Premium
Norovirus GII‐4 2006b variant circulating in patients with acute gastroenteritis in Thailand during a 2006–2007 study
Author(s) -
Kittigul Leera,
Pombubpa Kannika,
Taweekate Yuthana,
Diraphat Pornphan,
Sujirarat Dusit,
Khamrin Pattara,
Ushijima Hiroshi
Publication year - 2010
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.21746
Subject(s) - norovirus , genotype , virology , caliciviridae , acute gastroenteritis , biology , nested polymerase chain reaction , polymerase chain reaction , feces , microbiology and biotechnology , virus , genetics , gene
Noroviruses (NoVs) are recognized as a significant cause of acute gastroenteritis in children and adults. A 14‐month study, from January 2006 to February 2007, was undertaken in a hospital in Thailand to determine the prevalence and genetic characterization of NoVs in patients of all ages with acute gastroenteritis. Based on reverse transcription‐nested polymerase chain reaction (RT‐nested PCR), NoVs were detected in 122 of 273 (44.7%) collected stool samples. Of the 122 NoV‐positive samples, 28 (23%) belonged to GI, 79 (64.8%) belonged to GII, and 15 (12.2%) were mixed infections of GI and GII strains. Three NoV GI‐positive and 42 NoV GII‐positive samples were characterized successfully by DNA sequencing of the RT‐nested PCR products and phylogenetic analysis. For NoV GI, two genotypes were identified: GI‐2 (one sample) and GI‐6 (two samples). NoV GII could be classified further into five distinct genotypes: GII‐2 (1 sample), GII‐3 (3 samples), GII‐4 (14 samples), GII‐6 (3 samples), and GII‐17 (2 samples), and one unclassified genotype (19 samples). All NoV GII‐4 strains showed 88–98% nucleotide identity with NoV GII‐4 2006b variants reported worldwide. Among genotypes of NoV characterized, one co‐infected stool sample exhibited NoVs GI‐6 and GII‐4 2006b. This study suggests that there is an important role of NoVs as etiologic agents in patients with acute gastroenteritis. The predominant circulating genotype of NoV infections is GII‐4 2006b variant. J. Med. Virol. 82: 854–860, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.