J Infect Dis

Background The etiology of intussusception, the leading cause of bowel obstruction in infants, is unknown in most cases. Adenovirus has been associated with intussusception, and a slightly increased risk of intussusception with rotavirus vaccination has been found in several countries. We conducted a case-control study among children <2 years old in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Vietnam to evaluate infectious etiologies of intussusception before rotavirus vaccine introduction. Methods From 2015-2017, we enrolled one-to-one matched intussusception cases and hospital controls; 249 pairs are included. Stool specimens were tested for 37 infectious agents using TaqMan Array technology. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) of each pathogen associated with intussusception in a pooled analysis and in quantitative sub-analyses. Results Adenovirus (OR: 2.67, 95%CI: 1.75, 4.36) and human herpes virus 6 (OR: 3.50, 95%CI: 1.15, 10.63) were detected more frequently in cases than controls. Adenovirus C detection <20 quantification cycles was associated with intussusception (OR: 18.59, 95%CI: 2.45, 140.89). Wild-type rotavirus was not associated with intussusception (OR: 1.07, 95%CI: 0.52, 2.22). Conclusions In this comprehensive evaluation, adenovirus and HHV-6 were associated with intussusception. Future research is needed to better understand mechanisms leading to intussusception, particularly after rotavirus vaccination.

31754717

PMC7371463

Journal Article

CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHS/United States

CDC Public Access