Detection of Norovirus Recombinant GII.2[P16] Strains in Oysters in Thailand
Issued Date
2022-03-01
Resource Type
ISSN
18670334
eISSN
18670342
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85123492769
Pubmed ID
35075605
Journal Title
Food and Environmental Virology
Volume
14
Issue
1
Start Page
59
End Page
68
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Food and Environmental Virology Vol.14 No.1 (2022) , 59-68
Suggested Citation
Kittigul L., Pombubpa K., Rupprom K., Thasiri J. Detection of Norovirus Recombinant GII.2[P16] Strains in Oysters in Thailand. Food and Environmental Virology Vol.14 No.1 (2022) , 59-68. 68. doi:10.1007/s12560-022-09508-1 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/83313
Title
Detection of Norovirus Recombinant GII.2[P16] Strains in Oysters in Thailand
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Human norovirus causes sporadic and epidemic acute gastroenteritis worldwide, and the predominant strains are genotype GII.4 variants. Recently, a novel GII.17[P17] and a recombinant GII.2[P16] strain have been reported as the causes of gastroenteritis outbreaks. Outbreaks of norovirus are frequently associated with foodborne illness. In this study, each of 75 oyster samples processed by a proteinase K extraction method and an adsorption-elution method were examined for noroviruses using RT-nested PCR with capsid primers. Thirteen (17.3%) samples processed by either method tested positive for norovirus genogroup II (GII). PCR amplicons were characterized by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis as GII.2 (n = 6), GII.4 (n = 1), GII.17 (n = 3), and GII.unclassified (n = 3). Norovirus-positive samples were further amplified by semi-nested RT-PCR targeting the polymerase-capsid genes. One nucleotide sequence revealed GII.17[P17] Kawasaki strain. Five nucleotide sequences were identified as belonging to the recombinant GII.2[P16] strains by recombination analysis. The collected oyster samples were quantified for norovirus GII genome copy number by RT-quantitative PCR. Using the proteinase K method, GII was found in 13/75 (17.3%) of samples with a range of 8.83–1.85 × 104 genome copies/g of oyster. One sample (1/75, 1.3%) processed by the adsorption-elution method was positive for GII at 5.00 × 101 genome copies/g. These findings indicate the circulation of a new variant GII.17 Kawasaki strain and the recombinant GII.2[P16] in oyster samples corresponding to the circulating strains reported at a global scale during the same period of time. The detection of the recombinant strains in oysters emphasizes the need for continuing systematic surveillance for control and prevention of norovirus gastroenteritis.