Norovirus in feces and nasopharyngeal swab of children with and without acute gastroenteritis symptoms: First report of GI.5 in Brazil and GI.3 in nasopharyngeal swab
This is the first investigation of norovirus in fecal and nasopharyngeal swab samples obtained from the same children. We report positivity rates in nasopharyngeal swabs of 11.4% from symptomatic and in 6.5% from asymptomatic children. A considerable genomic variability was found and a higher frequency of GII NoV was detected in fecal samples. This is the first report of GI.3 in nasopharyngeal swab samples and also the first report of GI.5 NoV in Brazil. Findings amplify the need to investigate NoV in respiratory tract of children with and without gastroenteritis.