DETECTION OF NORWALK-LIKE VIRUS GENES IN THE CECUM CONTENTS OF PIGS

Norwalk-like virus genes were detected by RT-PCR in the caecum content s of pigs. Positive PCR products were produced from four out of 1117 s amples by nested PCR using human SRSV primers. Nucleotide sequences be tween 4561 and 4852 numbered according to the Norwalk virus genomic RN A in the RNA polymerase region were determined. Between the Norwalk vi rus sequence and the sequences detected in pigs, there was 58.2% to 59 .9% sequence homology. The swine sequences were located on genogroup I I of human SRSVs, but formed a subgroup in the phylogenetic tree of ca liciviruses.