Aichi virus IgG seroprevalence in Tunisia: parallel with genomic detection and clinical presentation in children with gastroenteritis

International audience; Aichi virus has been described as a novel causative agent of gastroenteritis in humans. In this study we report the seroprevalence distribution of Aichi virus in Tunisia. A panel of 1000 sera was screened applying an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for immunoglobulin G specific to Aichi virus. A considerable prevalence (92%) of antibody to Aichi virus was found across all age groups. The specific anti-Aichi virus antibodies increased with age, from a high rate (68.8%) in children under 10 years old to about 100% in persons more than 60 years old. We found a statistically significant increase in antibody levels to Aichi virus according to age of patients. Immunoglobulin M antibodies were detected among five children. A high frequency of Aichi virus monoinfections in hospitalized children with severe gastroenteritis was previously observed in Tunisia. Aichi virus cause diarrhea with dehydration, fever and vomiting. This work is the first to establish a correlation between the high seroprevalence of specific Aichi virus antibodies, clinical presentation and high frequency isolation of Aichi virus by genomic characterization in stools of children suffering from gastroenteritis. Our data show the importance and emerging character of the Aichi virus in the viral etiology of the pediatric gastroenteritis.