Key result
Oyster farming linked to ~42% higher rate of asymptomatic norovirus infection versus non-farming occupations.
Why the study?
The prevalence and characteristics of asymptomatic norovirus infection in populations living around oyster farm sites were not well characterized.
Cross-Sectional (n=4,549)
Absolute Event Rate: 5.2% vs 3.65%
p-value: p=<0.05
Asymptomatic norovirus infection is more prevalent in oyster farming populations, highlighting the need for long-term monitoring to detect new variant strains.
Suggests occupational surveillance in oyster farming; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice without prospective data.
The following paper investigates the prevalence and characteristics of asymptomatic norovirus infection in the population living around oyster farm sites. Two consecutive surveys were conducted from January 2014 to December 2014 and 4549 stool samples were screened during the same time period. The total asymptomatic infection rate was 4.04% (184/4549). Norovirus infection rate was 5.20% in oyster farming population which was significantly higher compared with non-farming population where the infection rate was 3.65% (χ2 = 5.49, P < 0.05). A total of 184 NoV positive samples were identified by real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and semi-nested RT-PCR and 136 sequences were obtained. The sequences were clustered into 14 genotypes. GI strains were clustered into six genotypes, including GI.2, GI.3, GI.5, GI.6, GI.8 and GI.9; while GII strains were clustered into GII.2, GII.3, GII.4, GII.5, GII.6, GII.8 and GII.13. GI.9 and GII.17 were the predominant and most prevalent genotypes, respectively. The GII.17 genotype replaced GII.4 becoming the dominant genotype in the oyster farming area in 2014. To sum up, long-term monitoring of asymptomatic infection is crucial for the detection of new variant strains and for identifying outbreaks during the early stage.
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Wang et al. (2018) conducted a cross-sectional in Asymptomatic norovirus infection (n=4,549). Oyster farming occupation vs. Non-farming occupation was evaluated on Asymptomatic norovirus infection rate (p=<0.05). Oyster farming was associated with a significantly higher rate of asymptomatic norovirus infection (5.20%) compared to non-farming occupations (3.65%).
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