title: Comprehensive analysis of a norovirus-associated gastroenteritis outbreak, from the environment to the consumer.
abstract: Noroviruses have been recognized to be the predominant agents of nonbacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks in humans, and their transmission via contaminated shellfish consumption has been demonstrated. Norovirus laboratory experiments, volunteer challenge studies, and community gastroenteritis outbreak investigations have identified human genetic susceptibility factors related to histo-blood group antigen expression. Following a banquet in Brittany, France, in February 2008, gastroenteritis cases were linked to oyster consumption. This study identified an association of the norovirus illnesses with histo-blood group expression, and oyster contamination with norovirus was confirmed by qualitative and quantitative analyses. The secretor phenotype was associated with illness, especially for the non-A subgroup. The study showed that, in addition to accidental climatic events that may lead to oyster contamination, illegal shellfish collection and trading are also risk factors associated with outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: IFREMER, Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Nantes, France. sleguyad@ifremer.fr
authors.forename: Françoise S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Le Guyader
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krol
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ambert-Balay
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruvoen-Clouet
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Desaubliaux
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parnaudeau
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Le Saux
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ponge
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pothier
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Atmar
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Le Pendu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D029322:Norovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral