Noroviruses associated with acute gastroenteritis in a children's day care facility in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

Noroviruses (Norwalk-like viruses) are an important cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. They are the most common cause of outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the adult population and occur in nursing homes for the elderly, geriatric wards, medical wards, and in hotel and restaurant settings. Food-borne outbreaks have also occurred following consumption of contaminated oysters. This study describes the application of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay using random primers (PdN6) and specific Ni and E3 primers, directed at a small region of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerasecoding region of the norovirus genome, and DNA sequencing for the detection and preliminary characterisation of noroviruses in outbreaks of gastroenteritis in children in Brazil. The outbreak samples were collected from children <5 years of age at the Bertha Lutz children's day care facility at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, that occurred between 1996 and 1998, where no pathogen had been identified. At the Bertha Lutz day care center facility, only Fiocruz's employee children are provided for, and they come from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds. Three distinct genogroup II strains were detected in three outbreaks in 1997/98 and were most closely related to genotypes GII-3 (Mexico virus) and GII-4 (Grimsby virus), both of which have been detected in paediatric and adult outbreaks of gastroenteritis worldwide. Correspondence

Genetic diversity of noroviruses in Brazil

“…However, they could not be included in the phylogenetic analysis because nucleotide sequencing and genotyping was performed in regions that encode for RNA dependent-RNA polymerase, known as region A and B of the genome (Parks et al 1999, Gallimore et al 2004, Borges et al 2006, Campos et al 2008). …”

“…In Brazil, the impact of NoVs is underestimated. Diagnostic and epidemiologic data are obtained mainly from research institutions, which demonstrates the importance of NoVs in communities and hospitalized children (Gabbay et al 1994, Parks et al 1999, Gallimore et al 2004, Borges et al 2006, Soares et al 2007, Victoria et al 2007, Ferreira et al 2008, Xavier et al 2009, Barreira et al 2010. The aim of this study is to determine the NoV genotypes detected in different Brazilian states and to assess the genetic diversity of those viruses by raising NoV samples previously characterized.…”

Hospitalization due to norovirus and genotypes of rotavirus in pediatric patients, state of Espírito Santo

“…However, little information is available concerning sporadic NoV infection in clinical or in hospitalized patients in developing countries (Gallimore et al 2004, Borges et al 2006, Soares et al 2007, Victoria et al 2007). …”

“…Human NoV strains belong to GI, GII or GIV genogroups from the five existing ones. NoVs are the major cause of epidemic gastroenteritis worldwide and are related to the consumption of food and water or aquatic recreational activities attacking persons of all ages (de Wit et al 2003), as well as outbreaks in nurseries, hospitals, daycare centers and hotels (Gallimore et al 2004, de Wit et al 2007). However, since the 1990s, molecular procedures have recognized this virus as a common agent of sporadic self-limiting gastroenteritis (de Wit et al 2001, Marshall et al 2003, Oh et al 2003.…”

Detection of calicivirus from fecal samples from children with acute gastroenteritis in the West Central region of Brazil

“…Therefore, the prevalence of human calicivirus is underestimated or even unknown, particularly in developing countries , Gallimore et al 2004). In the present study, an overall positivity rate of 8.6% for calicivirus was observed for children from two cities located in the West Central region of Brazil.…”