To the Editor: Norovirus is the world’s leading cause of nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis (1). Since their emergence, GII.P17-GII.17 noroviruses have replaced the GII.4 Sydney 2012 variant as the dominating norovirus genotype in parts of Asia (2), although they have been detected only sporadically, in a limited number, on other continents (3).
The major reservoir(s) of GII.17 that contribute to transmission are unknown, but it has been suggested that oysters and other bivalve shellfish are common vehicles for transmission of the emerging GII.17 viruses (2). In this study, we demonstrate the link between oysters and human disease by presenting molecular evidence of norovirus GII.P17-GII.17 in Denmark causing acute gastroenteritis, characterized by the sudden onset of vomiting with or without diarrhea after consumption of oysters. We further document molecular evidence providing linkage between norovirus detected in fecal samples from patients and food samples from imported oysters.
FoodWorld 