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Incidence and characteristics of endemic Norwalk‐like virus‐associated gastroenteritis
Author(s) -
Marshall John A.,
Hellard Margaret E.,
Sinclair Martha I.,
Fairley Christopher K.,
Cox Bradley J.,
Catton Michael G.,
Kelly Heath,
Wright Peter J.
Publication year - 2003
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.10346
Subject(s) - biology , caliciviridae , incidence (geometry) , acute gastroenteritis , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , virus , norovirus , physics , optics
Abstract Endemic gastroenteritis associated with the Norwalk‐like viruses (NLVs) is little understood. This study tested for NLV in gastroenteritis cases in 257 households in Melbourne, Australia, for the period September 1997 to February 1999 by a reverse transcription hemi‐nested polymerase chain reaction. Positive samples were studied by nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. NLV was detected in 73 (11.4%) of 638 faecal specimens tested. Twelve (1.9%) were NLV genogroup 1 (G1) and 61 (9.6%) NLV genogroup 2 (G2). Gastroenteritis symptoms associated with NLV G2/no other pathogens were significantly more severe than where no NLV was detected. NLV G1 and NLV G2 were detected in adults and children, males and females. NLV G2 incidence showed a marked seasonal periodicity with significant peaks in the Australian late spring/early summer periods. NLV G1 seasonality was significantly different from that of NLV G2. Seven major NLV clusters were identified by phylogenetic analysis. J. Med. Virol. 69:568–578, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.