Gastro Panel VIRUS (Multiplex PCR)

Stool or stomach contents

This multiplex PCR is used to clarify a suspected viral intestinal infection. The investigation should be carried out in the acute stage of the disease on a native stool sample (diarrhoea sample). The This multiplex PCR is used to clarify a suspected viral intestinal infection. The investigation should be carried out in the acute stage of the disease on a native stool sample (diarrhoea sample). The following common viral pathogens are detected:


Norovirus GG1 and GG2 (ssRNA):
Noroviruses are the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis. They are responsible for 30% of enteritis cases in older children and for up to 50% of enteritis cases in adults. The genotypes GG1 and GG2 are significant as human pathogens and occur all over the world. There is a seasonal increase in norovirus illnesses during the winter months. Noroviruses are a common cause of outbreaks in communal facilities such as day-care centres, old age homes and hospitals. The route of infection is faecal-oral, for example via contaminated food and drinks. It can also be transmitted by aerosol formation during vomiting. This virus has a very high infectivity, with 10-100 virus particles being enough to infect a human.
Diseased staff from homes, hospitals and schools may work at the earliest 24 hours after the last diarrhea/vomiting.

Rotavirus (dsRNA):
Rotavirus is the most common viral enteritis pathogen in children (especially in the first two years of life). The onset of the illness is often demonstrated with vomiting. This is followed by foul-smelling stools; in infants they may also be discoloured green. Patients suffer from sucking weakness/insufficient drinking, sometimes with pronounced, predominantly isotonic dehydration. The duration of the illness is a few days up to a few weeks. The infection occurs by smear (virus shedding largely through the intestine) and more rarely also via droplet infection.

Adenovirus F 40/41 (dsDNA):
Adenoviruses are species-specific and occur only in humans. There are 47 human pathogenic species. Adenovirus 40/41 F triggers gastroenteritis, especially in children. Adenoviruses are transmitted via droplet and smear infections (faecal-oral) and are very resistant to external influences, for example cold.

Astrovirus (ssRNA):
The human Astroviruses are a common cause of gastroenteritis in young children. They trigger similar symptoms as the other described pathogens, for example, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and abdominal pain. It is common to see a peak of this illness during the winter half of the year. Astrovirus spreads due to poor hygienic conditions, the infection occurring through contaminated water and food.

Sapovirus (ssRNA):
Sapovirus is a virus within the family Caliciviridae and together with norovirus, sapoviruses are the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in humans and animals. Humans and swines are natural hosts for the virus. The transmission route of sapovirus is oral/fecal.
Generally, 1-4 days after infection with sapovirus, symptoms (which are very similar to those of norovirus) like vomiting and diarrhea occur. Other smyptoms like chills, headache, abdominal cramps, myalgia and fever can appear. There have also been cases of asymptomatic sapovirus infection where the infected individual seems healthy but is still capable of spreading the virus.