Outbreaks of Gastroenteritis That Occurred during School Excursions in Korea Were Associated with Several Waterborne Strains of Norovirus

Abstract

In May 2004, 97 of 309 (31%) and 97 of 207 (47%) school students from geographically distant areas were affected by acute gastroenteritis during excursions to neighboring hotels. The two hotels were 300 m apart, on Jeju Island, South Korea. Several strains of norovirus, including both genogroup I and genogroup II viruses, were identified in stool samples from the students and food handlers and in groundwater from the hotels. Of these several strains of norovirus, the nucleotide sequences for one strain were identical for samples from the students, food handlers, and groundwater.

Occurrence of Norovirus Infections in Asymptomatic Food Handlers in South Korea

“…Amplification of NoV RNA from fecal specimens using primers targeting the capsid region of the viral genome and sequencing of the reverse transcription (RT)-PCR products are preferred for molecular characterization and typing of NoVs (10,12,13). Many studies report the monitoring of NoV in facilities with outbreaks.…”

Molecular Epidemiology of Norovirus Infections in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis in South Korea in November 2005 through November 2006

“…Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) was conducted using a One Step RT-PCR kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) for the NoV genotypes. We amplified a 330-bp fragment (positions 5342 to 5671 of NoV M87661) of the capsid gene (GI) with the consensus forward primer NV-GIF1 (5Ј-CTG CCC GAA TTY GTA AAT GAT CAT-3Ј) and the reverse primer NV-GIR1 (5Ј-CCA ACC CAR CCA TTR TAC ATY TG-3Ј) (9). We also amplified a 341-bp (positions 5061 to 5401 of Lordsdale virus X86557) fragment of the capsid gene (GII) harboring the consensus forward primer NV-GIIF1 (5Ј-GGG AGG GCG ATC GCA ATC T-3Ј) and the reverse primer NV-GIIR1 (5Ј-CCR CCI GCA TRI CCR TTR TAC AT-3Ј) (9).…”

“…We amplified a 330-bp fragment (positions 5342 to 5671 of NoV M87661) of the capsid gene (GI) with the consensus forward primer NV-GIF1 (5Ј-CTG CCC GAA TTY GTA AAT GAT CAT-3Ј) and the reverse primer NV-GIR1 (5Ј-CCA ACC CAR CCA TTR TAC ATY TG-3Ј) (9). We also amplified a 341-bp (positions 5061 to 5401 of Lordsdale virus X86557) fragment of the capsid gene (GII) harboring the consensus forward primer NV-GIIF1 (5Ј-GGG AGG GCG ATC GCA ATC T-3Ј) and the reverse primer NV-GIIR1 (5Ј-CCR CCI GCA TRI CCR TTR TAC AT-3Ј) (9). The reaction was conducted with an initial RT step at 50°C for 30 min, followed by PCR activation at 95°C for 15 min and then 35 cycles of amplification (45 s at 94°C, 50 s at 58°C, and 45 s at 72°C) and a final extension step of 10 min at 72°C in a PCR System Px2 thermal cycler (Thermo Hybaid, Middlesex, United Kingdom).…”

Novel concentration method for the detection of norovirus and sapovirus from water using minute particles of amorphous calcium phosphate

“…This virus is also divided into five genogroups (GI to GV), of which GI, GII, GIV and GV infect humans, while GIII infects porcine species. Many norovirus outbreaks due to contaminated drinking water have been reported worldwide (Hewitt et al, 2007;Kim et al, 2005;Kukkula et al, 1999;Maunula et al, 2005;Nygård et al, 2003;Parshionikar et al, 2003). In Japan, three cases of norovirus infection have recently been reported, probably due to norovirus-contaminated well water (Tokutake et al, 2006).…”