title: Molecular epidemiology of 'Norwalk-like viruses' associated with gastroenteritis outbreaks in New Zealand.
abstract: Outbreaks of gastroenteritis are a major public health problem in New Zealand. The introduction of molecular detection methods has now shown that the 'Norwalk-like viruses' (NLVs) are the major cause of food and waterborne nonbacterial gastroenteritis. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to determine the presence of NLVs in faecal specimens from 83 nonbacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks occurring in New Zealand between August 1995 and July 1999. Further characterisation of the NLVs for epidemiological purposes was carried out by dot blot DNA hybridisation and DNA sequencing of representative outbreak strains. The majority of NLV strains occurring in New Zealand since August 1995 are similar to those occurring overseas. The predominant New Zealand strain is genetically similar to the Bristol/Lordsdale virus group. Several New Zealand outbreaks were attributed to Auckland virus, a Mexico-like NLV strain identified as the most likely cause of gastroenteritis after consumption of contaminated oysters in 1994. A new strain, designated Napier virus, has been identified in six outbreaks since 1996. A number of strains closely resembling internationally recognised strains, including Southampton virus, Saratoga virus; Desert Shield virus and Melksham virus have been associated with gastroenteritis outbreaks across New Zealand. Application of these typing methods has provided information on disease transmission for epidemiological investigations of public health significance.
authors: Communicable Disease Group, Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) Ltd., Kenepuru Science Centre, Porirua, New Zealand. gail.greening@esr.cri.nz
authors: G E
authors: GE
authors: Greening
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Mirams
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Berke
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005517:Foodborne Diseases; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D015994:Incidence; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009663:Norwalk virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral