Epidemiology and genetic diversity of norovirus GII genogroups among children in Hubei, China, 2017–2019

• Published in: Virologica Sinica 2023-06, Vol.38 (3), p.351-362
• Main Authors: Li, Jing, Zhang, Lingyao, Zou, Wenjing, Yang, Zhaohui, Zhan, Jianbo, Cheng, Jing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Caliciviridae Infections - epidemiology; Child; China - epidemiology; Diarrhea - epidemiology; Diarrhea - virology; Epidemiological Monitoring; Epidemiology; Female; Gastroenteritis - epidemiology; Gastroenteritis - virology; Genetic diversity; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Hubei Province; Humans; Male; Norovirus (NoV); Norovirus - classification; Norovirus - genetics; Norovirus - isolation & purification
• ISSN: 1995-820X; 1674-0769; 1995-820X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2023.04.002

Norovirus (NoV) is an important cause of viral acute gastroenteritis (AGE). To gain insights into the epidemiological characteristics and genetic diversity of NoV among children in Hubei, 1216 stool samples from children (≤ 5 years) obtained under AGE surveillance from January 2017 to December 2019 were analyzed. The results showed that NoV was responsible for 14.64% of AGE cases, with the highest detection rate in children aged 7–12 months (19.76%). Statistically significant differences were found between male and female infection rates (χ2 ​= ​8.108, P ​= ​0.004). Genetic analysis of RdRp and VP1 sequences showed that NoV GII genotypes were GII.4 Sydney [P31] (34.35%), GII.3 [P12] (25.95%), GII.2 [P16] (22.90%), GII.4 Sydney [P16] (12.98%), GII.17 [P17] (2.29%), GII.6 [P7] and GII.3 [P16] (each at 0.76%). GII.17 [P17] variants were divided into the Kawasaki323-like lineage and the Kawasaki308-like lineage. A unique recombination event was detected between strains of GII.4 Sydney 2012 and GII.4 Sydney 2016. Significantly, all GII.P16 sequences associated with GII.4/GII.2 obtained in Hubei were correlated with novel GII.2 [P16] variants that re-emerged in Germany in 2016. Antigenic site analysis of complete VP1 sequences from all GII.4 variants from Hubei identified notable variable residues of antibody epitopes. Genotyping under continuous AGE surveillance and observation of the antigenic sites of VP1 are important monitoring strategies for emerging NoV strains. •The epidemiological features of noroviruses circulating in children in Hubei from 2017 to 2019 are described.•The predominant strains were GII.4 Sydney [P31], GII.3 [P12], GII.2 [P16] and GII.4 Sydney [P16].•A novel recombination variant was identified between two GII.4 Sydney strains resulting from co-circulation in Hubei.•All GII.P16 sequences associated with GII.4/GII.2/GII.3 from Hubei had correlated evolutionary origins.•Frequent mutation sites of epitopes A, B, D, E, and H in the VP1 protein of GII.4 variants deserve further attention.