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Molecular epidemiology of human calicivirus gastroenteritis outbreaks in Hungary, 1998 to 2000
Author(s) -
Reuter Gábor,
Farkas Tibor,
Berke Tamás,
Jiang Xi,
Matson David O.,
Szücs György
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.10216
Subject(s) - caliciviridae , calicivirus , outbreak , virology , norwalk virus , biology , virus , polymerase chain reaction , molecular epidemiology , norovirus , genotype , gene , genetics
Between November 1998 and November 2000, 196 stool specimens from 21 outbreaks of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis occurring in 11 of the 19 counties of Hungary were collected and tested for human caliciviruses. Human caliciviruses were detected and characterized by a type‐common enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) followed by cloning and sequencing. Twenty (95%) and 14 (67%) outbreaks were positive by EIA and RT‐PCR, respectively, and 12 RT‐PCR‐positive outbreaks were also confirmed by sequencing. Comparative sequence analysis revealed 13 Norwalk‐like virus sequences in the 12 outbreaks, including 11 Norwalk‐like virus genogroup II (seven in Hawaii‐like, two Lordsdale‐like, one Melksham‐like, and one Hillingdon‐like) and two Norwalk‐like virus genogroup I (related to Southampton‐like and Desert Shield‐like clusters) viruses. Multiple Norwalk‐like virus clusters, with a predominance of Hawaii‐like viruses, played an important role in nonbacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks during the study period. This is the first country‐wide molecular epidemiological investigation of human calicivirus‐associated, gastroenteritis outbreaks in Hungary and Central‐Eastern Europe. J. Med. Virol. 68:390–398, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.