Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - December 2012 - Volume 140, Issue 12  

Original Papers

Norovirus

Molecular epidemiology of norovirus in Edinburgh healthcare facilities, Scotland 2007–2011

G. McALLISTERa1, A. HOLMESa1, L. GARCIAa1, F. CAMERONa2, K. CLOYa2, J. DANIALa2, J. A. CEPEDAa3, P. SIMMONDSa4 and K. E. TEMPLETONa1 c1

a1 Specialist Virology Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

a2 Infection Control, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

a3 Department of Microbiology, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke, UK

a4 Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh UK

SUMMARY

Norovirus (NoV) is a leading cause of outbreaks of gastroenteritis worldwide, and a major burden for healthcare facilities. This study investigated the NoV genotypes responsible for outbreaks in Edinburgh healthcare facilities between June 2008 and July 2011, and studied their temporal distribution to enable a better understanding of the epidemiology of the outbreaks. A total of 287 samples positive for NoV genogroup II (GII) RNA by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) during routine diagnostic testing were investigated. Nested RT–PCR (nRT–PCR) and sequencing was used to genotype the NoV strains. Overall, a total of 69 NoV strains belonging to six different genoclusters (GII.1, GII.2, GII.3, GII.4, GII.6, GII.13) were detected. The predominant genotype was GII.4 that included four variants, GII.4 2006a, GII.4 2006b, GII.4 2007 and GII.4 2010. Importantly, increases in NoV activity coincided with the emergence of new GII.4 strains, highlighting the need for an active surveillance system to allow the rapid identification of new strains.

(Received September 15 2011)

(Revised December 08 2011)

(Accepted January 04 2012)

(Online publication February 06 2012)

Key words

  • Gastrointestinal infections;
  • infectious disease control;
  • infectious disease epidemiology;
  • molecular epidemiology;
  • Norwalk agent and related viruses

Correspondence:

c1 Author for correspondence: Dr K. E. Templeton, Specialist Virology Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK. (Email: kate.templeton@luht.scot.nhs.uk)

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