title: Murine norovirus infection in Brazilian animal facilities.
abstract: Murine norovirus (MNV) is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus of the Caliciviridae family. MNV has been reported to infect laboratory mice with the ability to cause lethal infections in strains lacking components of the innate immune response. Currently, MNV is considered the most prevalent infectious agent detected in laboratory mouse facilities. In this study, mice in 22 laboratory animal facilities within Brazil were analyzed for MNV infection. Using primers targeting a conserved region of the viral capsid, MNV was detected by RT-PCR in 137 of 359 mice from all 22 facilities. Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the capsid region from the viral genome showed identity ranging from 87% to 99% when compared to reported MNV sequences. In addition, RAW264.7 cells inoculated with a mouse fecal suspension displayed cytopathic effect after the fifth passage. This study represents the first report of MNV in mouse colonies in Brazilian laboratory animal facilities, emphasizing the relevance of a health surveillance program in such environments.
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Center for Biological Research on Laboratory Animal Science (CEMIB), Animal Health Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniele Masselli
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Center for Biological Research on Laboratory Animal Science (CEMIB), Animal Health Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josélia Cristina de Oliveira
authors.initials: JCO
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lancellotti
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Center for Biological Research on Laboratory Animal Science (CEMIB), Animal Health Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rovilson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gilioli
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Center for Biological Research on Laboratory Animal Science (CEMIB), Animal Health Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcus Alexandre Finzi
authors.initials: MAF
authors.lastname: Corat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D001938:Brazil; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D007753:Laboratories; D051379:Mice; D029322:Norovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Brazil; RT-PCR; mouse; murine norovirus