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Molecular epidemiology of norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks in North Carolina, United States: 1995–2000
Author(s) -
Tseng F.C.,
Leon J.S.,
MacCormack J.N.,
Maillard J.M.,
Moe C.L.
Publication year - 2007
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.20729
Subject(s) - outbreak , norovirus , virology , caliciviridae , transmission (telecommunications) , epidemiology , molecular epidemiology , acute gastroenteritis , amplicon , biology , medicine , polymerase chain reaction , genotype , genetics , gene , electrical engineering , engineering
Noroviruses (NoVs) are the most common cause of acute non‐bacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks in the US. We investigated 16 gastroenteritis outbreaks in North Carolina (NC), from 1995 to 2000, to further characterize the epidemiology of NoV using RT‐PCR on stool and ELISA on sera. NoV were identified in 14 outbreaks by RT‐PCR. Sequence analyses of the amplicons indicated the outbreak strains belonged to the following clusters: five GII/4, three GI/3, one GI/4, one GII/2, one GII/5, one GII/7, and one GII/13 (prototype strain). We detected NoV in stool samples from one outbreak but could not determine its specific cluster within the GII genogroup based on polymerase sequence analysis. The five GII/4 strains were classified as the “95/96 US common strain” and occurred throughout the 5‐year period. In contrast to national trends, the majority (86%) of NoV outbreaks identified in North Carolina were foodborne. Of the 12 food‐related NoV outbreaks, we were able to document transmission by food handlers in two outbreaks. Person‐to‐person transmission from primary cases was suggested in three outbreaks. Our results indicate that NoVs are important agents of viral gastroenteritis outbreaks in NC. J. Med. Virol. 79:84–91, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.