Epidemiology of GII.4 and GII.2 norovirus outbreaks in closed and semi-closed institutions in 2017 and 2018

Norovirus infections are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide, with genotypes GII.2 and GII.4 being the most prevalent. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of GII.2 and GII.4 norovirus outbreaks reported in Catalonia in closed or semi-closed institutions...

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Authors: Cornejo-Sánchez T., Soldevila N., Coronas L., Alsedà M., Godoy P., Razquín E., Sabaté S., Guix S., Rodríguez Garrido V., Bartolomé R., Domínguez A., Álvarez J., Belver A.I., Camps N., Minguell S., Carol M., Izquierdo C., Parrón I., Pérez C., Rovira A., Sabaté M., Sala M.R., Vileu R.M., Barrabeig I., Jané M., Martínez A., Torner N., de Benito J., Moreno-Martínez A., Rius C., de Andres A., Camprubí E., Cunillé M., Forns M.L., de Simón M.
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2023
Country:España
Institution:Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau)
Repository:r-IIB SANT PAU. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica del Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau
OAI Identifier:oai:iibsantpau.fundanetsuite.com:p15918
Online Access:https://iibsantpau.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=15918
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:adolescent
calicivirus infection
epidemic
gastroenteritis
genetics
genotype
human
molecular epidemiology
Norovirus
phylogeny
Adolescent
Caliciviridae Infections
Disease Outbreaks
Gastroenteritis
Genotype
Humans
Molecular Epidemiology
Phylogeny
Description
Summary:Norovirus infections are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide, with genotypes GII.2 and GII.4 being the most prevalent. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of GII.2 and GII.4 norovirus outbreaks reported in Catalonia in closed or semi-closed institutions in 2017 and 2018. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of GII.2 and GII.4 outbreaks were compared using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated. 61 outbreaks were reported: GII.4 was the causative agent in 12 outbreaks (30%) and GII.2 in 9 outbreaks (22.5%). GII.2 outbreaks were detected more frequently in schools or summer camps (66.7%) and GII.4 outbreaks in nursing homes (91.7%) (p = 0.01). Ninety-three people were affected in GII.2 outbreaks and 94 in GII.4 outbreaks. The median age was 15 years (range: 1–95 years) in GII.2 outbreaks and 86 years (range: 0–100 years) in GII.4 outbreaks (p < 0.001). Nausea, abdominal pain, and headache were observed more frequently in persons affected by GII.2 outbreaks (p < 0.05). Symptomatic cases presented a higher viral load suggestive of greater transmission capacity, although asymptomatic patients presented relevant loads indicative of transmission capacity. © 2023, The Author(s).

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