Characterisation of norovirus strains in rural Ghanaian children with acute diarrhoea

George E. Armah, Chris I. Gallimore, Fred N. Binka, Richard H. Asmah, Jonathan Green, Ucheoma Ugoji, Francis Anto, David W.G. Brown, Jim J. Gray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The incidence of calicivirus infection in Ghana and many other African countries is not known. Thirteen (15.9%) of the 82 diarrhoeic stool samples tested for caliciviruses were positive for noroviruses (NoVs). NoVs were present in all age groups and were detected only during the diarrhoea peak that coincided with the peak rotavirus season. Ten (76.9%) of the NoV detected were genogroup II (GII) NoVs and the remaining three (23.1%) genogroup I (GI) NoVs. The predominant GII detected was GII-4 (60%, 6/10). Three of the GII NoVs were determined to be recombinants of GII-8/GII-14 as deduced from the sequencing of the region spanning the Orf1/2 junction. The GII genotypes formed four clusters with published GII sequences. The data shown enhances understanding of NoV diversity in Ghanaian children and demonstrate the global spread of distinct common genotypes to African countries.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1480-1485
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Medical Virology
Volume78
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Children
  • Diarrhoea
  • Ghana
  • Norovirus

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