Norovirus Infection and Histo-blood Group Antigens in Children Hospitalized with Diarrhea in Lulong and Chenzhou in China

Norovirus (NoV) is a pathogen that commonly causes viral diarrhea in children. Studies indicate that NoV recognizes human histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) as cell attachment factors. In order to explore the correlation between of NoV infection and HBGAs, a cross-sectional study was conducted in children less than five years old who were hospitalized with diarrhea in two areas of China between November 2014 and February 2015. Of the paired stool and saliva samples taken from 424 children, NoV was detected in 24 (6%) children, with viral genotypes GII.3 (n=5), GII.4 (n=14), GII.12 (n=1), and GII.17 (n=4). All of the individuals having NoV infection were either secretors (Lea−b+/Lex−y+) or partial secretors (Lea+b+/Lex+y+) except one GII.3 infection of a non-secretor (Lea+b−/Lex+y−). These results suggest that secretor positive is associated with NoV infection, although non-secretors are not absolutely protected from NoV infection.