First report on Torque Teno Virus in patients with gastroenteritis in Taiwan

Until now, data on the epidemiological (including ages and seasonality) features of Torque teno virus (TTV) infection in acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in Taiwan are limited. The aim of this study investigated TTV Infections in children and adults with gastroenteritis in Taiwan. One hundred fifty five AGE stool samples were collected from August 2011 to July 2012 and detected TTV using polymerase chain reaction method. TTV was isolated in 80 (51.6%) of 155 stool specimens. TTV was isolated from all age groups. Statistical analysis showed that the TTV infectious rate of AGE patients was statistically significant (P < 0.05) in summer, fall and winter season respectively. Data from this study showing the existence of TTV in fecal samples indicated that the high rates of prevalence of TTV among AGE patients might be due to a possible fecal-oral route of transmission of TTV.