Norovirus GII.17: The Emergence and Global Prevalence of a Novel Variant

Abstract

A rare norovirus (NoV) genotype GII.17 has recently emerged and rapidly became predominant in most East Asian countries in the winters of 2014-2015. In this study, we report the diversity of NoV GII.17 in detail; a total of 646 GII.17 sequences obtained during 1978-2015 were analyzed and subjected to meta-analysis. At least five major recombinant GII.17 clusters were identified. Each recombinant variant group appeared to have emerged following the time order: GII.

Phylogenetic lineage of GII.17 norovirus identified among children in South-South, Nigeria

“…It has been suggested that the capsid of GII.17 noroviruses is very stable in environmental samples [ 10 ], and therefore are capable of persisting in water bodies (surface waters, estuaries, wastewater, and Sea water and shell fish [ 11 ]. GII.17 Kawasaki has been detected in some previous waterborne norovirus outbreaks in China [ 12 ] and South Africa [ 13 ].…”

“…GII.17 Kawasaki has been detected in some previous waterborne norovirus outbreaks in China [ 12 ] and South Africa [ 13 ]. It is observed that over 20% of GII.17 sequences available in public data bases were collected from water related outbreaks [ 10 ]. Monitoring waste water samples and surface waters and identifying of circulating norovirus virus’s strains will be important surveillance tool for prevention and management of diarrheal illnesses in our study area.…”