CALICIVIRIDAE

ABY ELIJAH BERNARDINO

CALICIVIRIDAE
The Caliciviridae family include the following genera:

• Genus Vesivirus; type species: Vesicular

exanthema of swine virus
• Genus Lagovirus; type species: Rabbit
hemorrhagic disease virus
• Genus Norovirus; type species: Norwalk virus
• Genus Sapovirus; type species: Sapporo virus
 Caliciviridae

Vesivirus (swine, Sapovirus (humans, Norovirus Lagovirus (rabbits)

cats) “noro lite”)

GIII (pigs and cows) GIV (humans) GV (mice)

GI (humans) GII (humans)

GII.1 to GII.17
GI.1 to GI.8 (GII.4 is the most
common outbreak
strain)
CALICIVIRIDAE
• The Caliciviridae family are a family of viruses, members of
Class IV of the Baltimore scheme. Common name: CALCIVIRUS.
• The name calicivirus is derived from the Latin
word calyx meaning cup or goblet. This name is appropriate as
many strains have visible cup-shaped depressions.
• The family consists of several viruses of veterinary importance
including vesicular exanthema virus of swine, feline calicivirus,
rabbit hemorrhagic disease, virus, and European brown hare
syndrome.
• Caliciviruses cause systemic diseases and gastroenteritis but
some cause vesicular diseases.
• Viruses: Noroviruses and Hepatitis E. (Although Hepatitis E is
being reclassified into its own family Hepeviridae)
3-D Structure of Calicivirus Capsid Negative EM stain

Norwalk virus Norwalk virus

CALCIVIRUSES
CHARACTERISTICS:
• Small size 40 nm in diameter
• They are positive-sense, non-enveloped,
the capsid appears hexagonal/spherical and has
icosahedral symmetry .
• Single molecule of linear single-stranded positive-sense
RNA
• Genome size 7.4 – 7.7 kilobases
• Resistant to heat, detergent-based disinfectants, but
rapidly inactivated by acidity (99% inactivation at pH = 3)
• Found in a number of organisms such as humans, cattle,
pigs, cats, chickens, reptiles, dolphins and amphibians.
CALCIVIRUSES
TRANSMISSION:
• Generally by the fecal-oral route, but they can also be transmitted via the
respiratory route.

REPLICATION:
• Virus attaches to host receptors and is internalized.
• Uncoating, and release of the viral genomic RNA into the cytoplasm.
• VPg is removed from the viral RNA, which is then translated into a
processed ORF1 polyprotein to yield the mature non-structural proteins
involved in RNA transcription.
• Negative-sense complementary ssRNAs are synthesized using the genomic
RNAs as a templates.
• New genomic RNAs are synthesized using the negative-sense RNAs as
templates.
• Expression of sgRNA yields the basic protein (and capsid protein).
• Assembly and release of new virions.
Human Diseases and Animal Viruses
• Calicivirus infections commonly cause
acute gastroenteritis, which is
the inflammation of the stomach and intestines. 
• Symptoms can include vomiting and diarrhea.
• These symptoms emerge after an incubation time
of 2 days and the symptoms only generally last
for 3 days.
• Most calicivirus infections do not call for medical
attention, but those who are
immunocompromised may need to be
hospitalized for rehydration therapy.
• Feline calicivirus (FCV) represents an important
pathogen of cats.
• Sapovirus, Norovirus and Vesivirus have been detected
in pigs, making this animal species of particular
interest in the study of calicivirus pathogenesis and
host range.
• The first mouse norovirus, murine norovirus 1 (MNV-
1), was discovered in 2003. Since then, numerous
murine norovirus strains have been identified and they
were assigned a new genogroup in the genus
Norovirus.
• Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a pathogen
of rabbits that causes major problems throughout the
world where rabbits are reared for food and clothing,
make a significant contribution to ecosystem ecology,
and where they support valued wildlife as a food
source.
FELINE CALICIVIRUS (FCV)
• It is one of the two important viral causes of
respiratory infection in cats, the other
being feline Herpesvirus.
• FCV produces an acute or subacute disease
characterized by conjunctivitis, rhinitis,
tracheitis, pneumonia, and vesicular
ulceration of the oral epithelium
•  Cheetahs are the other species of the
family Felidae known to become infected
naturally.
Electron micrograph of FCV
PATHOGENICITY:
• Natural transmission is via aerosol and formites -
often
transmitted to susceptible cats by human
handlers.
• Incubation period is 2 to 6 days.
• Lesions are confined to respiratory tract, oral
cavity,
and eyes.
• The virus is shed in large amounts from infected
cats for months - persistent infection occurs in
most animals, resulting in carriers.
• Different strains of FCV vary in virulence.
CLINICAL DISEASES:
• Fever, anorexia, lethargy, stiff gait, nasal and ocular
discharges.
• Conjunctivitis.
• Ulcerative lesions are commonly observed in oral
epithelium.
• In severe disease, pulmonary edema and interstitial
pneumonia.
LAB EXAMINTION:
• Virus isolation –feline cell cultures
• Serology – DD – Feline rhinotracheitis and feline
herpesvirus-1
TREATMENT:
• There is no specific treatment for
FCV. Antibiotics are used for secondary
bacterial infections and immune modulators,
such as Lymphocyte T-Cell Immune
Modulator has been used for immune
support. 
VESICULAR EXANTHEMA VIRUS (VEV)
• VE disease of swine is extinct but the virus is
still present in marine mammals.
• VE was an acute febrile disease of swine
characterized by formation of vesicles on the
snout, teats, tongue, oral cavity, and feet.
• Disease important because it is
indistinguishable clinically with FMD, and VS.
PATHOGENECITY:
• Virus transmitted by contact and
contamination of
formites.
• Incubation period was 18 to 48 hours.
• Recovery was rapid with no complications.
• Immunity was solid following infection but
there were many non-cross-protective
serotypes resulting in heterologous re-
infections.
CLINICAL DISEASE:
• Fever, lameness, rapid weight loss.
• Vesicles in snout, oral cavity, teats, and feet.
• Virus causes encephalitis, myocarditis,
diarrhea,
and failure to thrive.
• Pregnant sows may abort.
Vesicular exanthema
snout showing ruptured
vesicle
Vesicular exanthema
tongue showing ulcerative
lesions
LAB EXAMINATION/DIAGNOSIS:

•Virus isolation –in swine cell cultures

• Serologic tests –Diff Diagnosis: FMDV, VSV
• VE viruses were very heterogenous - 13
antigenic serotypes known.
• Electron microscopy
SAPOVIRUSES
• Sapoviruses are caliciviruses that together
with the noroviruses, are the most common
cause of acute viral gastroenteritis in adults.
• Unlike norovirus, this virus generally only
causes mild gastroenteritis in young children.
NOROVIRUS 
• Also known as “stomach or abdominal influenza”, winter
vomiting disease, vomiting bug, cruise ship virus.
• Formerly Norwalk agent,  is an RNA virus that causes
approximately 90% of epidemic non-bacterial outbreaks
of gastroenteritis around the world, and may be
responsible for 50% of all food borne outbreaks of
gastroenteritis.
• The viruses are transmitted by faecally contaminated food
or water, by person-to-person contact, and via
aerosolization of the virus and subsequent contamination
of surfaces.
• After infection, immunity to norovirus is usually incomplete
and temporary. There is an inherited predisposition to
infection, and individuals with blood type O are more often
infected, while blood types B and AB can confer partial
protection against symptomatic infection
CHARACTERISTICS:
Feature Observation Consequences
Low infectious dose <102 virus particles Permits droplet/person-to-person,
foodhandler spread, secondary
spread
Prolonged asymptomatic Up to 2 weeks Increases risk of secondary spread,
shedding problems with control of food
handlers
Environmental stability Survives 10 ppm Hard to eliminate from contaminated
chlorine, freezing, 67°C water; survives in ice, partially
cooked oysters
Great strain diversity Many genetic and Requires composite diagnostics;
antigenic types repeated infections with many
different antigenic types,
underestimate prevalence
Lack of longtime immunity Disease with reinfection Childhood exposure does not protect
in adulthood; difficulty in developing
vaccine with lifelong protection
Reservoir Humans Occurs only in human host—recent
identification of related animal
strains
MODES OF TRANSMISSION BY FOOD:
• Food sources (i.e., food arrives contaminated)
• Preparation
• Food handlers
• Customers
• Most at risk: ready-to-eat foods that require handling
but no subsequent cooking (e.g., salads)
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY:
• Enteritis of the proximal small intestine and mucosal
lesions of the villous epithelium
• Colon and stomach are spared (histopathology)
• Delayed gastric emptying during the acute illness
• Produces transient (up to 2 weeks duration) D-xylose
malabsorption
LAB EXAMINATION/DIAGNOSIS:
• Specific diagnosis of norovirus is routinely made
by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays or real-time
PCR assays, which give results within a few hours.
These assays are very sensitive and can detect
concentrations as low as 10 virus particles.
• Tests such as ELISA that use antibodies against a
mixture of norovirus strains are available commercially
but lack specificity and sensitivity.
PREVENTION:
• Hand washing is an effective method to reduce the
spread of norovirus pathogens.
• Sanitizing of surfaces where the norovirus may be
present is recommended. Alcohol rubs are not very
effective at dealing with Norovirus.
Norovirus