Open AccessEvaluation of a New Norovirus Genogroups GI and GII In Vitro Molecular Diagnostic Assay Using Clinical Specimens Collected from Acute Diarrheal Outbreaks
Author(s) -
Shu-Chun Chiu,
Szu-Chieh Hu,
Ling-Min Liao,
Yuhua Chen,
Hui-Wen Liao,
JuChien Cheng,
Jer-Huei Lin
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
foodborne pathogens and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.833
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1556-7125
pISSN - 1535-3141
DOI - 10.1089/fpd.2021.0097
Subject(s) - norovirus , outbreak , virology , acute gastroenteritis , real time polymerase chain reaction , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , polymerase chain reaction , biology , gene , biochemistry
Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in Taiwan. To improve diagnosis as part of laboratory surveillance, AGE surveillance was conducted using a new fluorescent probe hydrolysis-based insulated isothermal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, the POCKIT system, and the results were compared with those obtained from conventional methods. A total of 119 clinical stool samples from reported AGE outbreaks were collected for this study. From 83 real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) norovirus-positive cases, the POCKIT system identified 78 with a sensitivity of 90.3% in GI genogroup and 96.7% in GII genogroup. The specificity for both GI and GII genogroups was 100%. Overall, the POCKIT system is faster and easier to use than the conventional rRT-PCR method, and because of its high sensitivity and specificity, this system is a promising alternative for the detection of norovirus in patients with AGE, and would benefit public health laboratories for near real-time surveillance of AGE epidemic outbreaks.