Development of a new microwell hybridization assay and an internal control RNA for the detection of porcine noroviruses and sapoviruses by reverse transcription-PCR

Recently, genetically diverse porcine noroviruses (NoV) and sapoviruses (SaV) were identified from field pig fecal samples. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR is the primary method used for detection of human NoVs and SaVs. However, RT-PCR inhibitors frequently cause false-negative results. In this study, a competitive internal control (IC) RNA, specific for use in the SaV RT-PCR assay, was developed to monitor inhibition of RT-PCR; primers for detection of genetically diverse porcine NoVs and SaVs were designed; and microwell hybridization assays to confirm the specific RT-PCR products were developed. The primer pairs and the RT-PCR–hybridization combinations were compared using representative porcine NoV and SaV strains, positive pig fecal samples and a panel of 30 field pig fecal samples. Extracted RNA from 3 of 30 samples failed to amplify the IC RNA. However, this inhibition was not present after a 10-fold dilution of the extracted RNA. The five different RT-PCR–hybridization combinations developed specifically detected all three genotypes of porcine NoVs, all GIII porcine SaVs, unclassified JJ681-like, QW19 and LL26-like porcine SaVs, respectively. These RT-PCR–hybridization assays are specific, less time consuming and economical and particularly applicable to testing large number of samples for porcine NoVs and SaVs.