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. 2020 Nov 18;12(11):1321.
doi: 10.3390/v12111321.

Understanding Pediatric Norovirus Epidemiology: A Decade of Study among Ghanaian Children

Belinda L Lartey  1   2 , Osbourne Quaye  1 , Susan A Damanka  2 , Chantal A Agbemabiese  2 , Joseph Armachie  2 , Francis E Dennis  2 , Christabel Enweronu-Laryea  3 , George E Armah  2
Affiliations

Understanding Pediatric Norovirus Epidemiology: A Decade of Study among Ghanaian Children

Belinda L Lartey et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Understanding the epidemiology of human norovirus infection in children within Ghana and the entire sub-Saharan African region, where future norovirus vaccines would have the greatest impact, is essential. We analyzed 1337 diarrheic stool samples collected from children <5 years from January 2008 to December 2017 and found 485 (36.2%) shedding the virus. GII.4 (54.1%), GII.3 (7.7%), GII.6 (5.3%), GII.17 (4.7%), and GII.5 (4.7%) were the most common norovirus genotypes. Although norovirus GII.4 remained the predominant capsid genotype throughout the study period, an increase in GII.6 and GII.3 capsid genotypes was observed in 2013 and 2014, respectively. The severity of clinical illness in children infected with GII.4 norovirus strains was similar to illness caused by non-GII.4 strains. Since the epidemiology of norovirus changes rapidly, establishment of systematic surveillance within sentinel sites across the country would enhance the monitoring of circulating norovirus strains and allow continuous understanding of norovirus infection in Ghana.

Keywords: Ghana; gastroenteritis; genogroups; genotypes; norovirus; onestep RT-PCR.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The stacked area chart represents, the total number of gastroenteritis (GE) cases tested and the number of GE cases testing norovirus-positive cases per month/year. Filled deep green area==total number of GE cases; Filled light green area==number of norovirus positive cases.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of the circulating polymerase (A) and capsid (B) genotypes in Ghanaian children between 2008 and 2017.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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