Detection of three gastroenteritis-causing viruses in rodents captured in Guangzhou and Xiamen city

  Objective  To examine the status of gastroenteritis-causing virus carriage in rodents and to provide epidemiological information on animal vectors of the pathogens.

  Methods  We collected fecal samples from rodents captured in Guangzhou and Xiamen city between 2012 and 2014. Real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) method was used to detect viral nuclear acids of norovirus (GI and GII), rotavirus group A, and human parechovirus. Subsequently, the nuclear acids of the identified viruses were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed.

  Results  A total of 224 fecal samples were collected from 188 Rattus norvegicus, 27 Rattus losea and 9 Rattus tanezumi. One sample (0.53%) from Rattus norvegicus was positive for human parechovirus. Unfortunately, it was failed to identify the genotype of the virus. There were no samples positive for norovirus or rotavirus group A.

  Conclusion  It is the first report that Rattus norvegicus might carry human parechovirus. However further studies should be conducted to confirm this finding.