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Astroviruses
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Astroviruses were discovered in 1975 during an electron microscopic examination of the feces of 120 children under 2 years of age suffering from gastroenteritis. Under electron microscopy, the virion had a typical star-shaped form, which is why it was given the name astrovirus (Greek astron - star).
Astroviruses can cause diarrhea in animals. Astroviruses are about 28 nm in size. The genome is single-stranded RNA. Astroviruses belong to the Caliciviridae family.
There are 5 serotypes. The widespread disease in humans - neonatal diarrhea - is caused by serotype 1 in 75 cases. Two structural proteins have been found in the virion. Astroviruses are difficult to cultivate in human and monkey cell cultures without a cytopathic effect, so the virion is detected using immunofluorescence in cell culture. Immune electron microscopy can be used to detect astrovirus in the feces of patients.
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