ABSTRACT
Capsid and polymerase (RdRp) genes of 13 norovirus outbreak strains from Chile were compared. The genes sequences were discordant for five strains, and recombination was confirmed for two of them by amplification of a 1,360-bp gene segment containing a fragment of both genes. These strains belonged to a novel genogroup by RdRp sequence and to genogroup GII/3 by capsid sequence. Determining the clinical and epidemiological impact of human calicivirus recombination will require future studies.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Gastroenteritis/epidemiology , Norovirus/genetics , Recombination, Genetic , Base Sequence , Caliciviridae Infections/epidemiology , Caliciviridae Infections/virology , Capsid , Capsid Proteins/genetics , Chile/epidemiology , DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases/genetics , Gastroenteritis/virology , Humans , Molecular Sequence Data , PhylogenyABSTRACT
Human caliciviruses caused 45% of 55 gastroenteritis outbreaks occurring in Santiago, Chile, during 2000-2003. Outbreaks affected ?99 persons, occurred most commonly in the home, and were associated with seafood consumption. Thirteen outbreak strains sequenced were noroviruses, including 8 GII, 2 GI, and 3 belonging to a novel genogroup.
