Development of a Practical Method to Detect Noroviruses Contamination in Composite Meals

Food Environ Virol. 2015 Sep;7(3):239-48. doi: 10.1007/s12560-015-9191-7. Epub 2015 Mar 22.

Abstract

Various methods to detect foodborne viruses including norovirus (NoV) in contaminated food have been developed. However, a practical method suitable for routine examination that can be applied for the detection of NoVs in oily, fatty, or emulsive food has not been established. In this study, we developed a new extraction and concentration method for detecting NoVs in contaminated composite meals. We spiked NoV-GI.4 or -GII.4 stool suspension into potato salad and stir-fried noodles. The food samples were suspended in homogenizing buffer and centrifuged to obtain a food emulsion. Then, anti-NoV-GI.4 or anti-NoV-GII.4 rabbit serum raised against recombinant virus-like particles or commercially available human gamma globulin and Staphylococcus aureus fixed with formalin as a source of protein A were added to the food emulsion. NoV-IgG-protein A-containing bacterial complexes were collected by centrifugation, and viral RNA was extracted. The detection limits of NoV RNA were 10-35 copies/g food for spiked NoVs in potato salad and stir-fried noodles. Human gamma globulin could also concentrate other NoV genotypes as well as other foodborne viruses, including sapovirus, hepatitis A virus, and adenovirus. This newly developed method can be used as to identify NoV contamination in composite foods and is also possibly applicable to other foodborne viruses.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caliciviridae Infections / prevention & control
  • Caliciviridae Infections / virology
  • Food Analysis / methods*
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Meat / virology
  • Norovirus / classification
  • Norovirus / genetics
  • Norovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Rabbits
  • Vegetables / virology

Substances

  • RNA, Viral