Abstract
To determine the frequency of sporadic community-acquired Norovirus (NV) infection in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, an evaluation of gastroenteritis cases seen in physicians’ practices between July 2001 and July 2003 was conducted. A total of 699 stool specimens documented to be free of common bacterial pathogens was screened for the presence of NV by RT-PCR. NV was detected in 125 (17.9%) of these specimens. In the seasonal analysis, the highest rate of NV-positive samples (38.3%) was found between January and March 2002. After July 2002, the study was expanded to additionally test for NV in stool samples containing a known bacterial pathogen. Among 132 such specimens, NV was detected in only one. This suggests that NV mixed-infections are playing a marginal role in Switzerland.
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Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank J. Grimbichler, Cantonal Laboratory Basel-Landschaft, for his support with the NV analysis. The study was fully financed by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health and the Cantonal Laboratory Basel-Landschaft
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Fretz, R., Herrmann, L., Christen, A. et al. Frequency of Norovirus in stool samples from patients with gastrointestinal symptoms in Switzerland. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 24, 214–216 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-005-1300-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-005-1300-3