Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
05:59
Nasal Wipes for Influenza A Virus Detection and Isolation from Swine
Published on: December 4, 2015
Human noroviruses in swine and cattle
Kirsten Mattison1, Anu Shukla, Angela Cook
1Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. kirsten_mattison@hc-sc.gc.ca
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|October 24, 2007
Summary
Animal noroviruses, including GII.4 strains, were found in livestock and retail meat. This suggests a potential food chain route for zoonotic norovirus transmission, impacting human gastroenteritis risk.
Area of Science:
- Foodborne illness
- Zoonotic disease transmission
- Viral gastroenteritis epidemiology
Background:
- Human noroviruses are a leading cause of global foodborne gastroenteritis.
- Animal-specific norovirus strains exist, but their role in human illness is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and potential transmission routes of animal noroviruses in livestock and food products.
- To determine if norovirus strains typically associated with humans can be found in animal populations and meat.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of animal fecal samples for norovirus sequences.
- Detection of noroviral RNA in retail meat samples.
- Genomic characterization of identified norovirus strains.
Main Results:
- Identification of GIII (bovine), GII.18 (swine), and GII.4 norovirus sequences in animal feces.
- First-time detection of GII.4-like norovirus strains in livestock.
- Detection of GII.4-like noroviral RNA in a retail meat sample.
Conclusions:
- GII.4-like norovirus strains can circulate in livestock populations.
- Retail meat may serve as a vehicle for indirect zoonotic norovirus transmission.
- Further research is needed to assess the full impact of animal noroviruses on human health.
Related Concept Videos
00:57Viral Recombination
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
01:18Bacterial Gastroenteritis
Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
01:26Human Virome
The human body harbors a vast and diverse viral community known as the human virome. The virome includes bacteriophages that infect bacteria, and eukaryotic viruses that infect human cells. Transient dietary and environmental viruses also contribute to this dynamic ecosystem. Estimates suggest the human body may contain on the order of 10¹³ viral particles, though abundance varies widely by body site and detection method.Comprehensive characterization of the virome has become possible only with...
01:17Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
01:23Bacteriophages of the Human Virome
Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body. They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome. Indeed, phages represent the most abundant viral entities, with densities in the gut reaching up to 10⁹ particles per gram of fecal matter, and many belonging to orders such as Caudovirales and Microviridae, while a substantial proportion remains unclassified as viral “dark matter.”Lysogeny and Genetic ExchangeIn the gut, bacteriophages...
01:27Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry
Microorganisms play a crucial role in agriculture and the food industry, contributing to soil fertility, crop protection, and food production. Their functions range from nitrogen fixation and biopesticide production to fermentation and food preservation, making them indispensable to sustainable farming and food safety.Role in AgricultureNitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium (symbiotic) and Azotobacter (free-living), convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia through biological nitrogen...