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Swab Sampling Method for the Detection of Human Norovirus on Surfaces
Published on: February 6, 2017
Different norovirus genotypes in patients with gastroenteritis in Kuwait
Amirah Al-Rashidi1, Wassim Chehadeh, György G Szücs
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait.
Journal of Medical Virology
|July 16, 2013
Summary
Norovirus causes gastroenteritis globally, but its prevalence in Kuwait was unknown. This study found norovirus in 8.0-8.5% of young children with gastroenteritis in Kuwait, with GII.4 being the predominant strain.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Norovirus is a major global cause of acute gastroenteritis.
- The epidemiological significance of norovirus in Kuwait remained uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of norovirus in children with acute gastroenteritis in Kuwait.
Main Methods:
- Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect norovirus in stool samples.
- Phylogenetic analysis was performed on detected norovirus strains.
Main Results:
- Norovirus was detected in 8.0% and 8.5% of samples from two Kuwaiti hospitals across different study periods.
- Genotype GII.4, specifically the GII.4 2006b strain, was the most prevalent (50%), with other genotypes including GII.12, GII.b, GII.3, GII.8, and GII.7 also identified.
Conclusions:
- Norovirus is an important pathogen contributing to acute gastroenteritis in young children in Kuwait.
- Establishing a surveillance system is crucial for understanding norovirus epidemiology in the region.
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