Epidemiology of norovirus infection in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is responsible for most cases of gastroenteritis worldwide, but information about the prevalence and diversity of HuNoV infections in lower-income settings is lacking. In order to provide more information about the burden and distribution of norovirus in Nigeria, we systematically reviewed original published research articles on the prevalence of HuNoV in Nigeria by accessing databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online (AJOL). The protocol for the review was registered on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42022308857). Thirteen relevant articles were included in the review, and 10 of them were used for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of HuNoV-associated gastroenteritis among children below 5 years of age in Nigeria, determined using the random-effects model, was 10.9% (95% CI, 6.7-16.7%). Among children below the age of 5 presenting with HuNoV infections, the highest prevalence was in children ≤2 years old (n = 127, 83%). The prevalence of HuNoV infections was seen to decrease with increasing age. In addition, HuNoV was detected in asymptomatic food handlers, bats, and seafoods. A total of 85 sequences of HuNoV isolates from Nigeria have been determined, and based on those sequences, the most prevalent norovirus genogroup was GII (84%). Genotypes GII.4 and GI.3 were the most frequently identified genotypes, with GII.4 constituting 46% of all of the HuNoVs identified in Nigeria. These results suggest a risk associated with cocirculation of emerging variants with known genotypes because of their recombination potential. Larger molecular epidemiological studies are still needed to fully understand the extent and pattern of circulation of HuNoVs in Nigeria.