Novel recombinant norovirus causing outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Santiago, Chile

Abstract

Capsid and polymerase (RdRp) genes of 13 norovirus outbreak strains from Chile were compared. The genes sequences were discordant for five strains, and recombination was confirmed for two of them by amplification of a 1,360-bp gene segment containing a fragment of both genes. These strains belonged to a novel genogroup by RdRp sequence and to genogroup GII/3 by capsid sequence. Determining the clinical and epidemiological impact of human calicivirus recombination will require future studies.