Investigation of Norovirus among diarrheal children in Al- Najaf Provence

Abstract

One hundred diarrheal stool samples were collected from infants with age (1-18 months) admitted to Al-ZahraaHospital for Maternity and Children& Al- Hakeem hospital in AL- Najaf governorate , Iraq , during the period extended from December 2014 to March 2015. All samples were subjected to rapid test specific of Norovirus . The results of rapid identification revealed that 29% (29/100) were positive for Norovirus ,eleven samples (37.9% ) of 29 stool samples was detected RT.PCR technique. Most patients were those who had mixed feeding methods using untreated water and lived in poor environmental conditions.