Emerging norovirus GII.4 Sydney[P31] causing acute gastroenteritis outbreak in children in Japan, during COVID-19, 2021. Issue 9 (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pham, Ngan Thi Kim; Nishimura, Shuichi; Shimizu-Onda, Yuko; Trinh, Quang Duy; Komine-Aizawa, Shihoko; Khamrin, Pattara; Okitsu, Shoko; Sato, Shintaro; Kobayashi, Takeshi; Maneekarn, Niwat; Hayakawa, Satoshi; Ushijima, Hiroshi
• Is Part Of: Journal of infection and chemotherapy. Volume 28:Issue 9(2022)
• Page Start: 1347
• Page End: 1351
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Emergence -- Norovirus GII.4 sydney [P31] -- Outbreak -- Acute gastroenteritis -- Japan; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.5805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2022.05.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1341-321X

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Norovirus (NoV) is the most common agent causing outbreaks and sporadic cases of acute gastroenteritis among all ages, especially children under 5 years old. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, NoV infection has decreased drastically in Japan due to school closures and no outbreak related to NoV infection had been reported. Method: In mid-September 2021, NoV outbreak occurred in kindergarten and nursery schools in Maizuru, Kyoto prefecture, Japan. Twenty-six stool samples collected from patients who were diagnosed of NoV gastroenteritis from the outbreak by an immunochromatographic (IC) kit at a pediatric outpatient clinic in Maizuru city during 3 weeks from September 13 to October 8, 2021 were examined for the presence of NoV GII by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), genome sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Result: All 26 samples were confirmed positive to NoV GII and their genotypes were identified as GII.4 Sydney[P31]. The amino acid substitutions in open reading frame1 (ORF1) and ORF2 genes were found when compared with previously detected sporadic NoV GII.4 Sydney[P31] strains isolated in Japan. The clinical characterization of infected children was described. Most of the children were mild cases and vomiting was the most frequent clinical symptom. Conclusion: This study reported a recent emergence of NoV GII.4 Sydney[P31] causing acute gastroenteritis outbreak in children in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic and suggests a need for further monitoring of NoV GII.4 variants.