Genetic diversity of noroviruses in Brazil

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2011 Dec;106(8):942-7. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000800008.

Abstract

Norovirus (NoV) infections are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks around the world. In Brazil, the surveillance system for acute diarrhoea does not include the diagnosis of NoV, precluding the ability to assess its impact on public health. The present study assessed the circulation of NoV genotypes in different Brazilian states by partial nucleotide sequencing analysis of the genomic region coding for the major capsid viral protein. NoV genogroup II genotype 4 (GII.4) was the prevalent (78%) followed by GII.6, GII.7, GII.12, GII.16 and GII.17, demonstrating the great diversity of NoV genotypes circulating in Brazil. Thus, this paper highlights the importance of a virological surveillance system to detect and characterize emerging strains of NoV and their spreading potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Caliciviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Caliciviridae Infections / virology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Feces / virology*
  • Gastroenteritis / epidemiology
  • Gastroenteritis / virology*
  • Genetic Variation / genetics*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Norovirus / genetics*
  • Norovirus / isolation & purification
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • RNA, Viral