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Human parechoviruses (HPeVs) are widespread pathogens causing a wide spectrum of diseases. The prevalence and genetic diversity of HPeV in children with acute diarrhea in China is not well known. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of HPeV in Guangzhou, China. A total of 328 stool specimens collected from children under the age of 5 years with acute diarrhea were tested for the presence of HPeV. Of these, 44 (13.4 %, 44/328) were HPeV positive, with the majority of the infected children (97.7 %, 43/44) being younger than two years of age. HPeV was more frequently detected during July and August. The epidemiological profile of co-infections was similar to that observed in a previous study. Six different HPeV genotypes, including HPeV1, -3, -4, -5, -6, and -14, were identified, and of these, HPeV14, a rarely reported genotype, was reported for the first time in children with acute gastroenteritis in China. In summary, this study clearly demonstrated that HPeV circulating in Guangzhou, China, is genetically diverse, including six genotypes, and it provides useful epidemiological data on the features of HPeV infection in this area.

Astroviruses are associated with acute gastroenteritis of human and many animal species. Recently, two studies have reported that novel astroviruses were found in bats. In order to extensively understand the genetic and phylogenetic characterization of bat astroviruses, we tested fecal samples of nine bat species that were collected at four natural habitats in three areas of southern China. The geographic distributions of the bats involved differed from previous reports. Three out of nine species of bats were observed to harbor astroviruses. These included Miniopterus schreibersii, Scotophilus kuhlii, and Rousettus leschenaultia. Phylogenetic analysis based on amino acid sequences of partial ORFs of astroviruses revealed that the bat astroviruses are not only divergent from previously described human and other animal astroviruses but also show remarkable diversity among themselves. However, five bat astroviruses were phylogenetically related to mink astrovirus, ovine astrovirus, and the recently discovered human astroviruses VA1, VA2, and VA3. The results indicate that astroviruses may have adapted to the Chiroptera, and bats may transmit astroviruses to humans and other animals, or vice versa.