Detection of GII‐4/2006b variant and recombinant noroviruses in children with acute gastroenteritis, South Korea

Abstract

Norovirus (NoV), a single-stranded, positive RNA virus, is an important etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis in children worldwide. In this study, a total of 434 fecal samples collected from 434 children with acute gastroenteritis in Seoul, between September 2007 and July 2008 were tested to determine the molecular epidemiology of NoVs and characterize recombinant strains by using RT-PCR followed by sequencing. Of the 434 specimens, NoV, rotavirus, and adenovirus were detected in 155 (35.8%), 72 (16.6%), and 19 specimens (4.3%), respectively. NoV GI was detected in 7 specimens (1.6%) and GII in 148 (34.1%) specimens. Phylogenetic analysis of capsid sequences in the GII-positive specimens revealed the presence of the following strains: GII-4, 111 (75.0%); GII-3, 35 cases (23.6%); GII-6b, 1 case; and GII-16, 1 case. Most of the GII-4 strains were grouped with the GII-4/2006b variant with 98-100% nucleotide identity. Eleven strains were identified as recombinant (GII-4/GII-3 in 10 cases and GII-b polymerase/GII-16 capsid in 1 case) by sequencing based on the RdRP and capsid genes. The putative recombination point in the recombinant strains was the ORF-1/ORF2 overlap, located at nucleotide 5,046 with reference to Lordsdale. In conclusion, GII-4/2006b variants were detected predominantly and a new recombinant strain (GII-4/GII-3) was found in the Korean children with gastroenteritis. Continuous monitoring of the genetic diversity of NoVs is important to determine the trend of the predominant genotype and new recombinant strain.

Genetic diversity of noroviruses in Brazil

“…The GII.16 and GII.17 strains were found circulating simultaneously during a Rotavirus-A G9 gastroenteritis outbreak that occurred in 2005 in AC (North Region) , Tort et al 2010. These genotypes were also found circulating in South Korea, 2007, Argentina, 2005, and Thailand, 2006 (Gomes et al 2008, Chung et al 2010, Kittigul et al 2010. In Brazil, GII.12 was observed circulating in three different regions: Northeast, Southeast and South.…”

Prevalence and molecular characterization of human noroviruses and sapoviruses in Ethiopia

“…Therefore, it is essential to study increases in non-GII.4 strains to determine possible reasons for their increased transmissibility or population susceptibility. GII.17 strains were also reported in patients with acute gastroenteritis in other countries: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, South Korea, Thailand, Kenya, the USA and Japan [23,[58][59][60][61][62].…”

Characterization of norovirus strains in Australian children from 2006 to 2008: Prevalence of recombinant strains

“…GII.3 and GII.4 were detected equally in 2008, together causing over 90% of norovirus disease. A dominance of these genotypes was also observed in sporadic pediatric cases in South Korea in 2008 [Chung et al, 2010]. Conversely, outbreak studies in adult populations in Australia, Europe and Canada reported the GII.4 2006b subtype as the dominant type in 2008, with little GII.3 activity [Siebenga et al, 2008;Eden et al, 2010;Pang et al, 2010].…”