Occurrence of Noroviruses and Their Correlation with Microbial Indicators in Raw Milk

Food Environ Virol. 2015 Sep;7(3):232-8. doi: 10.1007/s12560-015-9185-5. Epub 2015 Feb 13.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the microbiological quality of raw cow's milk in a collection center in the city of Mashhad, Iran. A total of 19 raw cow's milk samples were collected and simultaneously analyzed for male-specific (F(+)) coliphage and Escherichia coli using culture-based methods and for enteric viruses by reverse transcriptase semi-nested PCR using primer sets specific for human norovirus Group I (HNV-GI), human norovirus Group II (HNV-GII), and enteroviruses (EV). Seven out of 19 (36.8%) raw milk samples tested positive for human noroviruses (HNV). The genotypes detected were HNV-GI and HNV-GII. Three positive samples contained both genotypes, and 2 samples were positive for either of HNV-GI and HNV-GII. No sample tested positive for EV. The correlation between the occurrence of HNV and the microbial indicators was studied. The statistical analysis using first- and second-order regression revealed that there is no correlation between F(+) coliphage and E. coli. Similarly, no correlation was noticed between the occurrence of F(+) coliphages and HNV. However, frequency distribution analysis indicated that 3 out of 4 (75%) of raw milk samples containing F(+) coliphage at a concentration higher than 10(4) pfu/100 ml were also positive for noroviruses. The limited data on the occurrence of noroviruses in raw milk suggest a poor sanitation and hygiene practices at the facility and indicate a possible correlation between the viral indicator at high concentration and human noroviruses; however, this analysis needs further investigation in a larger scale study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Coliphages / genetics
  • Coliphages / isolation & purification*
  • Coliphages / physiology
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification*
  • Escherichia coli / virology
  • Female
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Food Handling / instrumentation
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Iran
  • Male
  • Milk / microbiology*
  • Milk / virology*
  • Norovirus / classification
  • Norovirus / genetics
  • Norovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA Primers