Background: Diarrheal disease is a major public health problem for children in developing countries. Knowledge of etiology that causes diarrheal illness is essential to implement public health measures to prevent and control this disease. Adeno Noroviruses (NoVs) are human pathogens associated with acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide and an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries. However, there are still few epidemiological data on the occurrence of these viruses in Sudan.

Methods: A total of 208 stool samples were collected from hospitalized children under five years of age presenting with acute gastroenteritis, in Khartoum State, Sudan, during the period from November 2017 – May 2021, For the detection of norovirus and adenoviruses, DNA from stool samples was extracted using Qiagen DNA kits from all samples, followed by Multiplex nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Results: The study revealed that 9 (4.3%) were positive for Norovirus and 4 (1.9%) with Adenovirus. The study found no significant difference in the positivity of Norovirus and Adenovirus according to the gender (p values 0.35, and 0.341 respectively). Moreover, the study found no significant difference in the positivity of Norovirus and Adenovirus according to the status of the polio-vaccination (p values 0.785, and 0.941 respectively). The study showed that there was the no statistically significant association when compare age with Norovirus and Adenovirus (p values 0.081, and 0.231 respectively), The current study showed that there was no relationship between gastroenteritis diseases and Adeno and norovirus (p. value = 0.8, 0.9).

Conclusions: The present study showed that Norovirus and Adenovirus were not causative agents of gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years.

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Shaza Salih