Bovine Norovirus: Carbohydrate Ligand, Environmental Contamination, and Potential Cross-Species Transmission via Oysters

Abstract

Noroviruses (NoV) are major agents of acute gastroenteritis in humans and the primary pathogens of shellfish-related outbreaks. Previous studies showed that some human strains bind to oyster tissues through carbohydrate ligands that are similar to their human receptors. Thus, based on presentation of shared norovirus carbohydrate ligands, oysters could selectively concentrate animal strains with increased ability to overcome species barriers. In comparison with human GI and GII strains, bovine GIII NoV strains, although frequently detected in bovine feces and waters of two estuaries of Brittany, were seldom detected in oysters grown in these estuaries. Characterization of the carbohydrate ligand from a new GIII strain indicated recognition of the alpha-galactosidase (␣-Gal) epitope not expressed by humans, similar to the GIII.2 Newbury2 strain. This ligand was not detectable on oyster tissues, suggesting that oysters may not be able to accumulate substantial amounts of GIII strains due to the lack of shared carbohydrate ligand and that they should be unable to contribute to select GIII strains with an increased ability to recognize humans.

Application of a Receptor-Binding Capture Quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR Assay To Concentrate Human Norovirus from Sewage and To Study the Distribution and Stability of the Virus

“…The removal of virus by treatment was 52% and 79% for GI and GII HuNoV, respectively. These results are representative of the results of numerous studies reporting detection of HuNoV in treated-sewage effluent samples (3,9,11,17,35,39). These reports raise concern in public safety, since HuNoV is highly infectious with Ͻ10 virus particles capable of causing disease (32).…”

Tulane Virus Recognizes the A Type 3 and B Histo-Blood Group Antigens

“…Similar to results of a previous study (13), significant reduction of TV replication in LLC-MK2 cells was seen after treatment of TVs with the A type 3 and B antigens. As an analogy, we predict that human HBGAs or a carbohydrate receptor also plays an important role in the replication of human NoVs and related caliciviruses (26)(27)(28)(29). To look into the report of increased TV infectivity by type A and B oligosaccharides in an earlier study (13), we carefully evaluated the experimental procedures described in the study and identified a potential problem that could cause a false result.…”

Rotavirus Distribution in Oysters Crassostrea Gigas Tissue

“…NV) persisted in oysters while feline calicivirus were eliminated over 10-day depuration, reinforcing the existence of selective mechanisms driving specific virus binding to oyster tissues (Ueki et al 2007). A recent report suggested that this selective retention of NV may drive cross-species transmission to humans of viral genotypes abler to accumulate in shellfish tissues (Zakhour et al 2010). …”