Identification of Norovirus Infection in Adults with Acute Gastroenteritis in Jambi, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Norovirus (NoV) infection is the most common cause of non-bacterial acute gastroenteritis

(AGE), which affects both adults and children. However, study of NoV in adults with AGE in Indonesia is

still limited.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of NoV infection, and

also genotype distribution of NoV in adults with AGE in Jambi, Indonesia.

Methods: Stool samples were collected from adults (?18 years of age) with AGE at 3 participating hospitals

in Jambi from February to April 2019. The detection of NoV and its genotyping were carried out by Reverse

Transcriptase PCR and direct sequencing.

Results: Of the 44 stool samples collected, 4 (9.1%) were positive for NoV. Four different genotypes were

identified, namely GI.2, GII.3, GII.6, and GII.20. All adults with AGE and NoV-positive showed abdominal

pain and no dehydration, most of them experienced watery diarrhea (75%) for <5 days and half of them

showed vomiting for 1 day.

Conclusion: NoV was detected in 9.1% of adults with AGE. The various rare genotypes of NoV in Indonesia

were identified in Jambi. The common symptoms in AGE infected with NoV included abdominal pain and

watery diarrhea with a short duration. Further surveillance is needed to complete the database of circulating

NoV strains for its control.