title: Molecular epidemiology of noroviruses in Northern Greece, 2005-2006.
abstract: Noroviruses (NoVs) are important human pathogens associated with acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide, displaying significant genetic heterogeneity. Genotype GII.4 is responsible for the majority of outbreaks reported to date. A total of 460 faecal samples from sporadic gastroenteritis cases were screened for the presence of NoV RNA. Four additional human samples collected during a waterborne NoV gastroenteritis outbreak observed in 2005 in northern Greece, were also included in the study. All PCR-positive samples were tested further using a multiplex RT-PCR, which targets the viral capsid VP1 region D. PCR products from all outbreak samples and from 20 randomly selected samples were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that GII.4 genotype predominated (70%), while genotypes GII.2 (10%), GII.7 (15%), and GI.1 (5%) were also detected. All the outbreak NoV strains belonged to the GI.1 genotype. The present study provides a first insight into the epidemiology and genetic diversity of NoVs in Greece and shows that various strains are circulating in the country and cause sporadic cases or outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Microbiology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Medical School, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Athina M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ifantidou
authors.forename: Melina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kachrimanidou
authors.forename: Soultana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Markopoulou
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kansouzidou
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malisiovas
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Greece; epidemiology; genotypes; norovirus