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Norovirus and rotavirus are important causes of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis in communities worldwide. Genotypes of norovirus and rotavirus in stool samples, which were collected from patients, was determined by RT-PCR and ELISA. A total 4,484 stool samples (461 outbreak cases) collected during January 2010-April 2013 were analyzed. Four hundred thirty eight of samples were positive for norovirus. Twelve samples were positive for Rotavirus. Norovirus genotypes identified were nine kinds of G I genotype (G I -1, G I -2, G I -3, G I -4, G I -6, G I -7, G I -9, G I -12, G I -13) and nine kinds of G II genotype(G II -2, G II -4, G II -5, G II -6, G II -7, G II -11, G II -12, G II -15, G II -16). Rotavirus genotypes were G2P[4]. The results might be useful information for evaluating the epidemiological status of viral diarrhea in Seoul, and providing a strategy to prevent human norovirus, rotavirus and other threats to public health in Korea.

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE), which is one of the most common diseases worldwide, primarily occurs in infants and young children in both developed and developing countries. To investigate the prevalence of AGE in Korea, 6,788 stool specimens collected from hospitalized patients with AGE in Seoul, Korea from March 2004 to June 2007 were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay, reverse transcription-PCR, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Enteric viruses and bacteria were detected in 2,955 (43.5%) and 1,389 (20.5%) specimens, respectively. Among the enteric viruses detected, rotavirus (19.7%) and norovirus (18.9%) were the predominant causative agents, followed by adenovirus (2.5%) and astrovirus (2.4%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly observed bacteria (8.0~19.2%). The epidemic peaks of the enteric viruses were October to December for norovirus, January to May for rotavirus, and August to October for adenovirus. The seasonal activity of rotavirus was shifted from winter to late spring. However, astrovirus did not display seasonal activity in this study. Although viral AGE primarily occurred in patients younger than 5 years of age, the incidence of viral AGE in children aged 6 to 14 years was significant. The results of this study will contribute to the currently available epidemiological data and improve public health and hygiene via amelioration of diagnostic methods and longitudinal surveillance.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) has been nowadays recognized as a major agent causing postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in pigs worldwide. PMWS most commonly affects the weaned piglets, being of increasing importance to the pig industry in Korea. Seven commercial farms affected with PMWS and 2 farms free from PMWS, located in the southern part of Gyeonggi province, were selected for this study. The peripheral mononuclear cells were tested for the presence of ORF2 gene by PCR, and 54 (68.4%) of 79 samples were positive. All of 9 herds tested included the positive cases. The positive rates by herds were 50 to 100% in the PMWS-affected herds and 40 to 62.5% in the PMWS-free herd. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of ORF2 gene of 6 strains were characterized. Homologies among 6 strains revealed 92.1 to 100% in the nucleotide and 92.3 to 100% in the amino acid. The overall ranges of homologies for 25 strains comprised 2 Korean and 23 foreign strains were 91.1 to 100% in the nucleotide and 89.7 to 100% in the amino acid. Three regions of greater heterogeneity were found in immunorelevant epitopes of the capsid protein, and the sequences between 57 to 80 aa revealed higher mutation than other areas. In the phylogenetic tree analysis, KOR 71 strain was clustered together with Korean strains previously isolated in Korea. The remaining 5 strains were closely clustered with other European and Asian strains. The results will be valuable for improving our understanding of the molecular epidemiology of PCV-2 in Korea and development of preventive measures for PMWS.