Author/Editor		Verhoef, L; Poljšak-Prijatelj, M; Barlič-Maganja, D; Hočevar-Grom, A
Title		Use of norovirus genotype profiles to differentiate origins of foodborne outbreaks
Type		članek
Source		Emerg Infect Dis
Vol. and No.		Letnik 16, št. 4
Publication year		2010
Volume		str. 617-24
Language		eng
Abstract		Because secondary transmission masks the connection between sources and outbreaks, estimating the proportion of foodborne norovirus infections is difficult. We studied whether norovirus genotype frequency distributions (genotype profiles) can enhance detection of the sources of foodborne outbreaks. Control measures differ substantially; therefore, differentiating this transmission mode from person-borne or food handler-borne outbreaks is of public health interest. Comparison of bivalve mollusks collected during monitoring (n = 295) and outbreak surveillance strains (n = 2,858) showed 2 distinguishable genotype profiles in 1) human feces and 2) source-contaminated food and bivalve mollusks; genotypes I.2 and I.4 were more frequently detected in foodborne outbreaks. Overall, approximately 21% of all outbreaks were foodborne; further analysis showed that 25% of the outbreaks reported as food handler-associated were probably caused by source contamination of the food.
Descriptors		DISEASE OUTBREAKS CALICIVIRIDAE INFECTIONS FOOD CONTAMINATION SHELLFISH CALICIVIRIDAE FECES GENOTYPE BASE SEQUENCE