Distribution of Naturally Occurring Norovirus Genogroups I,II, and IV in Oyster Tissues

This study evaluated different tissues of naturally contaminated oysters (Crassostrea belcheri) for the presence of noroviruses. RNA from digestive tissues, gills, and mantle of the oysters was extracted and tested for norovirus genogroup (G) I, GII, and GIV using RT-nested PCR. In spiking experiments with a known norovirus, GII.4, the detection limits were 2.97 × 10² RNA copies/g of digestive tissues, 2.62 × 10² RNA copies/g of gills, and 1.61 × 10³ RNA copies/g of mantle. A total of 85 oyster samples were collected from a fresh market in Bangkok, Thailand. Noroviruses were found in the oyster samples (40/85, 47%): GI (29/85, 34.1%), GII (9/85, 10.5%), mixed GI and GII (1/85, 1.2%), and GIV (1/85, 1.2%). All three genogroups were found in the digestive tissues of oysters. Norovirus GI was present in all three tissues with the highest frequency in the mantle, and was additionally detected in multiple tissues in some oysters. GII was also detected in all three tissues, but was not detected in multiple tissues in the same oyster. For genogroup I, only GI.2 could be identified and it was found in all tissues. For genogroup II, three different genotypes were identified, namely GII.4 which was detected in the gills and the mantle, GII.17 which was detected in the digestive tissues, and GII.21 which was detected in the mantle. GIV.1 was identified in the digestive tissues of one oyster. This is the first report on the presence of human GIV.1 in oyster in Thailand, and the results indicate oyster as a possible vehicle for transmission of all norovirus genogroups in Thailand.