Norovirus is an important causative agent of acute gastroenteritis worldwide, affecting people of all ages. Stool samples collected from patients with clinical symptoms of acute gastroenteritis in all age groups at the diarrhea outpatient department of the First People’s Hospital in Huzhou were analyzed to gain insight into the prevalence and genetic characteristics of norovirus.
From January to December 2018, a total of 551 specimens were screened for norovirus by real-time RT-PCR. RT-PCR was used for genomic amplification and sequencing of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and capsid gene of the positive samples. Genotypes of norovirus were assigned using the norovirus Noronet typing tool and phylogenetic analysis.
100 (18.1%) specimens were identified as norovirus-positive. GII genogroup was the main genogroup identified (83.0%, 83/100). 42 (42.0%) samples were successfully sequenced and genotyped by RT-PCR. Since one of the samples was dual infection, so we got 43 virus finally. 9 norovirus GII genotypes and 4 norovirus GI genotypes were detected in Huzhou during our research period. The main two norovirus GII genotypes were GII.2[P16] (54.8%, 23/43) and GII.17[P17] (11.9%, 5/43).
We characterized the molecular epidemiology of norovirus infection in Acute gastroenteritis patients during 2018. GII genogroup was the main genogroup identified. The dominance norovirus genotype circulating in the population of Huzhou was GII.2[P16] in 2018. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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