Molecular Epidemiology of Norwalk-like virus (NLV) Outbreaks Occurring in Kyushu Japan between 1988 and 1993

Abstract

In nine outbreaks that occurred in the Kyushu district between 1988 and 1993, we determined the nucleotide sequences of Norwalk-like virus (NLV) gene fragments amplified by RT-PCR and molecular-epidemiologically analyzed the NLV epidemics. It is known that the NLV strains isolated from nine outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis, were divided into five clusters consisting of two genogroups. Described by the year of outbreaks, the genogroup-1 (Norwalk-like virus group) was prevalent in 1988, 1989, and 1992, the genogroup-2 (snow mountain-like virus group) was detected in 1988, 1989, and 1993. Especially it was revealed that various strains of NLV were prevalent in the Kyushu district from 1988 to 1989. Epidemics of the Norwalk-like strain continued to be prevalent in 1992 (FP/7/92), and the strains very close to OSAP 18 continued to be prevalent in 1993 (FP/8/93, FP/9/93). Although the strains belonging to Norwalk virus (KY89) in the genogroup-1 and belonging to P1B (OSAP 18) in the genogroup-2 were detected for a prolonged period from 1988 to 1992/ 1993, the homology in these strains was very close, and this study shows that a high homogeneity was conserved in these strains. It was revealed that various strains of NLV were prevalent in the Kyushu district from 1988 to 1989.

Anti‐norovirus polyclonal antibody and its potential for development of an antigen‐ELISA

“…The illness is usually mild and self-limiting, but the virus is highly infectious and often transmitted from person to person in hospitals, hotels, schools, cruise ship, and restaurants [Vinje and Koopmans, 1996;Holtby et al, 2001;Billgren et al, 2002;Love et al, 2002;Marks et al, 2003]. Global outbreaks of gastroenteritis have been caused by plural strains of genogroups I and II [Noel et al, 1997;Otsu et al, 2003].…”

Multiprefectural Spread of Gastroenteritis Outbreaks Attributable to a Single Genogroup II Norovirus Strain from a Tourist Restaurant in Nagasaki, Japan

“…The GII Lordsdale genotype (GII/4) has been predominant since 1996, and the GII Mexico genotype (GII/3) suddenly appeared and spread during the 1999-2000 season in Osaka City, Japan (11). In another study, various genotypes of NVs were found in Kyushu, Japan, from 1988 to 1993, and the GII Mexico genotype was dominant in 1989 (26). In Japan, raw oysters are the primary source of transmission in small outbreaks, whereas school lunches and catered meals, banquet halls, and hospitals are most often implicated as the vehicles and settings of transmission in large outbreaks (those involving Ͼ50 patients) (10).…”