An outbreak of calicivirus associated gastroenteritis in an elderly persons home. A possible zoonosis?

An outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by calicivirus began amongst residents and staff of an old persons home 24 hours after the proprietor's dog had been sick. Serological evidence suggests that the calicivirus isolated from one of the cases may be capable of infecting dogs as well as man. The virus strain responsible for this outbreak differs antigenically from those associated with two other outbreaks in the U.K. and one in Japan. The characteristic morphology of calicivirus is lost if stool is stored at -70 degrees C.