A molecular epidemiological study of pediatric norovirus gastroenteritis, 2017-2019 / 中国当代儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES@#To study the molecular epidemiological characteristics of norovirus in children with acute gastroenteritis from 2017 to 2019.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of children with acute gastroenteritis who were admitted to Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2017 to December 2019. A total of 1 458 stool samples were collected from the children, and viral RNA was extracted. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used for gene amplification, sequencing, and genotype identification of the VP1 region of capsid protein in norovirus.@*RESULTS@#Among the 1 458 stool samples, 158 (10.8%) were positive for norovirus. There was no significant difference in the positive detection rate of norovirus between different years (@*CONCLUSIONS@#Norovirus GII.4 Sydney 2012 was the major epidemic strain in the children with norovirus gastroenteritis from 2017 to 2019. Although norovirus infection can exist throughout the year, August to October is the peak period. During this period, norovirus surveillance and key population protection are strengthened to help prevent and control norovirus diarrhea.