title: Molecular and epidemiological trend of norovirus associated gastroenteritis in Dhaka City, Bangladesh.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diarrhea, over the years, has killed millions of people and continues to be a major threat in Bangladesh.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of norovirus infection in infants and young children with acute gastroenteritis in Dhaka City, Bangladesh and to determine the genogroup and genotype in norovirus-positive stool specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fecal specimens were collected from infants and children with acute gastroenteritis in Dhaka City, Bangladesh from October 2004 to September 2005, and examined for norovirus by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Noroviruses were detected in 41 of 917 fecal specimens. Molecular analysis of norovirus was carried out by sequencing methods. Only norovirus GII/4 strains were detected during this study. The dominant genotype throughout the study period was GII/4. Norovirus infections were most commonly observed in winter and rainy seasons in Dhaka City. The common clinical symptoms in norovirus-infected patients were diarrhea (90%), vomiting (75%) and abdominal pain (46%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first epidemiological research of norovirus in Bangladesh. Norovirus is an important enteropathogen responsible for viral gastroenteritis among infants and children in Bangladesh.
authors: Department of Developmental Medical Sciences, Institute of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors: Shuvra Kanti
authors: SK
authors: Dey
authors: Tuan Anh
authors: TA
authors: Nguyen
authors: Tung Gia
authors: TG
authors: Phan
authors: Osamu
authors: O
authors: Nishio
authors: Abul Faiz Mohammad
authors: AF
authors: Salim
authors: Majibur
authors: M
authors: Rahman
authors: Fumihiro
authors: F
authors: Yagyu
authors: Shoko
authors: S
authors: Okitsu
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Ushijima
mesh_terms: D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral