Norovirus outbreaks in a nursery school in Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Published in: Revista argentina de microbiología 2024-10, Vol.56 (4), p.373-379
• Main Authors: Gomes, Karina A., Degiuseppe, Juan I., Stupka, Juan A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute gastroenteritis; Adult; Argentina; Argentina - epidemiology; Brotes; Caliciviridae Infections - epidemiology; Caliciviridae Infections - virology; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Outbreaks; epidemiological studies; Feces - virology; Female; gastroenteritis; Gastroenteritis - epidemiology; Gastroenteritis - virology; Gastroenteritis aguda; Humans; Male; Norovirus; Norovirus - genetics; Norovirus - isolation & purification; Outbreak; preschools; Schools, Nursery
• ISSN: 0325-7541
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2024.07.001

•Norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks.•Norovirus GI.3 [P13] is reported for the first time in Argentina.•The Sydney variant of Norovirus GII.4 [P16] circulates in Argentina, and it is associated with severe dehydration. Norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. These are non-enveloped viruses that are classified into 10 genogroups, of which genogroup I (GI), II (GII), IV (GIV), VIII (GVIII), and IX (GIX) are the ones that infect humans. Two outbreaks (A and B) of acute gastroenteritis that occurred in a nursery school are described. The first outbreak (A) occurred in November 2018, and the second (B) in February 2020. The detection of viral and bacterial pathogens was performed to study both outbreaks. Additionally, an epidemiological investigation of the outbreaks was conducted. In the analyzed fecal and vomit samples from both children and adults in the nursery school, NoV GII.4 [P16] Sydney 2012 and NoV GI.3 [P13] were detected in outbreaks A and B, respectively. Since the study of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks is underestimated in Argentina, it is necessary to design prevention, study, and control protocols, as well as to improve the outbreak notification system in our country. Norovirus (NoV) es la principal causa de brotes de gastroenteritis aguda en todo el mundo. Estos son virus no envueltos y se clasifican en diez genogrupos; los genogrupos I (GI), II (GII), IV (GIV), VIII (GVIII) y IX (GIX) son los que infectan a humanos. Se describen dos brotes (A y B) de gastroenteritis aguda ocurridos en un jardín maternal. El primer brote (A) ocurrió en noviembre de 2018, y el segundo (B), en febrero de 2020. Para el estudio de ambos brotes se realizó la detección de patógenos virales y bacterianos. Además, se llevó a cabo una investigación epidemiológica de los brotes. En las muestras de materia fecal y vómito analizadas, tanto de niños como de adultos del jardín maternal, se detectó NoV GII.4 [P16] Sydney 2012 en el brote A y NoV GI.3 [P13] en el brote B. Debido a que el estudio de brotes de gastroenteritis aguda es subestimado en Argentina, es necesario diseñar protocolos de prevención, estudio y control de esta afección, así como también mejorar el sistema de notificación de brotes en nuestro país.