Epidemiologic applications of novel molecular methods to detect and differentiate small round structured viruses (Norwalk-like viruses).

摘要: The molecular epidemiology of a large, multi-state outbreak oyster-associated gastroenteritis [Kohn et al. (1995): Journal the American Medical Association 273:466–471. Dowell Infectious Diseases 171:1497–1503.] was examined using new methods to detect small round structured viruses (SRSVs) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and characterize strains Southern hybridization nucleotide sequencing 81-bp PCR product amplified from RNA polymerase gene. Of 37 stool specimens patients in eight clusters outbreak, 32 (86%) gave RT-PCR products specific for SRSVs PI-A phylogenetic group. Nineteen were confirmed have identical sequence, indicating that this large attributed single strain SRSV. In one clusters, five (63%) had mixed infection with second SRSV belonged P2-B 12 other outbreaks sporadic case which occurred at same time as multistate 10 (83%) representing four groups (PI-A, PI-B, P2-A, P2- B). sequences two another P1-A sequence P2–6 cluster respectively. These results demonstrate first application these enhance our understanding provide answers public health interest could not been obtained classical epidemiologic alone. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, lnc.1