Human noroviruses in swine and cattle.
Human noroviruses are the predominant cause of foodborne gastroenteritis worldwide. Strains of norovirus also exist that are uniquely associated with animals; their contribution to the incidence of human illness remains unclear. We tested animal fecal samples and identified GIII (bovine), GII.18 (swine), and GII.4 (human) norovirus sequences, demonstrating for the first time, to our knowledge, that GII.4-like strains can be present in livestock. In addition, we detected GII.4-like noroviral RNA from a retail meat sample. This finding highlights a possible route for indirect zoonotic transmission of noroviruses through the food chain.
Mattison
Kirsten
K
Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. kirsten_mattison@hc-sc.gc.ca
Shukla
Anu
A
Cook
Angela
A
Pollari
Frank
F
Friendship
Robert
R
Kelton
David
D
Bidawid
Sabah
S
Farber
Jeffrey M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D029322:Norovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000821:virology