G.P. Davidson

Virus particles in epithelial cells of duodenal mucosa from children with acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis.

Abstract Electron microscopy of duodenal mucosa from nine children with acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis revealed virus particles in epithelial cells from six patients. The morphology of the virus particles was identical in each of the six children. The virus belonged to the orbivirus group. No virus particles were observed in duodenal mucosa obtained from three of these children after clinical recovery. This orbivirus is believed to have been an important cause of sporadic gastroenteritis in children in Melbourne during the 3 months of the survey.

DETECTION OF A NEW VIRUS BY ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF FÆCAL EXTRACTS FROM CHILDREN WITH ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS

Abstract Electron microscopy of negatively stained faecal extracts revealed particles resembling orbiviruses in 11 of 14 children with acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis. No such particles were observed in faecal extracts from 9 control children. The method of differential centrifugation for extraction of faeces is simple, quick, and more sensitive than duodenol biopsy for detecting the virus. Combining results from duodenal mucosa and faeces, orbivirus particles were observed by electron microscopy in 81% of children with sporadic gastroenteritis in Melbourne.