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. 2020 May;165(5):1121-1128.
doi: 10.1007/s00705-020-04599-2. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

An increasing prevalence of non-GII.4 norovirus genotypes in acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in Huzhou, China, 2014-2018

Liping Chen  1 , Deshun Xu  1 , Xiaofang Wu  1 , Guangtao Liu  1 , Lei Ji  2
Affiliations

An increasing prevalence of non-GII.4 norovirus genotypes in acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in Huzhou, China, 2014-2018

Liping Chen et al. Arch Virol. 2020 May.

Abstract

Since 2014, novel non-GII.4 norovirus (NoV) genotypes continue to be reported as the main cause of outbreaks worldwide. In this study, we analyzed the epidemiological and genetic features of NoV outbreaks from July 2014 to June 2018 in Huzhou, China. A total of 450 stool samples collected from 51 AGE outbreaks were tested for NoVs by real-time RT PCR. Partial polymerase and capsid sequences of NoV-positive samples were amplified and sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. NoVs were found to be responsible of 84.3% of AGE outbreaks in Huzhou over the past 5 years. Most NoV outbreaks were reported in the cool months (November-March) and occurred in primary schools and kindergartens. Changes in the diversity of genotypes and the distribution of predominant types were observed in recent years. At least eight genotypes were identified, and 91.9% of the genotyped outbreaks were caused by non-GII.4 strains. The top three circulating genotypes during the study period were GII.2[P16], GII.3[P12], and GII.17[P17]. The predominant NoV genotypes in outbreaks have changed from GII.4 variants to GII.17[P17] in 2014-2015, GII.3[P12] in 2015-2016, and then GII.2[P16] in 2016-2018. Non-GII.4 NoVs play an increasingly important role in outbreaks in Huzhou. Continuous surveillance is needed to monitor the emergence of novel NoV strains and help control NoV outbreaks in the next epidemic season.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Monthly genotype distribution of NoV outbreaks in Huzhou, China, between July 2014 and June 2018
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Phylogenetic analysis based on partial RdRp gene (A) and capsid gene (B) sequences of GI NoVs. NoV strains identified in Huzhou are designated by location, year, and sample number (indicated by triangles). Recombinants identified in this study are highlighted in red
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Phylogenetic analysis based on partial RdRp gene (A) and capsid gene (B) sequences of GII NoVs. NoV strains identified in Huzhou are designated by location, year, and sample number (indicated by triangles). Recombinants identified in this study are highlighted in red
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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