Molecular epidemiology of noroviruses detected in food handler-associated outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Japan

Intervirology. 2008;51(6):422-6. doi: 10.1159/000205527. Epub 2009 Mar 4.

Abstract

Twelve outbreaks of food handler-associated gastroenteritis between November 2002 and March 2006 in Japan were examined for norovirus (NoV) using RT-PCR and sequence analysis. NoV was detected in 77 of 81 customers and 45 of 104 food handlers. Identical NoV sequences were detected in patients and food handlers in each outbreak.

MeSH terms

  • Caliciviridae Infections* / epidemiology
  • Caliciviridae Infections* / virology
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Feces / virology
  • Food Contamination / analysis
  • Food Handling*
  • Gastroenteritis* / epidemiology
  • Gastroenteritis* / virology
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Molecular Epidemiology*
  • Norovirus / classification
  • Norovirus / physiology*
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction