Etiological survey of acute gastroenteritis caused by Norovirus

Objective To investigate the main pathogens of acute gastroenteritis outbreak in Tianjin. Methods Stool and well water samples were collected to detect viruses by real-time PCR and RT-PCR. Viruses detection included rotavirus(A, B, C group), Norovirus(GⅠ, GⅡ), sapovirus, adenoviruses and astrovirus. The enteropathogenic becteria were detected in feces at the same time. Sequence analysis was conducted on the positive samples. Results A total of 33 feces specimens were collected from acute gastroenteritis cases. Norovirus GⅠ was present in 15.2 %, GⅡ in 36.4 %, both GⅠ and GⅡwere present in 9.1%. The sequences of the viruses detected from the stool samples of the patients belonged to the norovirus G Ⅰand GⅡ.One strain of GⅠ belonged to GⅠ/14. Among four strains of GⅡ,two belonged to GⅡ/8, one belonged to GⅡ/6, one belonged to GⅡ/2. No rotavirus(A, B, C group), sapovirus, adenoviruses, astrovirus and enteropathogenic becteria were detected. Three well water samples were acute gastroenteritis viruses-negtive. Conclusion This gastroenteritis outbreak was caused by norovirus GⅠ and GⅡ.