Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of norovirus in environment and population in coastal area and explore the virus transmission route.MethodsSamples of cultivated oysters, aquaculture water, and vomitus/faeces of patients with acute gastroenteritis were collected in Changsha Bay each month from December 2013 to December 2014. Noroviruses were detected by both real time RT-PCR and semi-nested RT-PCR. The partial capsid gene was amplified and sequenced by Sanger approach to conduct phylogenetic analysis. ResultsA total of 331 samples of cultivated oysters, 110 samples of aquaculture water and 75 samples of vomitus/faeces from diarrhea patients were detected. Norovirus positive rates were 32.6% (108/331), 11.8% (13/110), and 20.0%(15/75) in samples of cultivated oysters, aquaculture water, and diarrhea patients, respectively. Positive percentage of norovirus was higher in winter-spring season than that in summer-autumn season for the samples of oysters and aquaculture water (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Nine genotypes were detected in cultivated oysters, 5 in diarrhea patients, and 4 in aquaculture water. Identical genotypes were found in different samples. High sequence identities of norovirus were observed in the three types of samples (95.8%-99.7%).ConclusionNoroviruses prevailed and persisted in Changsha Bay with high genetic diversity. There would be a circulation route of noroviruses among the population and environment. It is necessary to control the contamination of norovirus in aquaculture water for shellfish food hygiene.