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Sun Y, Yuan Y, Mao H, Su L, Ge Q, Gao J, Xu C, Gong L. Molecular Epidemiology of Human Norovirus Variants from Outbreaks in Zhejiang Province, China, during 2021. Adv Virol 2024; 2024:7972494. [PMID: 38846347 PMCID: PMC11156503 DOI: 10.1155/2024/7972494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Noroviruses are the most frequent cause of epidemic acute viral gastroenteritis in China. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the molecular epidemiological characteristics of norovirus outbreaks and the molecular genetic features of norovirus in Zhejiang Province during 2021. Methods First, the local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the outbreak area conducted on-site epidemiologic investigations and collected samples from ill patients for initial testing. The general epidemiologic characteristics of the demographic information are presented through descriptive analysis. Positive samples were sent to the Microbiology Laboratory of Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention for further verification. The presence of norovirus genogroups I (GI) and II (GII), along with sapovirus, was detected. Subsequently, the specimens positive for norovirus were sequenced for genotyping purposes. Furthermore, the whole genomes of positive samples were sequenced, enabling the characterization of both nucleotide and amino acid differences within the virus. Finally, phylogenetic trees were constructed to further analyze and understand the genetic relationships among the detected viruses. Result 227 norovirus outbreaks were reported in Zhejiang Province, China, during 2021. Schools were the main setting while January was the peak month for outbreaks. A total of 17 diverse genotypes of norovirus were identified in 2021, and GII.P16-GII.2 was the most frequent genotype (30.19%). Seven genomes (five GI.P4-GI.5 and two GII.P16-GII.2) were obtained. Although GI.P4-GI.5 is considered to be a rare genotype of norovirus, the prevalence might have been underestimated. Capsid microvariation of GII.2 displayed histo-blood group antigen binding patterns compared to the GII.2 prototype, although VP1 sequences were considered to have a minimal impact on antigenicity. Conclusion This study revealed the diversity of norovirus strains' genotypes circulating in Zhejiang Province in 2021. Continued molecular surveillance of noroviruses should be strengthened in our further efforts to the development of vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Sun
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yongjuan Yuan
- Jia Shan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haiyan Mao
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lingxuan Su
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiong Ge
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian Gao
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Changping Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liming Gong
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Khamrin P, Kumthip K, Yodmeeklin A, Okitsu S, Motomura K, Sato S, Ushijima H, Maneekarn N. Genetic recombination and genotype diversity of norovirus GI in children with acute gastroenteritis in Thailand, 2015-2021. J Infect Public Health 2024; 17:379-385. [PMID: 38237357 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human norovirus is a predominant etiological agent responsible for acute gastroenteritis across all age groups. Recently, norovirus recombinant strains have been reported as the cause of norovirus outbreaks in several settings and the strains that cause outbreaks mostly belong to the norovirus GII. However, yet, the norovirus GI recombinant strains have never been reported previously in Thailand. The aims of this study were to investigate the genetic recombination and genotype diversity of norovirus GI strains in children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in Chiang Mai, Thailand during a period of seven years from 2015 to 2021. METHODS A total of 2829 stool specimens were screened for norovirus GI by real-time PCR, and the polymerase and capsid genes were sequenced and analyzed. RESULTS Of 2829 specimens tested, 12 (0.4%) were positive for norovirus GI. Of these, 7 out of 12 (58.3%) strains were identified as norovirus GI recombinant strains. Among 7 norovirus GI recombinant strains, 3, 3, and 1 were identified as GI.3[P13], GI.5[P4], and GI.6[P11], respectively. The remaining five strains were identified as non-recombinant strains of the GI.4[P4], GI.5[P5], and GI.6[P6] genotypes. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the genetic diversity and multiple intergenotype recombinant strains of norovirus GI circulating in children with acute gastroenteritis in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 2015 to 2021. The detection of multiple intergenotype norovirus GI recombinant strains further underscore the complexity of norovirus GI strains circulating in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pattara Khamrin
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Emerging and Re-emerging Diarrheal Viruses, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kattareeya Kumthip
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Emerging and Re-emerging Diarrheal Viruses, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Arpaporn Yodmeeklin
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Emerging and Re-emerging Diarrheal Viruses, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Shoko Okitsu
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazushi Motomura
- Epidemiology Section, Division of Public Health, Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shintaro Sato
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ushijima
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Niwat Maneekarn
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Emerging and Re-emerging Diarrheal Viruses, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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Sarmento SK, de Andrade JDSR, Malta FC, Fialho AM, Mello MDS, Burlandy FM, Fumian TM. Norovirus Epidemiology and Genotype Circulation during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil, 2019-2022. Pathogens 2023; 13:3. [PMID: 38276149 PMCID: PMC10818385 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Norovirus stands out as a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) worldwide, affecting all age groups. In the present study, we investigated fecal samples from medically attended AGE patients received from nine Brazilian states, from 2019 to 2022, including the COVID-19 pandemic period. Norovirus GI and GII were detected and quantified using RT-qPCR, and norovirus-positive samples underwent genotyping through sequencing the ORF1/2 junction region. During the four-year period, norovirus prevalence was 37.2%, varying from 20.1% in 2020 to 55.4% in 2021. GII genotypes dominated, being detected in 92.9% of samples. GII-infected patients had significantly higher viral concentrations compared to GI-infected patients (median of 3.8 × 107 GC/g and 6.7 × 105 GC/g, respectively); and patients aged >12-24 months showed a higher median viral load (8 × 107 GC/g) compared to other age groups. Norovirus sequencing revealed 20 genotypes by phylogenetic analysis of RdRp and VP1 partial regions. GII.4 Sydney[P16] was the dominant genotype (57.3%), especially in 2019 and 2021, followed by GII.2[P16] (14.8%) and GII.6[P7] (6.3%). The intergenogroup recombinant genotype, GIX.1[GII.P15], was detected in five samples. Our study is the first to explore norovirus epidemiology and genotype distribution in Brazil during COVID-19, and contributes to understanding the epidemiological dynamics of norovirus and highlighting the importance of continuing to follow norovirus surveillance programs in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tulio Machado Fumian
- Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, RJ, Brazil (F.M.B.)
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