Astrovirus is a type of virus that was first discovered in 1975 using electron microscopes following an outbreak of diarrhoea in humans. In addition to humans, astroviruses have now been isolated from numerous mammalian animal species and from avian species such as ducks, chickens, and turkey poults. Astroviruses are 28–35 nm diameter, icosahedral viruses that have a characteristic five- or sixpointed star-like surface structure when viewed by electron microscopy. Human astroviruses have been shown in numerous studies to be an important cause of gastroenteritis in young children worldwide.
Alternative Names
Astroviridae; Mamastrovirus; Avastrovirus; Astrovirus Type 1; Astrovirus Type 1 antigen; Astrovirus type 1 strain A88/2