Identification of human norovirus (HNoV) in domestic pig stool samples

Objective: To determine the presence of NoVs as a possible causal zoonotic agent of acute diarrhea in pigs and humans. Materials and methods: We collected a total of 77 samples from diarrheal children under 5 years and pigs under 2 months from La Chamba town in Tolima, Colombia. These samples were transported to the Laboratory of Virology of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, and extraction with Trizol-reagent was done following the manufacturer's instructions. After obtaining the RNA, the next step was to perform RT-PCR for obtaining the expected amplification product of 213- bp NoVs. Finally, the positive samples obtained in the RT-PCR were sequenced and analyzed by bioinformatics methods. Results: Six positive diarrheic samples from children and a positive diarrheic sample from pigs were detected by a band of 231 bp. Five of the six positive samples in children and the positive pig sample were sequenced and analyzed. Conclusion: Given the close genetic relationship between pig and human sequences, this could be an indication of the potential existence of a common animal acting as a reservoir for human or other animal strains.