title: Detection and molecular characterization of caliciviruses (vesivirus and norovirus) in an outbreak of acute diarrhea in kittens from Brazil.
abstract: Feline caliciviruses (FCVs) have occasionally been described in cats in association with enteric disease, but an etiological role for these viruses in acute gastroenteritis is still unclear. In this study, molecular characterization of FCV and feline norovirus (FNoV) was undertaken using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and sequence analysis of the ORF1 region in fecal specimens from 29 diarrheic cats. The specimens were also screened for parvovirus, coronavirus, astrovirus and group A rotavirus. A quantitative one step RT-PCR was also performed to detect and quantitate NoV genogroup IV and the role of these animal caliciviruses in feline gastroenteritis was investigated. This is the first description of enteric FCV and FNoV in South America.
authors.affiliation: Fluminense Federal University, Rua Hernani de Melo 101, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: txcastro@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Tatiana X
authors.initials: TX
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Fluminense Federal University, Rua Hernani de Melo 101, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia N
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Cubel Garcia
authors.affiliation: Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tulio M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Fumian
authors.affiliation: Fluminense Federal University, Rua Hernani de Melo 101, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erika M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Fluminense Federal University, Rua Hernani de Melo 101, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.affiliation: Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (BABS), The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Paulo G
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Leite
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D002415:Cats; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D029322:Norovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D029342:Vesivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Calicivirus; Cat; Norovirus; Real-time PCR; Sequence analysis