Objective: To study the prevalence, genotypes and molecular characteristics of norovirus (NoV) in acute gastroenteritis.
Methods: RT-PCR was used to determine the molecular epidemiology of NoV.
Results: Out of 685 samples, 66 positive specimens were identified and the prevalence was 9.6% (66/685), 9.9% in males and 9.4% in females, respectively, with no significant difference. The prevalence rates showed no differences between age groups or between inpatients and outpatients. NoV gastroenteritis did not present any seasonal distribution. 43 out of the 66 specimens were classified, with 10 (22.7%) belonged to GI including 2 GI.3, 1 GI.4, 4 GI.5 and 3 GI.7. Other 33 (77.3%) belonged to GII genogroup, including GII.4 accounted for 60.6% (20/33) and followed by 7 GII.12, 2 GII.6, 1 GII.2, 1 GII.3, 1 GII.5. Six specimens mixed with GI and GII and 3 specimens were classified as GI.3/GII.7, GI.5/GII.5 and GI.4/GII.4.
Conclusion: The main symptoms of acute gastroenteritis were abdominal pain, nausea, vomit and fever. There were many genotypes identified in our study and the main genotypes were GII.4/2006a and 2006b. GI and GII could be coinfected with each other.