[Viral etiology of diarrheal diseases in Madagascan children].

Our study included a total of 318 diarrheic stools and 52 normal stools collected from out-patients with acute diarrhea at welfare Center and children admitted at Antananarivo City children's Hospital, or control free of infectious disease during 8 months period. Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay and tissue cultures revealed the presence of 152 viral particles (47%) from children with diarrhea and 29 viral particles (55%) from control children. Positive cases were distributed according age, sex, and season factors. The highest infection rate was found in 25-36 months old of the children with diarrhea (72%). The two sexes were equally infected. Enteroviruses were isolated from diarrheic stools with a high frequency (43%) during the rainy and warm season while Rotaviruses were the prevailing agent during the dry and cool season, and Adenoviruses came in second place (19%). In view of our results, the etiological role of these viruses in diarrhea is discussed.