Detection of Antibodies against Norovirus Genogroup GIV in Carnivores

Abstract

Noroviruses (NoVs) resembling human NoV genotype GIV (Alphatron-like) have recently been detected in carnivores. By using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on baculovirus-expressed capsid protein VP1 of lion strain GGIV.2/Pistoia/387/06/ITA, NoV-specific antibodies were detected in cats (16.11%) and dogs (4.8%), demonstrating that these animals are exposed to infections caused by NoVs.

Seroprevalence of Canine Norovirus in 14 European Countries

“…Although a comparison of the seroprevalences between countries was not possible because the number of samples tested from several of the countries was limited, the detection of IgG antibodies in dogs from 12 of the 14 countries demonstrates that GVI.2 CNVs are widespread in dogs throughout Europe. The percentage of samples positive for GVI CNV antibodies in our study (36%) was higher than the 4.8% reported for GIV CNV antibodies in dogs from Italy (11) and fell within the range (38.1% to 60.1%) reported for the dog population of the United Kingdom (10). However, the 36% seropositivity found in this study must be interpreted with caution, since it may be an overestimate due to antibody cross-reactivity.…”

Canine Noroviruses

“…By expressing in baculovirus the capsid protein of the lion NoV, virus-like particles (VLPs) were produced and used to set up an ELISA, revealing specific antibodies in 16.1% of feline and 4.8% of canine sera. 40 Also, by screening a collection of stools from dogs with gastroenteritis in Italy in 2007, NoV was detected in 2.2% (4 of 183) of the pups. 41,42 The age of the pups ranged between 60 and 70 days and 3 of 4 pups were also co-infected by canine parvovirus.…”

“…An ELISA has been set up using the baculovirus-expressed capsid protein of the GIV.2 lion NoV. 40 This assay was successfully used to assess exposure of domestic carnivores to NoVs. However, considering the extent of the genetic heterogeneity of canine NoVs, generating synthetic antigens based on other capsid genotypes (GVI.2 and GVI.3) would be necessary to portray a more precise picture.…”

GIV Noroviruses in Wastewaters and in Stool Specimens from Hospitalized Patients

“…Later on, they were occasionally detected in the course of routine NoV screenings (Fankhauser et al 2002; Iritani et al 2002; Lindell et al 2005). Interestingly, Alphatron-like viruses have also been detected in domestic and captive carnivores (Di Martino et al 2009; Martella et al 2007; Martella et al 2008; Pinto et al 2012). Unlike genogroups I and II, for which thousands of sequences are available in the public sequence databases, less than 70 partial sequences of GIV viruses are present in GenBank.…”