Molecular and epidemiological features of GIIb norovirus outbreaks in Victoria, Australia, 2002–2005

✍ Scribed by L.D. Bruggink; J.A. Marshall

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 173 KB
• Volume: 81
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21582

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The epidemiology of GIIb norovirus outbreaks and the characteristics of GIIb open reading frame (ORF) 2 recombinant forms are poorly understood and this study examined these questions using norovirus‐associated gastroenteritis outbreaks in Victoria, Australia, during 2002–2005. Twenty‐one GIIb outbreaks were detected and were the second most common ORF 1 norovirus outbreak genotype (5%) after GII.4 (90%). Both GIIb and GII.4 outbreaks peaked in warmer months of the year but their periodicity was different. ORF 2 sequencing analysis was carried out in the two regions previously designated C and D. RT‐PCR region D primers were less sensitive than region C primers. No evidence of recombination between regions C and D was found. ORF 2 genotypes for the 21 GIIb outbreaks were: GII.1 (10 outbreaks), GII.3 (10 outbreaks) and, apparently for the first time, GII.13 (1 outbreak). GIIb outbreaks could occur in a broad range of settings and there was no correlation between ORF 2 genotype and setting except that all 5 outbreaks involving mainly young children were associated with GIIb/GII.3. J. Med. Virol. 81:1652–1660, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.