https://doi.org/10.5812/kowsar.20083645.2370

Relative frequency of norovirus infection in children suffering from gastroenteritis referred to Aboozar hospital, Ahvaz, Iran

authors:

avatar Shahram Jalilian 1 , avatar Ali Reza Samarbaf-Zadeh 2 , * , avatar Seyed Hamid Reza Mozhgani 1 , avatar Manoochehr Makvandi 1 , avatar Mehdi Parsa-nahad 1 , avatar Roya Pirmoradi 1 , avatar Ahmad Shamsi-Zadeh 1

Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine and Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science, IR Iran
Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine and Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science, Alirezasamarbaf_78@hotmail.com, IRIran
Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology: Vol.5, issue 1; 355-358
article type: Research Article
received: September 1, 2010
accepted: June 1, 2011

how to cite: Jalilian S, Samarbaf-Zadeh A R, Mozhgani S H R, Makvandi M, Parsa-nahad M, et al. Relative frequency of norovirus infection in children suffering from gastroenteritis referred to Aboozar hospital, Ahvaz, Iran. Jundishapur J Microbiol. 2012;5(1): 355-358. https://doi.org/10.5812/kowsar.20083645.2370.

Abstract

Background: Noroviruses belong to the Norovirus genus in the Caliciviridae family. Norovi-ruses are the most common causes of gastroenteritis and have a great impact on public
health. They have been identified as a common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Norovirus in children
suffering from gastroenteritis.
Patients and Methods: Fecal samples (n = 143) were collected from children under 5 years of
age who were suffering from gastroenteritis. All the children were referred to Ahvaz Aboo-zar Hospital, located in southwestern Iran. Norovirus RNA was extracted by Trizol, and
RNA was detected using nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (nested-RT-PCR).
Results: Norovirus infection was detected in 9 of the 143 collected samples (6.3%). All posi-tive samples belonged to genogroup II. Five positive samples were obtained from male
patients and 4 were obtained from female patients. Most of the positive cases were from
patients between 3 and 5 yars of age (n = 5, 56%). There was no relationship between gender
and virus prevalence. The rate of infection peaked in winter (n =6, 66.9%), and we did not
detect any positive cases in summer.
Conclusions: The prevalence of this virus in Ahvaz is similar to that reported by other re-searchers. Because this virus is transmitted by contaminated food or water, we recom-mend adult education and improved personal hygiene to reduce the incidence of Noro-virus infection in children. This study improves our epidemiological knowledge of the
prevalence of this virus in Ahvaz and Iran.

  • Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
    This study improves our knowledge about the significance of noroviral gastroenteritis in clinics.
  • Please cite this paper as:
    Jalilian S, Samarbaf-Zadeh AR, Mozhgani SHR, Makvandi M, Parsa-nahad M, Pirmoradi R, et al. Relative Frequency of Norovirus Infection in Children Suffering From Gastroenteritis and Referred to Aboozar Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran. Jundishapur J Microbiol. 2012;5(1): 355-8. DOI: 10.5812/kowsar.20083645.2370

    • © 2012, AJUMS. Published by Kowsar M.P.Co. All rights reserved.

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