[Preliminary study of human calicivirus infection in Guangzhou]
Ying-chun Dai1, Jun Nie, Yi Liu
1Department of Epidemiology, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. yingchun78@hotmail.com
Insights
Human calicivirus (HuCV) infections are common in Guangzhou children, with infection rates increasing with age. This study investigated the prevalence of HuCV, finding significant seroprevalence and detecting Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs) in fecal samples.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Context:
- Human calicivirus (HuCV) infections are a significant cause of gastroenteritis globally.
- Guangzhou, China, is a densely populated urban center with a large pediatric population, making it a relevant area for studying infectious diseases.
- Understanding the prevalence of HuCV in children is crucial for developing effective public health strategies.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence of human calicivirus (HuCV) infection in children in Guangzhou, China.
- To conduct a preliminary study on the seroprevalence and etiological role of HuCV, specifically Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs).
- To assess the infection rate of HuCV in different age groups of children.
Summary:
- Serum samples from 266 children were tested for specific IgG against recombinant Norwalk virus (rNV), Mexico virus (rMX), and 387 virus particles using ELISA.
- Fecal specimens were analyzed for HuCV RNA via RT-PCR, with sequence analysis for confirmation.
- Seroprevalence rates were 68.0% for rNV, 51.5% for rMX, and 71.1% for r387. NLVs were detected in fecal samples from nonbacterial gastroenteritis cases and a school outbreak.
Impact:
- This study confirms the presence of sporadic and fulminant NLV infections in Guangzhou.
- Findings indicate that HuCV infections occur early in childhood, with infection rates rising significantly with age.
- The data provides valuable insights into the epidemiology of HuCV in a major Chinese city, informing pediatric infectious disease surveillance and control efforts.
Objective:
To investigate of human calicivirus (HuCV) infection in the children of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province at China, and conduct preliminary study of the prevalence of the virus.
Methods:
Serum specimens from 266 children of different ages were tested by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for specific IgG against recombinant Norwalk virus particles (rNV), recombinant Mexico virus partides(rMX) and recombinat 387 Virus particles(r387), respectively, and fecal specimens were collected for detection of HuCV RNA using reverse transcriptional (RT)-PCR assisted by sequence analysis on the basis of comparison of the amplified product with the sequence entries in GenBank.
Results:
The seroprevalence was 68.0% for rNV, 51.5% for rMX and 71.1% for r387 in the cohort of children enrolled in this study. Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs) were detected in 4 out of the 100 fecal specimens collected from cases of nonbacterial gastroenteritis during the peak season of diarrhea, and also in 3 of the 10 fecal specimens collected during the outbreak of diarrhea in an elementary school.
Conclusions:
Sporadic and fulminant NLV infections are present in Guangzhou. The children have the infection in their infancy, and the infection rate increases sharply with age.
