Enteric Adenovirus and Norovirus Gastroenteritis among Under-5 years Children in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

Aim: Infant mortality attributable to diarrhea continue unabated, without the precise determination of the viral etiologies. Few studies exist on enteric adenoviruses and norovirus infections in infants and young children in Nigeria. This study was aimed at the detection and determination of the baseline prevalence of enteric adenoviruses and norovirus pathogens among under -5 years children hospitalized for acute diarrhea in Ondo state, Nigeria.

Methods: In a cross sectional descriptive study conducted between November 2013 and April 2014, fifty (50) fecal specimens collected from diarrheic children below 5 years and age matched non-diarrheic controls were screened for the presence of enteric adenovirus and norovirus antigens using a 4th generation quadruple Rapid Immuno- chromatographic Enzyme Immuno Assay kits.

Results: Adenovirus antigen was detected in 9/50 (18%) in November 2013, and February to April 2014 while norovirus was found in 4/50 (8%) of the diarrheic children, in the months of December 2013 to February 2014. The prevalent age at infection were 0-6 months for adenovirus and 31-36 months for norovirus, while the male-to-female ratio was 1.8:1. Co-infection of adenovirus with rotavirus was detected in children between 7-12 months, while co-infection of adenovirus with norovirus was detected in children between 31-36 months old at a rate of 2% respectively. There was no significant difference in the induction of diarrhea in children by each of the two viruses (χ2=1.78), and no significant difference in the rate of adenovirus (χ2=0.605) and norovirus infections (χ2 =1.09) between male and female, in the study population.

Conclusion: The baseline prevalence of enteric adenovirus diarrhea was 18% (occurring in November, February to April), norovirus was 8% (occurring in December to February), dual infection by adenovirus cum rotavirus, and adenovirus cum norovirus was 2% respectively, in children below 3 years in Ondo state Nigeria. The findings suggests that human enteric adenoviruses and norovirus are becoming established etiologies of infantile diarrhea in southwest Nigeria, and vaccines should be developed and vaccination implemented alongside rotavirus.