The simultaneous occurrence of human norovirus and hepatitis E virus in a Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)

Arch Virol. 2013 Jul;158(7):1575-8. doi: 10.1007/s00705-013-1646-2. Epub 2013 Feb 27.

Abstract

Wild rats can be reservoirs and vectors for several human pathogens. An initial RT-PCR screening of the intestinal contents of Norway rats trapped in the sewer system of Copenhagen, Denmark, for caliciviruses revealed the presence of a human norovirus in one of 11 rodents. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis of the ~4.0-kb 3'-terminus of the norovirus genome resulted in the identification of a recombinant GI.b/GI.6 strain. The simultaneous detection of hepatitis E virus-like particles in the feces of this rat by transmission electron microscopy was confirmed by RT-PCR and sequence determination, resulting in the identification of a novel rat hepatitis E virus.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Coinfection / veterinary*
  • Coinfection / virology
  • Denmark
  • Feces / virology
  • Female
  • Hepatitis E virus / isolation & purification*
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Norovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Rats
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rodent Diseases / virology*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology

Substances

  • RNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KC294198
  • GENBANK/KC294199