Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 28, 2025

Detection and Genogrouping of Noroviruses from Children's Stools By Taqman One-step RT-PCR
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Detection and Genogrouping of Noroviruses from Children's Stools By Taqman One-step RT-PCR

Published on: July 22, 2012

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Differences in Illness Severity among Circulating Norovirus Genotypes in a Large Pediatric Cohort with Acute

Sudha Bhavanam1, Stephen B Freedman2, Bonita E Lee3

  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada.

Microorganisms
|December 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Norovirus, a common cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children, shows significant strain diversity. The GII.4 norovirus genotype was most frequent and linked to more severe illness, including prolonged diarrhea and vomiting.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children globally.
  • Limited data exists on norovirus strain diversity and its correlation with clinical severity in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the genogroup and genotype distribution of norovirus in children with AGE in Alberta, Canada.
  • To compare the clinical severity of illness between different norovirus genogroups and genotypes.

Main Methods:

  • Stool and/or rectal swabs were collected from children presenting with AGE symptoms between 2014 and 2018.
  • Reverse transcription real-time PCR and Sanger sequencing were used for norovirus detection and genotyping.
  • The Modified Vesikari Scale (MVS) was employed to assess disease severity.

Main Results:

  • Genogroup II (GII) norovirus strains were predominant in children with AGE.
  • The GII.4 genotype was the most frequently identified strain.
  • Children infected with GII.4 exhibited significantly higher MVS scores and longer durations of diarrhea and vomiting compared to other strains.
  • The predominant norovirus strains varied annually, with GII.4 Sydney[P31], GII.4 Sydney[P16], and GII.3[P12] being notable.

Conclusions:

  • Genogroup II norovirus strains are the primary cause of AGE in the studied pediatric population in Alberta.
  • The GII.4 genotype is associated with more severe clinical outcomes in children with norovirus infection.
  • Understanding norovirus strain dynamics and their clinical impact is crucial for public health management.

Keywords:
childrenclinical severitygastroenteritisgenotypesnorovirus

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