Viral Zoonoses
A virus is an infective agent that ideally consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat. It is too small to be seen by light microscopy and multiples only inside living cells. It is the link between the living and the non-living. The diseases caused by this infective agent are called viral diseases.
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Acute gastroenteritis -
Norovirus
Acute gastroenteritis can be caused by many bacteria and viruses. Norovirus is also one such virus that causes it. Differential diagnosis is necessary to identify the causative agent. Noroviruses belong to the caliciviridae family and are single-stranded, heterogenous RNA viruses. They can affect humans of all ages. These viruses have been detected in both human and pet dog faecal samples. Human and Canine Noroviruses are different and their inter-transmissibility is still being researched. This disease is a burden worldwide. These viruses are the cause of frequent diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal pain.
Transmission can occur by ingesting tiny particles of the faeces of infected people or animals. Eating infected food or drinking contaminated liquids can also increase the chances of infection. Direct contact with an infected person or animal can also cause this disease.
A few reports suggest that dogs are active participants in the spread of noroviruses. To date, animal noroviruses have not been observed in human samples but serological studies show a link between the transmission of this disease from animals to humans. However, human to animal transmission has been observed in a few cases.
In humans-
Clinical signs of acute gastroenteritis in humans include diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and stomach ache. There may be fever, headache and body ache. The amount of urination may decrease and dry mouths may be observed in the cases of dehydration.
It is important to note that these symptoms develop after 12-48 hours of being exposed to the virus and resolve themselves within 1-3 days depending on the severity of the disease.
In animals-
Symptoms of this virus in animals are similar to human symptoms.
Reverse-transcription RT-PCR is used to detect noroviruses.
People or animals affected with noroviruses should be isolated. Contact precaution should be maintained for at least 48 hours after the resolution of symptoms. Sanitation and hand hygiene should be maintained. Gloves and masks should be used by health care personnel when dealing with patients suspected of noroviruses. For disinfection, bleach solution with a concentration of at least 1000 ppm sodium hypochlorite should be prepared and used every day. Steam cleaning should also be considered for rugs, carpets, etc. Proper food handling is another important step in the prevention of this disease.