Molecular prevalence of bovine noroviruses and neboviruses detected in central-eastern Tunisia.

Two genetically distinct bovine enteric caliciviruses are known: noroviruses of genogroup III (NoVsGIII), which are genetically related to human noroviruses, and neboviruses, which represent a new calicivirus genus. To investigate the presence of NoVsGIII and nebovirus strains in diarrheic calves in Tunisia, a total of 169 faecal specimens were collected from January 2006 to October 2010 from different cattle herds located in the central-east regions. RT-PCRs and sequencing were carried out using primers targeting the 3' end of the polymerase gene of NoVsGIII and neboviruses.