Norwalk-like virus 95/96-US strain is a major cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks in Australia.
Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs) were detected using a nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers directed to the RNA polymerase region. Samples were examined from 11 separate outbreaks of gastroenteritis and five sporadic cases of childhood gastroenteritis between 1997 and 2000. Phylogenetic analysis of the 298 bp sequences showed that all strains belong to NLV genogroup II and the majority of the sequenced isolates (30/36) were members of the 95/96-US subset of strains associated with outbreaks recorded worldwide between 1995 and 1996. This was confirmed by analysis of the full length capsid region of a representative Australian isolate. This study demonstrates the usefulness of targeting primers for NLVs to the predominant circulating genotype(s) and confirms the spread of this subtype globally, including the Southern Hemisphere.
White
Peter A
PA
Virology Division, Department of Microbiology, SEALS, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, Australia.
Hansman
Grant S
GS
Li
Angelina
A
Dable
Joanne
J
Isaacs
Monica
M
Ferson
Mark
M
McIver
Christopher J
CJ
Rawlinson
William D
WD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D014943:Global Health; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases