Genotypes and epidemiological characteristics of Noroviruses in Shenzhen during the winter of 2017 / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the genotypes, epidemiological characteristics and homology of Noroviruses (NoV) circulating in Shenzhen in the winter of 2017. Methods RT-PCR was performed using Nov-specific primers after extracting viral genome from 313 fecal samples. Positive RT-PCR products were then sequenced. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based upon the gene sequences of isolated and reference NoV strains using Mega 4. 1 and Clustal W software. Results There were 26 NoV-positive samples and all belonged to G Ⅱ. 4 subtype. These strains shared high homologies with G Ⅱ. 4 ( KY407156), G Ⅱ. 4 (KY580757) and GⅡ. 4 (KX372682). Phylogenetic analysis also suggested that 88. 46％ of them had a lower homology with the NoV strains isolated in the same area in recent years and 46. 15％ were different from the epidemic strains in other provinces of China. Conclusion NoV GⅡ. 4 was the epidemic strain in Shenzhen during the winter of 2017. More attention should be paid to it from the local public health authori-ties considering its owned characteristics in epidemic and homology.