Epidemic viral gastroenteritis in Queensland coincides with the emergence of a new norovirus variant.
Norovirus infections cause widespread morbidity and have significant economic impact on the community. An increase in outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis in hospitals, nursing homes and in the community was observed in Queensland in 2004. Molecular analysis of positive samples indicated the emergence of a single strain of norovirus. A 252 nucleotide sequence from the polymerase region (POL) was compared to sequences of the new variant genotype GII.4 that has caused epidemics in the Northern Hemisphere in 2002 and 2003. Sequence analysis indicated greater than 95 per cent similarity in the POL between the Queensland strain and the Northern Hemisphere 2002/3 GII.4 variant. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Queensland strain forms a branch within the GII.4 genotype separate from the 2002 variant from Europe and North America. Although norovirus genotype GII.4 had circulated in Queensland in the past, the 2004 strain was characterised specifically by three nucleotides not present in any other sequences held in our database covering the years 2002-June 2004.
Lyon
Michael J
MJ
Public Health Virology Laboratory, Queensland Health Scientific Services, Coopers Plains, Queensland. Michael_Lyon@health.qld.gov.au
Wei
Gang
G
Smith
Greg A
GA
D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D029322:Norovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors