A new generic real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay for vesiviruses; vesiviruses were not detected in human samples.
Different viruses belonging to the genus Vesivirus infect a broad range of animals, and cause gastroenteritis, vesicular skin lesions, hemorrhagic disease, respiratory diseases and other conditions. A recent report on Vesivirus viremia, as detected by PCR, in samples from patients with hepatitis of unknown etiology in the USA suggested a zoonotic potential for vesiviruses. These results have not been confirmed by another laboratory. In order to do so, a generic PCR assay on the RNA polymerase region was developed, and validated with RNA from 69 different Vesivirus species. Except SMSV serotype-8, all species tested were detected, including the ones that were suggested to be involved in zoonotic transmission in the USA (SMSV serotype-5). The generic Vesivirus assay was used on RNA extracted from serum samples from patients with hepatitis, stool samples from patients with gastroenteritis, throat-swab specimens of patients with rash illnesses, throat-swab and nose-swabs of patients with acute respiratory diseases, and cell cultures with cytopathologic effect from enterovirus surveillance in which no pathogen was found. None were found positive. In this study a generic Vesivirus assay was developed and it was concluded that vesiviruses are an unlikely cause of common illnesses in humans in the Netherlands.
Svraka
Sanela
S
Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Screening, Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. Sanela.Svraka@RIVM.NL
Duizer
Erwin
E
Egberink
Herman
H
Dekkers
Jojanneke
J
Vennema
Harry
H
Koopmans
Marion
M
D001483:Base Sequence; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009426:Netherlands; D009666:Nose / Q000821:virology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D029342:Vesivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D017931:DNA Primers; D014764:Viral Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases