Detection and genetic characterization of norovirus in environmental water samples in Thailand.

The aim of this study was to detect and characterize noroviruses (NoVs) in environmental water samples. One hundred and fourteen water samples were collected from a river and irrigation canals in central Thailand during 2006-2007. NoVs were detected by RT-nested PCR in 13% of the samples. The river samples (22%) contained NoVs at a higher frequency than the irrigation canal samples (4%). Among the 15 NoV-positive samples, 9 harbored genogroup (G) I, 2 samples with GII, and 4 samples with mixed GI and GII. DNA sequencing of PCR amplicons and phylogenetic analysis of partial capsid gene revealed that 5 samples were of genotype GI-2, 1 sample was GI-6, and 1 sample was a mix of GI-2 and GII-unclassified genotypes. NoVs in water samples quantified using quantitative RT-PCR were in the range of 4.91 x 10(2) -1.26 x 10(3) copies/ml for NoV GI and 3.51 x 10(3) copies/ml for NoV GII. This is the first study demonstrating the presence of NoV variants in water samples collected from a river and the adjacent canals of Thailand.