title: Evaluation of an immunochromatography method for rapid detection of noroviruses in clinical specimens in Thailand.
abstract: Norovirus (NoV) is a causative agent of gastroenteritis in children and adults worldwide. Although reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been accepted as the standard method for diagnosis of NoV infection, it requires well-trained personnel and sophisticated equipments. Performance of a commercial immunochromatography (IC) test for rapid detection of NoV was evaluated with fecal specimens collected from children admitted to a hospital with acute gastroenteritis during 2005-2007 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. A total of 463 fecal specimens were tested for the presence of NoV by a commercial immunochromatography kit (IP-NoV) and by RT-PCR. Sensitivity, specificity, and agreement of immunochromatography as compared to RT-PCR were 74.2%, 99.5%, and 96.1%, respectively. Based on the NoV genotypes determined by phylogenetic analysis, immunochromatography detected NoV GII/3, GII/4, GII/6, GII/13, GII/15, and GII/16 genotypes. The findings indicate that the immunochromatography kit could be used for a direct detection of NoV GII in clinical specimens and covering a wide range of NoV genotypes circulating in Thailand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Medical Sciences, School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Aksara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thongprachum
authors.forename: Pattara
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khamrin
authors.forename: Natthawan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaimongkol
authors.forename: Rungnapa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malasao
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okitsu
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizuguchi
authors.forename: Niwat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maneekarn
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ushijima
mesh_terms: D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic