Detection, genetic characterization, and quantification of norovirus RNA from sera of children with gastroenteritis

Background: Norovirus (NoV) infection is thought to be confined to the intestines, whereas many reports suggest antigenemia and viremia occur during rotavirus gastroenteritis. Objectives: To detect NoV RNA in sera and cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) from NoV-infected children, and to quantify and genetically characterize the NoV found in these compartments. Study design: Semi-nested PCR was conducted on stool, serum and CSF samples from 56 patients with acute gastroenteritis. Positive samples for NoV were analyzed further by sequencing and real-time PCR. Results: From 39 patients with NoV RNA in stools, 6 also had NoV RNA in sera and none had NoV RNA in CSF, Genotypes of the NoV in stool and serum from the same patient matched completely. The strains in this Study had high homology (98.1-100%) with registered strains in the database. The median viral load in stools of the serum-positive patients was greater than that of the serum-negative patients, but this difference was not statistically significant (9.8 x 10(9) copies/g versus 1.1 x 10(9) copies/g (p = 0.117)). Conclusions: NoV RNA appeared in the blood stream in 15% of the patients of NoV gastroenteritis. Although the viral load in stool was not statistically correlated with NoV appearance in serum, genetic analysis indicated that NoV RNA in sera originated from the NoV gastroenteritis. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.