Publication Abstract

Detection of enteric viruses in shellfish by the nested-PCR method, and comparison with F specific RNA bacteriophage and Escherichia coli counts.

Detection of enteric viruses in shellfish by the nested-PCR method, and comparison with F-specific RNA bacteriophage and escherichia coli counts

 

I.Torrado, K. Henshilwood, D. Lees & J. L. Romalde.

The role of enteric viruses, including hepatitis A virus (HAV), as responsible for many disease outbreaks associated with mollusc-consumption is well known. Standard methods to ensure the sanitary quality of shellfish rely on bacterial indicators, may fail to detect viral contamination. Alternative procedures, as the use of F-Specific RNA bacteriophage as indicator or the PCR for the direct detection of enteric viruses, are being analysed by different laboratories. The main aim of this research work was to study the presence of some of the most relevant enteric viruses in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis ) from the northwestern coast of Spain (Galicia), which is one of the first shellfish-producers regions worldwide (mussels mainly). Norwalk virus (NV) and Adenovirus (AV) from which no previous data were obtained from this area, and Hepatitis A virus studied four years ago. The efficacy of these methods was evaluated, and the results were compared with the results of the Escherichia coli and F-Specific RNA bacteriophage counts.

The results observed were a positive percentage of 66,6% (12/18) for AV, 22,2% (4/18) for NV from which 11,1% (2/18) for genotype I and 11,1% for genotype II. It was not detected any positive for HAV. This could be due to the fast decrease in the incidence of this virus in Spain considered, until few years ago, as an endemic area. The results of this work constitute the first study on the AD and NV prevalence and the first detection of these viruses in Galicia.

Reference:

I.Torrado, K. Henshilwood, D. Lees & J. L. Romalde. 2004. Detection of enteric viruses in shellfish by the nested-PCR method, and comparison with F-specific RNA bacteriophage and escherichia coli counts. Proceedings of the 4th International Molluscan Shellfish Safety Conference, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, July 2002. 353-365pp

I.Torrado, K. Henshilwood*, D. Lees* & J. L. Romalde

Proceedings of the 4th International Molluscan Shellfish Safety Conference, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, July 2002. 353-365pp