title: Molecular characterization of norovirus variants and genetic diversity of noroviruses and sapoviruses in Thailand.
abstract: Norovirus (NoV) and Sapovirus (SaV) have been reported as a common cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. For a decade, surveillances of NoV and SaV have been conducted continually in Thailand. To monitor the epidemiological situation and to determine the genetic variation of NoV and SaV in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 567 samples collected from pediatric patients hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis were examined during 2007, and 2010-2011 by semi-nested RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing methods. NoV was detected at 15.9%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed multiple NoV genotypes, GI/14 (1.1%), GII/1 (1.1%), GII/2 (1.1%), GII/3 (4.4%), GII/4 (65.6%), GII/6 (10.0%), GII/7 (2.2%), GII/12 (4.4%), GII/13 (3.3%), GII/16 (5.7%), and unclassified genotype (1.1%), circulating in this area. Among these, NoV GII/4 was the most prevalent genotype with a predominance of GII/4 2009 over other variants, 1996, 2006a, and 2006b. For SaV, the prevalence was 1.2% which was much lower than those of NoV and only SaV GI/1 was detected. This study highlights the epidemiology of NoV and SaV and genetic diversity of viruses circulating in pediatric patients hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Natthawan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaimongkol
authors.forename: Pattara
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khamrin
authors.forename: Rungnapa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malasao
authors.forename: Aksara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thongprachum
authors.forename: Tipachan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kongsricharoern
authors.forename: Nuthapong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ukarapol
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ushijima
authors.forename: Niwat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maneekarn
mesh_terms: D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D029341:Sapovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Thailand; acute gastroenteritis; epidemiology; norovirus; sapovirus; variants