Norwalk virus shedding after experimental human infection atmar2008norwalk

This study investigates the magnitude and duration of Norwalk virus shedding in feces following experimental human infection. Conducted at Baylor College of Medicine from September 2004 to October 2006, the study involved 16 healthy adults aged 18-50 who were inoculated with Norwalk virus. Participants were monitored for clinical signs and symptoms, and fecal samples were collected and analyzed using RT-PCR and ELISA methods. The study found that virus shedding began as early as 18 hours post-inoculation and lasted a median of 28 days, with peak virus titers occurring after symptom resolution. The study provides insights into the prolonged fecal excretion of norovirus and its implications for transmission.

Analytes

stool_norovirus

Norwalk virus RNA was detected in fecal specimens using immunomagnetic capture (IMC) RT-PCR and quantitated by real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) with RNA transcripts as a standard. The limits of detection for the IMC RT-PCR and qRT-PCR assays were approximately 15 × 10^3 and 40 × 10^6 copies/g feces, respectively.

Biomarker: norovirus
Specimen: stool
Units: gc/dry gram
Participants: 16
Negative samples: 33
Positive samples (not quantifiable): 0
Quantifiable samples: 149
Limit of quantification: 40000000
Limit of detection: 15000