EPIDEMIOLOGY OF AICHI VIRUS IN FECAL SAMPLES FROM OUTPATIENTS WITH ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS IN NORWESTHERN SPAIN. EPIDEMIOLOGY OF AICHI VIRUS IN FECAL SAMPLES FROM OUTPATIENTS WITH ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS IN NORWESTHERN SPAIN

Aichi virus (AiV) has become a causative non-bacterial gastroenteritis agent since it has been involved in sporadic cases of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks. A total of 2667 stool samples from outpatients of Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña, with acute gastroenteritis in Galicia (northwest of Spain), during a period of 1-year (from July 2010 to June 2011) were studied for detection of AiV. The virus was detected in 124 (5.0%) of the total samples among all age groups. Coinfections were also detected and summarizing from the 124 positive samples 69 (55.6%) were positive only for AiV and 55 (44.3%) were de-tected with mixed contaminations of Norovirus (NoV) genogroup I (GI) and genogroup II (GII) Sapovirus (SaV) and bacteriological gastroenteritis agents. A total of 70 positive sam-ples were genotyped and characterized as genotype A (58,6%) and B (41,4 %). Genotype C was not detected. Regarding to seasonality AiV were detected along the year study. This study should contribute to determine the role of AiV as a causative agent in acute gastroen-teritis in Galicia and its potential risk for human health.