[Molecular characteristics of noroviruses causing outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in Huzhou].
OBJECTIVE
To study the molecular characteristics of Noroviruses causing outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in Huzhou.


METHODS
From 2008 to 2010, total 119 fecal specimens collected from outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis were tested for Norovirus. Partial sequence of RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of the positive samples were amplified by RT-PCR, then the PCR production were purified, sequenced and put into phylogenetic analysis.


RESULTS
50 of 119 specimens were positive for Norovirus by real-time RT-PCR. Out of those 50 Norovirus positive specimens, 9 were Norovirus Genogroup I (GI) positive, 35 were Norovirus Genogroup II (GII) positive, 6 was both Norovirus GI and GII positive. 12 PCR products for RdRp were selected for further studies on sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 5 GI norovirus isolates were belonged to genotype GI/2 and GI/3. Of the 7 GII norovirus isolates, 6 were belonged to genotype GII/4, 1 was belonged to genotype Glib.


CONCLUSIONS
Norovirus is a major cause of outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in Huzhou and the epidemic strains of norovirus isolated from Huzhou had a high degree of genetic diversity.
Huzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Huzhou 313000, China.
Xiao-Fang
XF
Wu
Lei
L
Ji
De-Shun
DS
Xu
Jian-Kang
JK
Han
Yue-Hua
YH
Shen
Li-Ping
LP
Chen
Yun-Feng
YF
Zha
Ren-Shu
RS
Tang
Wen-Ting
WT
Yao
D000208:Acute Disease; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase