TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and diversity of norovirus genogroups I and II in Hong Kong marine waters and detection by real-time PCR
AU - Yang, Ning
AU - Qi, Huizhou
AU - Wong, Minnie Man Lai
AU - Wu, Rudolf Shiu Sun
AU - Kong, Richard Yuen Chong
PY - 2012/1
Y1 - 2012/1
N2 - Marine waters from six sites around Hong Kong with varying levels of sewage pollution were examined for noroviruses (NoVs) by PCR cloning and sequencing of a highly-variable N-terminal region of the VP1 capsid gene, at the ORF1-ORF2 junction of NoV. Phylogenetic analysis of genogroups GI- and GII-specific PCR clones obtained from different marine sites indicated that human NoV GI.1 and GII.4 strains are the most prevalent genotypes circulating in Hong Kong waters. GI- and GII-specific TaqMan-based real-time PCR assays targeting the ORF1-ORF2 junction of NoVs were used to quantify NoV particles in marine water samples in parallel with total Escherichia coli counts which were enumerated on TBX medium. No correlation of any significance between NoV and E. coli counts was observed which highlighted the inadequacy in using E. coli as a fecal indicator to predict the level of NoVs in marine waters to protect public health. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
AB - Marine waters from six sites around Hong Kong with varying levels of sewage pollution were examined for noroviruses (NoVs) by PCR cloning and sequencing of a highly-variable N-terminal region of the VP1 capsid gene, at the ORF1-ORF2 junction of NoV. Phylogenetic analysis of genogroups GI- and GII-specific PCR clones obtained from different marine sites indicated that human NoV GI.1 and GII.4 strains are the most prevalent genotypes circulating in Hong Kong waters. GI- and GII-specific TaqMan-based real-time PCR assays targeting the ORF1-ORF2 junction of NoVs were used to quantify NoV particles in marine water samples in parallel with total Escherichia coli counts which were enumerated on TBX medium. No correlation of any significance between NoV and E. coli counts was observed which highlighted the inadequacy in using E. coli as a fecal indicator to predict the level of NoVs in marine waters to protect public health. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
KW - Fecal contamination
KW - Hong Kong marine waters
KW - Noroviruses
KW - NoV GI.1
KW - NoV GII.4
KW - TaqMan real-time PCR
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UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-83555179093&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.10.037
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.10.037
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
C2 - 22119412
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 64
SP - 164
EP - 168
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
IS - 1
ER -
