1. Norovirus and Toxoplasma

6. Birth of a pathogen, part IV
Norwalk, Ohio
J. Infect. Dis. 119: (1969)

9. Genome is single-stranded RNA Two capsid proteins
7-8 kb
Genome is single-stranded RNA
Two capsid proteins
Virion is 60-sided, 180 capsid proteins
Hyde et al., J. Virol. 83:9709.

10. Norovirus Reservoir: us (foods: human contact)
Incubation time: ~1-2 days
Disease: Nausea, projectile vomiting, diarrhea (12-60 hours)
Millions to billions particles shed per individual;
Shedding may continue weeks after becoming asymptomatic.
Immunity lasts ~6-14 weeks
barfblog.org

11. Norovirus Infectious dose ~ 18 viral particles; Resistant to:
Heating to 140 oF
Drying (for week)
Soil and water (for months)
Human norovirus cannot be cultured;
Detection by PCR-based methods
Treatment: oral hydration;
Disinfect area (bleach) carefully, wash clothes, wash your hands constantly.

12. Detection of Norovirus
Immunoassays
Poor sensitivity
Reverse transcriptase PCR
RT-PCR
Often targeting polymerase
From Wikipedia

13. Interviews with Jimmy John’s employees revealed that four of the employees had missed work during the week before the KDA inspection on December 18 due to gastrointestinal illness.

14. Chipotle explained it may be at a higher risk of food-borne illness than some competitors due to its "use of fresh produce and meats rather than frozen" and "reliance on employees cooking with traditional methods rather than automation."

15. Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites “definitive host” vs.
“intermediate host”
tachyzoites

16. Three largest concerns
YOPI
Brain, heart, skeletal muscles;
May become chronic;
Congenital toxoplasmosis
10% fetal death, 30% brain/heart/developmental issues
Increasing importation of wild boar/wild game meat