Abstract:
In this study, the prevalence and genotypes of
noroviruses (NoVs) in selected water sources from rural,
urban and refugee settings in Kenya were investigated. Ten
litres each of river, household and borehole water was
collected in rural (Mboone River), urban (Nairobi and
Mutoine River) and refugee (Dadaab refugee camp) settings.
NoVs were recovered from the water samples by a
glass wool adsorption–elution technique and/or PEG/NaCl
precipitation. Nucleic acid was extracted using the automated
MagNA Pure platform. NoVs were detected with
singleplex real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain
reaction assays and characterised by nucleotide sequence
analysis. NoVs were detected in 63 % (25/40) of the
selected water samples comprising GII (42.5 %), GI
(2.5 %) and mixed GI/GII (17.5 %) positive samples. The
prevalence of NoVs in the Mutoine River (urban area) was
higher than in the Mboone River (rural area) (P = 0.0013).
Noroviruses GI.1, GI.3, GI.9, GII.4, GII.6, GII.12, GII.16
and GII.17 were identified, with GII.17 accounting for
76 % (16/21) of the typed strains. The NoV GII.17 predominance
differs to other studies in Africa and further
surveillance of NoVs in clinical and environmental settings
is required to clarify/elucidate this observation. As information
regarding NoVs in Kenyan water sources is limited
this report provides valuable new data on NoV genotypes circulating in environmental water sources and the surrounding
communities in Kenya.
