Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 57, 276-278, 2004

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Short Communication

Norovirus and Sapovirus Infections in Thailand

Ratigorn Guntapong1, Grant S. Hansman2,3, Tomoichiro Oka2, Satoko Ogawa2, Tsutomu Kageyama2, Yaowapa Pongsuwanna1 and Kazuhiko Katayama2*

1National Institute of Health, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand, 2Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 208-0011 and 3Department of Developmental Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

(Received May 10, 2004. Accepted August 16, 2004)

*Corresponding author: Mailing address: Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Gakuen 4-7-1, Musashi-Murayama, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan. Tel: +81-42-561-0771, Fax: +81-42-561-4729, E-mail: katayama@nih.go.jp


SUMMARY: Stool specimens collected between November 2002 and April 2003 from hospitalized infants with acute gastroenteritis from four distinct geographical regions in Thailand were examined for norovirus (NoV) and sapovirus (SaV) by reverse transcription-PCR and sequence analysis. Of the 80 specimens examined, we identified 11 NoV and 9 SaV single infections, and 3 NoV/SaV mixed infections. The majority of NoV strains (64%) belonged to genogroup II/ genotype 4 (GII/4; Lordsdale cluster). Other NoV strains co-circulating belonged to GII/1, GII/3, GII/6, and one new genotype cluster (GII/New). The majority of SaV strains (83%) were from the Manchester cluster. One isolated SaV strain represented a recently discovered novel genogroup within the SaV genus (SG-V), and another isolated SaV strain represented a novel SaV genogroup II cluster.

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