The submitted paper summarizes the first data on the incidence of astroviruses in specimens of faeces of children suffering from gastroenteritis in the Slovak Republic. The presence of the astrovirus antigen was revealed in 21 specimens (11.2%) of the investigated groups comprising 188 children. Astrovirus infection only was detected in 8 specimens (4.3%) and mixed infection with astroviruses and rotaviruses in 13 samples (6.9%), incl. six from 0–11-month-old infants. The results indicate the need to extend the spectrum of enteral pathogens elucidating diarrhoeal diseases by the diagnosis of astroviruses.

        Key words: astroviruses – rotaviruses – virus gastroenteritis – mixed infection.