Molecular and epidemiological trend of norovirus associated gastroenteritis in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Background: Diarrhea, over the years, has killed millions of people and continues to be a major threat in Bangladesh. Objectives: To determine the incidence of norovirus infection in infants and young children with acute gastroenteritis in Dhaka City, Bangladesh and to determine the genogroup and genotype in norovirus-positive stool specimens. Study design: Fecal specimens were collected from infants and children with acute gastroenteritis in Dhaka City, Bangladesh from October 2004 to September 2005, and examined for norovirus by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: Noroviruses were detected in 41 of 917 fecal specimens. Molecular analysis of norovirus was carried out by sequencing methods. Only norovirus GII/4 strains were detected during this study. The dominant genotype throughout the study period was GII/4. Norovirus infections were most commonly observed in winter and rainy seasons in Dhaka City. The common clinical symptoms in norovirus-infected patients were diarrhea (90%), vomiting (75%) and abdominal pain (46%). Conclusions: This is the first epidemiological research of norovirus in Bangladesh. Norovirus is an important enteropathogen responsible for viral gastroenteritis among infants and children in Bangladesh. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.