enteric viruses could be detected in faecal specimens
collected with Bio-wipes.
METHODS : Faecal specimens, self-collected with Bio-wipes, from 190 individuals (94 diarrhoeal, 93 non-diarrhoeal, 3
unknown) were screened for eight human enteric viruses (enterovirus, hepatitis A virus, adenovirus, astrovirus, norovirus
GI and GII, sapovirus and rotavirus) by real-time (reverse transcription)-polymerase chain reaction. Rotaviruses and
noroviruses from positive specimens were genotyped. results At least one enteric virus could be detected in 82.6%
(157/190) of faecal specimens. Mixed infections of up to four different viruses could be detected in both diarrhoeal and
non-diarrhoeal specimens. Enteroviruses were detected most frequently (63.7%), followed by adenoviruses (48.4%) and
noroviruses (32.2%). Genotyping was successful for 78.6% of rotaviruses and 44.8% of noroviruses.
CONCLUSIONS : Bio-wipes provide a user friendly, easier method for stool collection that facilitates enteric virus
detection and genetic characterisation.
