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Respiratory Viral Infections Research / Zoonotic Diseases and Public Health · Journal article
Journal of General and Molecular Virology · August 13, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This descriptive cross-sectional study from a single hospital in Brazzaville reports a 44% prevalence of norovirus (predominantly genogroup II) among 50 children presenting with acute gastroenteritis between June and November 2020. While it establishes norovirus as a local cause of paediatric gastroenteritis and documents clinical features, the small uncontrolled sample and lack of comparator limit the strength of evidence to hypothesis-generating and preliminary.
Descriptive cross-sectional study. Fifty children aged 28 days to 17 years presenting with acute gastroenteritis; 80% were aged ≤5 years. Setting: University Hospital Center of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.. Intervention: Real-time RT-PCR detection of noroviral RNA and genogroup differentiation (GI vs GII). n = 50. University Hospital Center of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
Overall prevalence of NoV infection was 44% among 50 children with AGE GII genogroup predominated at 73%, compared to GI at 18%; GI/GII co-infections in 9% Clinical features: fever in 80%, increased stool frequency in 86%, dehydration in 100%
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This report documents norovirus prevalence in a setting where epidemiological data are scarce, but the single-centre design and small sample preclude generalisable conclusions. Clinicians in the region should be aware that norovirus (especially GII) is a common cause of paediatric gastroenteritis; however, larger, multi-centre surveillance is needed to guide prevention and control policy.
Single-centre descriptive cross-sectional study with small sample (n=50) and surrogate diagnostic endpoint (RT-PCR detection) in an under-resourced setting; establishes local prevalence but lacks comparator and generalisability.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
This report documents norovirus prevalence in a setting where epidemiological data are scarce, but the single-centre design and small sample preclude generalisable conclusions. Clinicians in the region should be aware that norovirus (especially GII) is a common cause of paediatric gastroenteritis; however, larger, multi-centre surveillance is needed to guide prevention and control policy.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major public health concern in Africa, with noroviruses (NoV) recognized as the predominant viral etiological agents. However, their epidemiological impact remains underreported in the Republic of Congo, particularly in Brazzaville. This study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of NoV among children presenting with AGE, identify the circulating genogroups, and evaluate associated sociodemographic and clinical factors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June to November 2020 at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville. Fifty children aged 28 days to 17 years presenting with AGE were enrolled. Stool samples were analyzed using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect viral RNA and differentiate between GI and GII genogroups. Eighty percent were aged 5 years. The overall prevalence of NoV infection was 44%, with GII (73%) predominating over GI (18%). GI/GII co-infections were detected in 9% of cases. Clinically, fever was reported in 80% of cases, increased stool frequency in 86%, and dehydration was observed in all participants (100%). A significant association was observed between age and NoV genogroup distribution (p = 0.03), with GII being more prevalent among children aged 5 years. However, clinical manifestations did not differ significantly between genogroups (p > 0.05). Norovirus represents an important cause of pediatric AGE in Brazzaville. Socioeconomic conditions and inadequate hygiene practices appear to play significant roles in NoV transmission.The integration of molecular diagnostic approaches into national surveillance programs and the strengthening of sanitation measures are recommended to improve prevention and control strategies. Key words: Norovirus, acute gastroenteritis, molecular epidemiology, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Congo.
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