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Molecular epidemiology of norovirus in children and the elderly in Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Author(s) -
Yi Jumi,
Wahl Kelly,
Sederdahl Bethany K.,
Jerris Robert R.,
Kraft Colleen S.,
McCracken Courtney,
Gillespie Scott,
Anderson Evan J.,
Kirby Amy E.,
Shane Andi L.,
Moe Christine L.
Publication year - 2016
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.24436
Subject(s) - norovirus , medicine , epidemiology , genotype , diarrhea , pediatrics , pediatric intensive care unit , intensive care unit , outbreak , virology , intensive care medicine , biology , biochemistry , gene
Noroviruses are an important cause of gastroenteritis, which can be severe at the extremes of ages. Data documenting the endemic burden of norovirus among children and elderly adults are lacking. Stool specimens submitted for clinical testing were collected from elderly (≥65 years) adults and children (<18 years) with acute vomiting and/or diarrhea seeking care at several metropolitan Atlanta adult and pediatric hospitals from January 2013–June 2013. Specimens were tested for norovirus with real‐time RT‐PCR and sequenced if norovirus was detected. Corresponding clinical and demographic data were abstracted from retrospective chart review. Norovirus was detected in 11% (11/104) of elderly specimens and 11% (67/628) of pediatric, with GII.4 Sydney_2012 detected in 64% (7/11) of elderly norovirus‐positive and 11% (8/67) of pediatric specimens, P < 0.001. In comparison to hospitalized children, hospitalized elderly with norovirus were more commonly admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (36% vs. 7%, P = 0.02). Norovirus in the elderly can be associated with severe illness requiring ICU admissions. The pediatric group demonstrated greater variability in genotype distribution. Ongoing surveillance of norovirus genotypes is crucial for norovirus vaccine development in understanding circulating and emerging genotypes. J. Med. Virol. 88:961–970, 2016 . © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.