Molecular identification and genetic analysis of Norovirus genogroups I and II in water environments: comparative analysis of different reverse transcription-PCR assays.

ABSTRACT: Noroviruses have received increased attention in recent years because their role as etiologic agents in acute gastroenteritis outbreaks is now clearly established. Our inability to grow them in cell culture and the lack of an animal model hinder the characterization of these viruses. More recently, molecular approaches have been used to study the genetic relationships that exist among them. In the present study, environmental samples from seawater, estuarine water, and effluents of sewage treatment plants were analyzed in order to evaluate the role of environmental surface contamination as a possible vehicle for transmission of norovirus genogroups I and II. Novel broad-range reverse transcription-PCR/nested assays targeting the region coding for the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase were devel

SUBMITTER: La Rosa G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1932759 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature