Detection of Adenovirus antigen and its correlation with clinical signs among children with gastroenteritis

A total of 90 stool sample was collected from patients with gastroenteritis to detect adenovirus antigen among diarrhea cases. They were tested by general stool examination (GSE), rapid immunochromatographic test and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). GSE showed that adenovirus gastroenteritis infection resulted in non-bloody diarrhea, the existence of RBCs in 7% and Pus in 37% of the samples, Entamoeba histolytica trophozoite and cyst were seen in 3% and 2% of the samples respectively. The rapid test showed that 21% of samples were positive for rotavirus, 8% for adenovirus and 3% for astrovirus. Meanwhile, the ELISA test showed that adenovirus was positive in 9% of the samples. These findings established the evidence that adenovirus is significantly the second viral agent that cause gastroenteritis among children after rotavirus. Furthermore, it must be stated that rapid diagnostic methods are important for detection of adenovirus infection.