Retrospective study reveals the circulation of norovirus genotype GII.P21-GII.2 in Romania
Retrospective study reveals the circulation of norovirus genotype GII.P21-GII.2 in Romania
Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol. 2016 Jan-Jun;75(1-2):5-11
Authors: Dinu S, Szmal C, Damian M, Oprişan G
Abstract
Noroviruses are the leading cause of acute
gastroenteritis, causing significant economic burden
globally. Infection is self-limiting, occurring as sporadic
cases or producing outbreaks associated with
consumption of contaminated water or food. All age
groups are affected and person to person transmission is
frequent. Except a recent outbreak in Romania caused by
the emergent genotype GII.P17-GII.17, few data
regarding the circulation of noroviruses in our country are
available. We retrospectively analyzed stool samples from
acute gastroenteritis patients hospitalized in Romania
between 2005 and 2008. Noroviruses were detected by
RT-PCR and phylogenetic analysis was inferred from
partial sequences spanning ORF1 and ORF2.
Recombinant GII.P21-GII.2 isolates were found in two
adult patients from a cluster of acute gastroenteritis in
2006. Molecular analysis based on partial genomic
sequences indicated high degree of similarity between the
two isolates and grouped them with cosmopolitan strains
circulating in the same period of time. Along with the high
rate of mutation, recombination is an important driving
force in norovirus evolution. GII.P21 isolates, formerly
known as GII.b recombinants, have been detected in
Europe since 2000 and asso...
Source: Roumanian Archives of Microbiology and Immunology - Category: Microbiology Tags: Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol Source Type: research
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