[Molecular epidemiology of diarrhea among children with Norwalk-like virus in a hospital of Guangzhou in autumn and winter].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the epidemiological characteristics of Norwalk-like virus (NLVs) infection in children with diarrhea and to study the genotype and predominant cluster at a hospital in Guangzhou city.


METHODS
Fecal specimens from 358 children with acute gastroenteritis from October 2003 to January 2004 and information about the cases were collected. NLVs was detected from the specimens by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the PCR products were purified and sequenced.


RESULTS
Forty-two positive specimens were detected from the 358 fecal specimen with a positive rate of 11.73% (42/358). Of these, 40 specimens were obtained from infants younger than 3 years of age. The youngest infant infected with NLVs in this study was only 25 days. The positive rate in November (17.27%) was the highest. Eleven positive PCR products were selected and sequenced. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that 11 strains all belong to genogroup II (G II), and of these, 5 strains belonged to G II-3 cluster, with another 5 strains belonged to G II-4 cluster. However, one strain with its cluster could not be determined.


CONCLUSIONS
NLVs served as one of the important pathogens causing sporadic acute gastroenteritis among children at a hospital in Guangzhou. The predominant strains were identified as G II-3 and G II-4 cluster.
Liu
Yi
Y
Epidemiology Department, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Dai
Ying-chun
YC
Yao
Ying-min
YM
Li
Jian-dong
JD
Zhan
Hui-chun
HC
Chen
Qing
Q
Yu
Shou-yi
SY
Nie
Jun
J
D017677:Age Distribution; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012621:Seasons; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D017678:Sex Distribution
D012367:RNA, Viral