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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
Detection and Genogrouping of Noroviruses from Children's Stools By Taqman One-step RT-PCR
Published on: July 22, 2012
Genotype analysis of noroviruses associated with gastroenteritis outbreaks in childcare centres, Victoria, Australia,
L D Bruggink1, J M Moselen1, J A Marshall1
1Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory,Doherty Institute,Melbourne, Victoria,Australia.
Insights
Norovirus outbreaks in Australian childcare centers were dominated by GII.4 strains, though GII.2 emerged in 2015. Genotype prevalence varied by child age and year, suggesting vaccination before age one is most effective.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Norovirus is a leading cause of gastroenteritis in young children.
- Childcare centers are high-risk environments for infectious disease transmission.
- Understanding norovirus genotype dynamics is crucial for effective control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize norovirus outbreaks in children aged 0-5 years in Victoria, Australia, between 2012 and 2015.
- To identify common norovirus genotypes and recombinant forms.
- To determine the influence of age and year on genotype prevalence.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of norovirus outbreak data from childcare centers.
- Genotyping of norovirus open reading frame (ORF) 2.
- Identification of ORF 1/ORF 2 recombinant strains.
Main Results:
- GII.4 was the most frequent genotype (42%), followed by GII.6 (21%) and GII.3 (14%).
- GII.4 predominated from 2012-2014, with GII.2 becoming most common in 2015.
- GII.4 was more prevalent in younger children (0-2 years), while GII.2 and GII.7 were more common in older children (4-5 years).
- Several ORF 1/ORF 2 recombinant forms were identified, including GII.P4_NewOrleans_2009/GII.4_Sydney_2012.
Conclusions:
- Norovirus genotype prevalence in childcare outbreaks is influenced by child age and the year of analysis.
- The majority of infections (84%) occurred after the first year of life.
- Vaccination strategies targeting infants before their first birthday may be the most efficacious.
Abstract:
The characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in children (0-5 years) in childcare centres in Victoria, Australia (2012-2015) were examined. The three most common open reading frame (ORF) 2 genotypes in childcare centre outbreaks were GII.4 (42%), GII.6 (21%) and GII.3 (14%); the remaining genotypes (GI.2, GI.3, GI.4, GI.8, GI.13, GII.1, GII.2, GII.7 and GII.13) each made up <10%. The GII.4 genotype was the only norovirus genotype seen in all 4 years of the study and was the most common genotype in 2012-2014 but in 2015 the most common genotype was GII.2. The GII.4 genotype was more common in children 0-2 years, whereas GII.2 and GII.7 were more common in children 4-5 years. ORF 1/ORF 2 recombinant forms identified were GII.P4_NewOrleans_2009/GII.4_Sydney_2012, GII.P12/GII.3, GII.Pb (GII.21)/GII.3, GII.Pe/GII.2, GII.Pe/GII.4_Sydney_2012 and GII.Pg/GII.1. The findings indicate that norovirus genotype prevalence patterns in children were influenced by the age of the children and the year in which the analysis was carried out. The majority of norovirus infections (84%) occurred after the first year of life so that vaccination before the age of one would appear to be the most efficacious.
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