The Genetic Diversity of Norovirus from Children with Diarrhea in Gwangju Metropolitan City, Korea: 2008-2012

In order to study the characteristics of norovirus in Gwangju metropolitan city, We examined norovirus in 13,931 fecal specimens collected through five years (2008-2012) from children admitted with a chief complain of acute diarrhea. Among a total of norovirus (NoV) was most frequently detected (3,025 cases, 21.7%). Concerning the frequency of virus detected by month, NoV tended to break out frequently from October to March in the following year. NoV was detected most highly in 0~3 year infants. Through examinations on NoV genotypes, among 3,025 cases that turned out to be positive, the genotypes of 2,652 cases were determined with various results including 13 types of GI and 17 types of GII. The results of analysis on GI genotypes were as follows: GI-4 (21.9%), GI-2 (15.2%), and GI-6 (10.5%). GII genotypes were as follows: GII-4 (63.9%), GII-3 (18.9%), GII-8 (4.2%), GII-2 (3.9%), GII-6 (3.3%), and GII-1 (1.9%). Eight types of variants for GII-4 genotype (427 cases) were identified. The majority of the GII-4 variants was GII-4_Farmington (181 cases, 42.4%), which peaked in 2012, while GII-4_2008b (173 cases, 40.5%) showed a high prevalence in 2011. Concerning the circulation of variants, as many as eight types of GII-4 variants were identified in 2012, showing more varieties than in other years. Therefore, this study can be used as fundamental data for the development of vaccine candidate for the prevention of viral diarrheal diseases with high-incidence.

The Molecular Epidemiology of Circulating Group A Rotavirus in Gwangju Metropolitan City, Korea: 2008~2012

Group A rotaviruses are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. For the proper management of rotavirus infections, knowledge of the distribution of G and P genotypes including detection of emerging genotype is crucial. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe epidemiological changes in rotavirus gastroenteritis in Gwangju metropolitan city, South Korea. Stool samples were collected from 14,314 patients with diarrhea, who visited hospitals in Gwangju from 2008 to 2012. Samples were screened for rotavirus with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method and rotavirus P (VP4), G (VP7) genotypes were determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. And we performed nucleotide sequencing analysis. Among a total of 14,314 samples investigated 1,982 samples (13.8%) were ELISA positive. Genotyping of Rotavirus was performed using 526 rotavirus samples. The most prevalent circulating G genotype was G1 (40.5%), followed by G2 (27.6%), G3 (19.4%), G9 (9.7%), G4 (2.5%) and G12 (0.4%). The predominant type of P genotypes was P[8] (69.6%), followed by P[4] (27.8%) and P[6] (2.3%). In this study, 13 G-P combinations were detected. From 2008 to 2010, G1P[8] was the most prevalent, followed by G3P[8]. Whereas, 2011 and 2012, G2P[4] was the most common, followed by G1P[8]. Rotavirus gastroenteritis is a common disease associated with significant morbidity, mortality and economic burden. Ongoing rotavirus surveillance to understand the distribution of G and P genotypes will be critical for the development of effective prevention measurements.

Clinico-epidemiologic and Virologic Study of Measles Outbreak in Gwangju Metropolitan City During the 2000~2001 Epidemic / 감염

BACKGROUND: Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by measles virus. Although the introduction of live attenuated measles vaccines has dramatically abrogated the endemic incidence of measles in world-wide, there are still 30 million measles cases and nearly one million deaths from measles annually. In this study, we characterized the measles outbreak in Gwangju Metropolitan City during the 2000~200 1 epidemic. METHODS: Study population included measles patients in Gwangju Metropolitan City from April, 2000 to May, 200 1. We conducted a questionnaire survey on the patients and analyzed the records based on the clinical guideline of World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, we isolated the measles viruses from clinical specimens of patients and analyzed the nucleotide sequences of nucleoprotein (N) gene. RESULTS: During the April 2000 to May 2001, measles epidemic, a total of 3,2 17 measles patients were reported in Gwangju Metropolitan City. The first patient of measles was reported on April, 2000. The incidence reached its peak in November, 2000 and decreased thereafter. The age distribution of the patients were various, which was ranged from 1 month after birth to 30 year adult and the peak incidence was observed at 7~13 year old. Various complications were developed in 232 patients and 2 of them died. Phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acid sequences of the N genes of isolated viruses revealed that all viruses isolated in Gwangju Metropolitan City were grouped into the clade H1. This suggests that a single, predominant viral genotype was responsible for the measles epidemic in Gwangju Metropolitan City. CONCLUSION: In this study, we characterized the measles outbreak in Gwangju Metropolitan City during 2000~200 1. The measles outbreak in Gwangju Metropolitan City was considered to be caused by single genotype of measles virus (clade H1). After a massive vaccination campaign among 7~16 years old children to eliminate indigenous measles from this country, it is important to continue measles vaccination and intensive surveillance clinically as well as virologically.