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Updated: May 11, 2026
15:16
Detection and Genogrouping of Noroviruses from Children's Stools By Taqman One-step RT-PCR
Published on: July 22, 2012
Serial foodborne norovirus outbreaks associated with multiple genotypes.
Jianwei Huang1, Xuerong Xu, Qinyun Weng
1Xiamen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China.
Plos One
|May 14, 2013
Summary
Multiple Norovirus (NoV) genotypes caused acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in tourists in China. Investigations linked these foodborne illnesses to a restaurant, highlighting a co-infection of various NoV strains.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Noroviruses (NoV) are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis globally.
- Foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health challenges, particularly in group settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks among tourist groups in Xiamen, China.
- To identify the specific Norovirus genotypes involved and their transmission source.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological surveillance of 268 tourists across 7 groups.
- Laboratory analysis of fecal/anal swab samples for causative agents.
- Molecular identification and sequencing of Norovirus RNA fragments.
Main Results:
- A 16.0% prevalence of acute gastroenteritis was observed.
- Norovirus RNA was detected in 22 of 23 samples; no bacterial pathogens were identified.
- Thirteen Norovirus fragments revealed five distinct genotypes (GI.3, GI.4, GII.4, GII.6, GII.14), differing from local strains.
Conclusions:
- The outbreaks were attributed to co-infection with multiple Norovirus genotypes.
- A specific restaurant was identified as the likely source of the foodborne Norovirus transmission.
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