Molecular Characterization of Norovirus Strains Isolated from Older Children and Adults in Impoverished Communities of Vhembe District, South Africa

Mulondo, Goodman; Khumela, Ronewa; Kabue, Jean Pierre; Traore, Afsatou Ndama; Potgieter, Natasha

doi:10.1155/2020/8436951

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Though previous studies have reported NoV causing acute gastroenteritis associated with moderate to severe diarrhea disease [55,56], the current study, compared to other recent AGE etiology investigations, found NoV infections to be associated with severe AGE [57][58][59]. Of note, previous NoV surveys in the study area did not report a high presence of dehydrating diarrhea as revealed in the current study [25,60]. There was a rise in dehydration cases associated with an enhanced NoV activity over years in the study area (Figure 1).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 61%

Norovirus-Associated Gastroenteritis Vesikari Score and Pre-Existing Salivary IgA in Young Children from Rural South Africa

Kabue,

Khumela,

Meader

et al. 2023

Viruses

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Norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis, mostly affecting young children worldwide. However, limited data are available to determine the severity of norovirus-associated AGE (acute gastroenteritis) and to correlate it with the NoV-specific IgA antibodies’ level. Between October 2019 and September 2021, two hundred stool samples were randomly collected from symptomatic cases for the vesikari score and NoV-specific IgA assessment in young children from rural South Africa. Additionally, one hundred saliva specimens were concomitantly sampled within the same cohort to evaluate the NoV-specific salivary IgA levels. In addition, 50 paired saliva and stool samples were simultaneously collected from asymptomatic children to serve as controls. NoV strains in stool samples were detected using real-time RT-PCR, amplified, and genotyped with RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. ELISA using NoV VLP (virus-like particles) GII.4 as antigens was performed on the saliva specimens. Dehydrated children were predominantly those with NoV infections (65/74, 88%; p < 0.0001). NoV-positive infections were significantly associated with the severe diarrhea cases having a high vesikari score (55%, 33/60) when compared to the non-severe diarrheal score (29.3%, 41/140; p < 0.0308). NoV of the GII genogroup was mainly detected in severe diarrhea cases (50.9%, 30/59; p = 0.0036). The geometric means of the NoV-specific IgA level were higher in the asymptomatic NoV-infected group (0.286) as compared to the symptomatic group (0.174). This finding suggests that mucosal immunity may not protect the children from the NoV infection. However, the findings indicated the contribution of the pre-existing NoV-specific IgA immune response in reducing the severity of diarrheal disease. A high vesikari score of AGE associated with the NoV GII genogroup circulating in the study area underscores the need for an appropriate treatment of AGE based on the severity level of NoV-associated clinical symptoms in young children.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 61%

Norovirus-Associated Gastroenteritis Vesikari Score and Pre-Existing Salivary IgA in Young Children from Rural South Africa

Kabue,

Khumela,

Meader

et al. 2023

Viruses

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“…2017 South Africa South Africa Cohort < 5 Multiplex PCR 205 32 28 [ 26 ] Nxele et al (2017) June–August 2014 South Africa South Africa Cross-sectional < 5 Rt-qPCR 182 41 None [ 62 ] Molondo et al (2020) August 2017–Oct. 2018 South Africa South Africa Cross-sectional < 5 Rt-qPCR 80 13 4 [ 27 ] Tatay et al (2018) June–May 2017 Sudan North Africa Cross-sectional < 5 Rt-qPCR 66 19 None [ 63 ] Elsayed et al (2019) Jan. 2018–May 2019 Egypt North Africa Cross-sectional < 18 Rt-qPCR 200 61 None [ 64 ] Lartey et al (2020) Jan. 2008–Dec. 2017 Ghana West Africa Surveillance ...…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The highest prevalence of GI NoVs was reported in a study conducted in Angola. Most the included articles used open reading frame-2 (ORF-2) for genotyping and or sequencing, but some studies [ 12 , 19 , 20 , 26 , 27 ] used dual systems of genotyping using both ORF-1 and ORF-2.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pooled prevalence and genetic diversity of norovirus in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Afework

Shumie

Endalew

et al. 2022

Virol J

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Background Noroviruses are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in all age groups globally. The problem is magnified in developing countries including Africa. These viruses are highly prevalent with high genetic diversity and fast evolution rates. With this dynamicity, there are no recent review in the past five years in Africa. Therefore, this review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence and genetic diversity of noroviruses in Africa and tried to address the change in the prevalence and genetic diverisity the virus has been observed in Africa and in the world. Methods Twenty-one studies for the pooled prevalence, and 11 out of the 21 studies for genetic characterization of norovirus were included. Studies conducted since 2006, among symptomatic cases of all age groups in Africa, conducted with any study design, used molecular diagnostic methods and reported since 2015, were included and considered for the main meta-analysis. PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched to obtain the studies. The quality the studies was assessed using the JBI assessment tool. Data from studies reporting both asymptomatic and symptomatic cases, that did not meet the inclusion criteria were reviewed and included as discussion points. Data was entered to excel and imported to STATA 2011 to compute the prevalence and genetic diversity. Heterogeneity was checked using I2 test statistics followed by subgroup and sensitivity analysis. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and eggers test that was followed by trim and fill analysis. Result The pooled prevalence of norovirus was 20.2% (95% CI: 15.91, 24.4). The highest (36.3%) prevalence was reported in Ghana. Genogroup II noroviruses were dominant and reported as 89.5% (95% CI: 87.8, 96). The highest and lowest prevalence of this genogroup were reported in Ethiopia (98.3%), and in Burkina Faso (72.4%), respectively. Diversified genotypes had been identified with an overall prevalence of GII. 4 NoV (50.8%) which was followed by GII.6, GII.17, GI.3 and GII.2 with a pooled prevalence of 7.7, 5.1, 4.6, and 4.2%, respectively. Conclusion The overall pooled prevalence of norovirus was high in Africa with the dominance of genogroup II and GII.4 genotype. This prevalence is comparable with some reviews done in the same time frame around the world. However, in Africa, an in increasing trained of pooled prevalence had been reported through time. Likewise, a variable distribution of non-GII.4 norovirus genotypes were reported as compared to those studies done in the world of the same time frame, and those previous reviews done in Africa. Therefore, continuous surveillance is required in Africa to support future interventions and vaccine programs.

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“…Recent epidemiological studies in South Africa showed substantial prevalence in urban hospitalized settings [10][11][12]; however, more data which includes both symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers in hospitalized and outpatients from rural community settings are needed to estimate the total prevalence of astrovirus circulating in the country. Previous studies showed high prevalence of enteric viruses in the Vhembe District suggesting frequent exposure of children to enteric pathogens [13,14]. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the symptomatic and asymptomatic prevalence of classic human astrovirus strains circulating in the Vhembe District among hospitalized and outpatient children.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Human Astrovirus in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Children: A Cross-Sectional Study on Hospitalized and Outpatients from Rural Communities of South Africa between 2017–2021

et al. 2021

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Human astroviruses are considered acute gastroenteritis agents (AGE) and are largely reported in children worldwide. There are limited data on astrovirus prevalence in rural communities, especially in hospitalized and asymptomatic cases. This study was a cross-sectional survey aiming to investigate the prevalence of classic human astroviruses in symptomatic and asymptomatic cases and hospitalized and outpatient children in rural communities of the Vhembe District, South Africa. A total of 236 stool samples (166 symptomatic and 70 asymptomatic) were collected from young children under 5 years of age. Real-time RT-PCR for astrovirus detection, RT-PCR amplification of capsid and polymerase partial genes as well as Sanger sequencing were performed. The classic astrovirus prevalence in symptomatic patients (7.23%, 12/166) as compared to healthy controls (4.29%, 3/70) was not statistically different (t-value: 1.782, p = 0.141: 95% CI). We did not observe a significant difference of classic astrovirus prevalence rate between the hospitalized group (6.52%, 3/46) and outpatient group (7.5%, 9/120). Symptomatic children below 6 months old were the most affected group (18.18%, 6/33). This study characterized human astrovirus genotype 2 and a putative recombinant strain (polymerase genotype 1/capsid genotype 2). Phylogenetic analysis revealed these genotypes are closely related to the strains circulating elsewhere within the African continent. The findings suggest that astrovirus is a common enteric pathogen in the study area. The results highlight the exposure of children and the need to monitor astroviruses for their potential impact in diarrhoeal diseases.

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Molecular Characterization of Norovirus Strains Isolated from Older Children and Adults in Impoverished Communities of Vhembe District, South Africa

Cited by 5 publications

References 59 publications

Norovirus-Associated Gastroenteritis Vesikari Score and Pre-Existing Salivary IgA in Young Children from Rural South Africa

Norovirus-Associated Gastroenteritis Vesikari Score and Pre-Existing Salivary IgA in Young Children from Rural South Africa

Pooled prevalence and genetic diversity of norovirus in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Human Astrovirus in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Children: A Cross-Sectional Study on Hospitalized and Outpatients from Rural Communities of South Africa between 2017–2021

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