ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the molecular epidemiological characteristics and genotype distribution of norovirus in Zhenjiang region during 2015 and 2016.Methods The fecal samples from diarrhea patients in Zhenjiang region were collected,and the expression level of norovirus capsid protein gene was detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR).The PCR products were validated by gene sequencing.Then,phylogenetic tree was constructed with Mega software,and sequence evolution and genotype were analyzed.Results The positive rate of norovirus infection was 5.30％ (85/1 605).Among them,the detection rates of G Ⅰ genogroup and G Ⅱ genogroup were 0.87％ (14/1 605) and 4.55％ (73/1 605),respectively,and 2 samples were detected both of G Ⅰ and G Ⅱ genogroups.The highest positive rate of G Ⅱ genogroup occurred in adolescent patients aged from 10 to 20 years (17.80％).During 2015,the detection rate of norovirus infection was the highest in January,and then in November and February.During 2016,the detection rate of norovirus infection was the highest in December,and then in March and April.The main genotypes of norovirus in 2015 and 2016 were new G Ⅱ.17 variant (63.89％) and G Ⅱ.4 Sydney_2012 strain (35 ％),respectively.Conclusion The infection of norovirus in Zhenjiang region appears G Ⅱ as main genogroup,adolescent as main patients,November to April of the next year as main epidemic seasons,and G Ⅱ.17 variant and G Ⅱ.4 Sydney_2012 strain as main epidemic genotypes.