Excess acute diarrhoea cases attributed to norovirus variants in Beijing, China between 2011 and 2018

Abstract

New norovirus (NoV) variants emerge often leading to increased acute gastroenteritis outbreaks and outpatient visits. However, these increases are rarely quantified. Between September 2011 and August 2018, we included a total of 133 131 acute diarrhoea cases in 11 enteric disease outpatient clinics which were open all year round in Beijing. Over the same period, the etiology surveillance for acute diarrhoea was conducted, a total of 13 139 specimens were collected and tested, and 16.84% (2213/13 139) of all specimens were NoV‐positive. The partial VP1 genes were successfully sequenced in 965 NoV strains. GII.4 Sydney, GII.17, and GII.2 predominated in 2012–2013, 2014–2015, and 2016–2017, respectively. We estimated the excess NoV‐associated acute diarrhoea cases using the adjusted Serfling regression model, and three excess periods were found, corresponding to the predominance periods of GII.4 Sydney, GII.17 and GII.2, respectively, represented increases of 180.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 115.0%–246.0%), 114.7% (95% CI: 66.4%–163.1%) and 152.6% (95% CI: 100.2%–205.0%), compared with the baseline level. New NoV variants often caused an excess in their first year of predominance, and the excess periods of NoV‐associated acute diarrhoea cases coincided with the predominance periods of NoV variants.

Immunogenicity and Blocking Efficacy of Norovirus GII.4 Recombinant P Protein Vaccine

“…NoVs are highly infectious, with low infective doses and strong environmental resistance. NoVs can easily cause a fulminant epidemic in hospitals, schools, and other gathering populations [ 17 ]. At present, there is no specific antiviral drug, and the clinical treatment is mainly symptomatic or supportive [ 18 ].…”

Development and Evaluation of a Rapid GII Norovirus Detection Method Based on CRISPR-Cas12a

“…Norovirus was the first known as Norwalk virus, virus particles discovered in the feces of patients through immunoelectron microscopy by the American scholar Kapikian, during an outbreak of diarrhea in the town of Norwalk (Ohio, USA) in 1972 ( Kapikian et al 1972 ). Norovirus is one of the most predominant pathogens that lead to nonbacterial gastroenteritis in children and adults, which is associated with nearly 50% of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks and represents the second largest burden of all infectious diseases ( Lozano et al 2012 ; Liu et al 2023 ;). It is estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) that norovirus causes over 600 million cases of diarrhea and 200 thousand deaths annually, resulting in an economic burden of approximately $60 billion ( Pires et al 2015 ; Ludwig-Begall et al 2021 ).…”