title: Characterisation of norovirus strains in rural Ghanaian children with acute diarrhoea.
abstract: The incidence of calicivirus infection in Ghana and many other African countries is not known. Thirteen (15.9%) of the 82 diarrhoeic stool samples tested for caliciviruses were positive for noroviruses (NoVs). NoVs were present in all age groups and were detected only during the diarrhoea peak that coincided with the peak rotavirus season. Ten (76.9%) of the NoV detected were genogroup II (GII) NoVs and the remaining three (23.1%) genogroup I (GI) NoVs. The predominant GII detected was GII-4 (60%, 6/10). Three of the GII NoVs were determined to be recombinants of GII-8/GII-14 as deduced from the sequencing of the region spanning the Orf1/2 junction. The GII genotypes formed four clusters with published GII sequences. The data shown enhances understanding of NoV diversity in Ghanaian children and demonstrate the global spread of distinct common genotypes to African countries.
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. garmah@noguchi.mimcom.net
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Armah
authors.forename: Chris I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Gallimore
authors.forename: Fred N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Binka
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Asmah
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Ucheoma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ugoji
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anto
authors.forename: David W G
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Jim J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D029322:Norovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*