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Genetic susceptibility to symptomatic norovirus infection in Nicaragua
Author(s) -
Bucardo Filemon,
Kindberg Elin,
Paniagua Margarita,
Vildevall Malin,
Svensson Lennart
Publication year - 2009
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.21426
Subject(s) - norovirus , virology , antibody , biology , population , outbreak , genotype , antigen , titer , blood type (non human) , immunology , virus , medicine , abo blood group system , gene , genetics , environmental health
Host genetic resistance to Norovirus (NoV) has been observed in challenge and outbreak studies in populations from Europe, Asia, and USA. In this study, we have investigated if histo‐blood group antigens can predict susceptibility to diarrhea caused by NoV in Nicaragua, Central America, and if this can be reflected in antibody‐prevalence and titer to NoV among individuals with different histo‐blood group antigen phenotypes. Investigation of 28 individuals infected with NoV and 131 population controls revealed 6% of non‐secretors in the population and nil non‐secretors among patients infected with NoV, suggesting that non‐secretors may be protected against NoV disease in Nicaragua. Surprisingly, 25% of the population was Lewis negative (Le a−b− ). NoV infections with genogroup I (GI) and GII occurred irrespective of Lewis genotype, but none of the Lewis a positive (Le a + b− ) were infected. The globally dominating GII.4 virus infected individuals of all blood groups except AB (n = 5), while the GI viruses (n = 4) infected only blood type O individuals. Furthermore, O blood types were susceptible to infections with GI.4, GII.4, GII.7, GII.17, and GII.18‐Nica viruses, suggesting that secretors with blood type O are susceptible (OR = 1.52) and non‐secretors resistant. The overall antibody‐prevalence to NoV GII.3 VLP was 62% with the highest prevalence among blood type B carriers (70%) followed by A (68%) and O (62%). All four investigated individuals carrying blood type AB were antibody‐negative. Among secretors, 63% were antibody‐positive compared to 33% among non‐secretors ( P = 0.151). This study extends previous knowledge about the histo‐blood group antigens role in NoV disease in a population with different genetic background than North American and European. J. Med. Virol. 81:728–735, 2009 © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.