Publication Abstract

Distribution of human viral contamination in shellfish from different growing areas in Greece, Spain, Sweden and UK

Distribution of human viral contamination in shellfish from different growing areas in Greece, Spain, Sweden and UK

Formiga-Cruz, M., G. Tofiño-Quesada, S. Bofill-Mas, D. N. Lees, K. Henshilwood, A. K. Allard, A.-C. Conden-Hansson, B.E. Hernroth, A. Vantarakis, A. Tsibouxi, M. Papapetropoulou, M. D. Furones, and R. Girones

Viral pollution in shellfish has been analyzed simultaneously across a wide range of geographical regions, considering the concomitant variations in physic-chemical characteristics and social features. The methodologies for sample treatment and for the detection of human enteric viruses were optimized by the participant laboratories. The second part of this study, selects a protocol for virus detection, which was validated by analyzing the distribution and the concentration of human viral pathogens under diverse conditions during an eighteen-month period in four European states. Shellfish growing areas from diverse countries in the North and the South of Europe were defined and studied, and the microbiological quality of the produced shellfish was analyzed. Human adenovirus, Norwalk-like virus and enterovirus were identified as contaminants of shellfish in all the participant countries. Hepatitis A virus was also isolated in all areas with the exception of Sweden. The seasonal distribution of viral contamination was also described. Norwalk-like virus appeared to be the only group of viruses that presented seasonal variation with lower concentration during warm months. Current depuration treatments applied were shown to be adequate for reducing Escherichia coli levels, although ineffective for the elimination of viral particles. The human adenoviruses detected by PCR correlate with the presence of other human viruses and could be useful as a molecular index of viral contamination in shellfish.

Reference:

Formiga-Cruz, M., G. Tofiño-Quesada, S. Bofill-Mas, D. N. Lees, K. Henshilwood, A. K. Allard, A.-C. Conden-Hansson, B.E. Hernroth, A. Vantarakis, A. Tsibouxi, M. Papapetropoulou, M. D. Furones, and R. Girones, 2002. Distribution of human viral contamination in shellfish from different growing areas in Greece, Spain, Sweden and UK. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68(12): 5990-5998.

M. Formiga-Cruz, G. Tofiño-Quesada, S. Bofill-Mas, D. N. Lees*, K. Henshilwood*, A. K. Allard, A.-C. Conden-Hansson, B.E. Hernroth, A. Vantarakis, A. Tsibouxi, M. Papapetropoulou, M. D. Furones, and R. Girones

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68(12): 5990-5998