title: Norovirus infections and seroprevalence of genotype GII.4-specific antibodies in a Spanish population.
abstract: Genotype II.4 noroviruses (NoVs) are a leading cause of epidemic acute gastroenteritis in children and adults worldwide. The prevalence of different NoV genotypes causing outbreaks and sporadic cases of acute gastroenteritis in the region of Valencia, Spain, during a 4-year period (2008-11) was investigated. NoVs were detected in 42 out of 55 (76.3%) outbreaks and in 26 out of 332 (7.8%) sporadic cases of acute gastroenteritis. Genogroup GII strains were predominant in outbreaks and sporadic cases. Different genotype GII.4 variants were found (Yerseke_2006a, Den Haag_2006b, Apeldoorn_2007, and New Orleans_2009), with the latter variant detected most frequently (35.3%). A recombinant P domain of the NoV GII.4 Apeldoorn_2007 variant was produced in Escherichia coli and used as the coating antigen in an enzyme immunoassay to survey the IgG antibody seroprevalence against NoV GII.4 in a Spanish population. Baculovirus-expressed virus-like particles (VLPs) of NoV GII.4 Den Haag_2006b variant were also produced and used as antigen to compare seroreactivity. Of the 434 serum specimens analyzed, 429 (98.6%) had antibodies against the P domain. The comparison of reactivities of 30 serum samples to the NoV GII.4 P polypeptide and VLP showed reproducible results with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.794. Titers of antibodies to the P domain increased gradually and significantly with age, reaching the highest levels at the age group of 41-50 years. These results confirm the high prevalence of NoV GII.4 infections in Valencia from early childhood.
authors: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors: Noelia
authors: N
authors: Carmona-Vicente
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Fernández-Jiménez
authors: Juan M
authors: JM
authors: Ribes
authors: Carlos J
authors: CJ
authors: Téllez-Castillo
authors: Parisá
authors: P
authors: Khodayar-Pardo
authors: Jesús
authors: J
authors: Rodríguez-Diaz
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Buesa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: EIA; GII.4; IgG antibodies; genotypes; norovirus