Evidence of the etiological predominance of norovirus in gastroenteritis outbreaks--emerging new-variant and recombinant noroviruses in Hungary.
Between January 2001 and December 2003, stool specimens from 262 (45%) of 581 reported outbreaks of gastroenteritis were investigated for noroviruses in Hungary. Specimens collected from outbreaks of non-bacterial gastroenteritis were examined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme immunoassay. In 253 (97%) of 262 outbreaks, norovirus was detected and confirmed by sequencing in 211 (81%). Hospitals (35%), day care centers (30%), and elderly homes (27%) were the most common settings. Diversity and frequency of the genotypes changed over time but with predominance (95%) of genogroup (GG) II strains. Strains grouped into 11 genotypes including an epidemic spread of new-variant GGII4 (Lordsdale virus) and a recently emerged group of natural recombinant strains (GGIIb/Hilversum polymerase) with four capsid types (Hawaii, Mexico, Snow Mountain, and Lordsdale). Clusters of epidemics including food-borne outbreaks were detected. According to this study, noroviruses are the predominant etiological agents causing gastroenteritis outbreaks in Hungary.
Reuter
Gábor
G
Regional Laboratory of Virology, ANTSZ Baranya County Institute of State Public Health Service, Pécs, Hungary. reuter@baranya.anstz.hu
Krisztalovics
Katalin
K
Vennema
Harry
H
Koopmans
Marion
M
Szucs
György
G
D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D002213:Capsid; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017385:Sequence Homology
D012367:RNA, Viral