摘要：Between September 1999 and March 2000, 13 river water samples, collected from one monitoring point in Osaka City, were examined for Norwalk viruses (NVs) using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and real time PCR. Eight river water samples, collected between December 1999 and March 2000, were NV-positive with real time PCR. The largest number of NVs were detected in the river water collected in February. The two samples of NV-positive with RT-PCR were classified as the 3 probe types (P1-B, P2-A, and P2-B types). From the sequencing analysis, multiple genetic types of NVs were suspected to be in river water during the prevailing period of NV associated gastroenteritis. These NVs had identical nucleotide sequences or were closely related with NVs that are prevalent in humans. These results suggested that the NVs in the river were associated with the prevalence of NVs among humans. In this study of NVs in river water, we were able to determine the tendency of prevalence of NVs among humans and one pattern of movement of NVs in the environment.
关键词：Norwalk virus;river water;RT-PCR;real time PCR
