Evaluation of F-Specific RNA Bacteriophage as a Candidate Human Enteric Virus Indicator for Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish
ABSTRACT Escherichia coli is a widely utilized indicator of the sanitary quality of bivalve molluscan shellfish sold for human consumption. However, it is now well documented that shellfish that meet the E. coli standards for human consumption may contain human enteric viruses that cause gastroenter...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.66.4.1280-1285.2000 https://journals.asm.org/doi/pdf/10.1128/AEM.66.4.1280-1285.2000 |
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crasmicro:10.1128/aem.66.4.1280-1285.2000 2024-06-23T07:52:18+00:00 Evaluation of F-Specific RNA Bacteriophage as a Candidate Human Enteric Virus Indicator for Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish Doré, William J. Henshilwood, Kathleen Lees, David N. 2000 http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.66.4.1280-1285.2000 https://journals.asm.org/doi/pdf/10.1128/AEM.66.4.1280-1285.2000 en eng American Society for Microbiology https://journals.asm.org/non-commercial-tdm-license Applied and Environmental Microbiology volume 66, issue 4, page 1280-1285 ISSN 0099-2240 1098-5336 journal-article 2000 crasmicro https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.66.4.1280-1285.2000 2024-06-03T08:11:06Z ABSTRACT Escherichia coli is a widely utilized indicator of the sanitary quality of bivalve molluscan shellfish sold for human consumption. However, it is now well documented that shellfish that meet the E. coli standards for human consumption may contain human enteric viruses that cause gastroenteritis and hepatitis. In this study we investigated using F-specific RNA bacteriophage (FRNA bacteriophage) to indicate the likely presence of such viruses in shellfish sold for consumption. FRNA bacteriophage and E. coli levels were determined over a 2-year period for oysters ( Crassostrea gigas ) harvested from four commercial sites chosen to represent various degrees of sewage pollution. Three sites were classified as category B sites under the relevant European Community (EC) Directive (91/492), which required purification (depuration) of oysters from these sites before sale. One site was classified as a category A site, and oysters from this site could be sold directly without further processing. Samples were tested at the point of sale following commercial processing and packaging. All of the shellfish complied with the mandatory EC E. coli standard (less than 230 per 100 g of shellfish flesh), and the levels of contamination for more than 90% of the shellfish were at or below the level of sensitivity of the assay (20 E. coli MPN per 100 g), which indicated good quality based on this criterion. In contrast, FRNA bacteriophage were frequently detected at levels that exceeded 1,000 PFU per 100 g. High levels of FRNA bacteriophage contamination were strongly associated with harvest area fecal pollution and with shellfish-associated disease outbreaks. Interestingly, FRNA bacteriophage contamination exhibited a marked seasonal trend that was consistent with the trend of oyster-associated gastroenteritis in the United Kingdom. The correlation between FRNA bacteriophage contamination and health risk was investigated further by using a reverse transcription-PCR assay for Norwalk-like virus (NLV). NLV contamination of ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Crassostrea gigas ASM Journals (American Society for Microbiology) Applied and Environmental Microbiology 66 4 1280 1285 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
ASM Journals (American Society for Microbiology) |
op_collection_id |
crasmicro |
language |
English |
description |
ABSTRACT Escherichia coli is a widely utilized indicator of the sanitary quality of bivalve molluscan shellfish sold for human consumption. However, it is now well documented that shellfish that meet the E. coli standards for human consumption may contain human enteric viruses that cause gastroenteritis and hepatitis. In this study we investigated using F-specific RNA bacteriophage (FRNA bacteriophage) to indicate the likely presence of such viruses in shellfish sold for consumption. FRNA bacteriophage and E. coli levels were determined over a 2-year period for oysters ( Crassostrea gigas ) harvested from four commercial sites chosen to represent various degrees of sewage pollution. Three sites were classified as category B sites under the relevant European Community (EC) Directive (91/492), which required purification (depuration) of oysters from these sites before sale. One site was classified as a category A site, and oysters from this site could be sold directly without further processing. Samples were tested at the point of sale following commercial processing and packaging. All of the shellfish complied with the mandatory EC E. coli standard (less than 230 per 100 g of shellfish flesh), and the levels of contamination for more than 90% of the shellfish were at or below the level of sensitivity of the assay (20 E. coli MPN per 100 g), which indicated good quality based on this criterion. In contrast, FRNA bacteriophage were frequently detected at levels that exceeded 1,000 PFU per 100 g. High levels of FRNA bacteriophage contamination were strongly associated with harvest area fecal pollution and with shellfish-associated disease outbreaks. Interestingly, FRNA bacteriophage contamination exhibited a marked seasonal trend that was consistent with the trend of oyster-associated gastroenteritis in the United Kingdom. The correlation between FRNA bacteriophage contamination and health risk was investigated further by using a reverse transcription-PCR assay for Norwalk-like virus (NLV). NLV contamination of ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Doré, William J. Henshilwood, Kathleen Lees, David N. |
spellingShingle |
Doré, William J. Henshilwood, Kathleen Lees, David N. Evaluation of F-Specific RNA Bacteriophage as a Candidate Human Enteric Virus Indicator for Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish |
author_facet |
Doré, William J. Henshilwood, Kathleen Lees, David N. |
author_sort |
Doré, William J. |
title |
Evaluation of F-Specific RNA Bacteriophage as a Candidate Human Enteric Virus Indicator for Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish |
title_short |
Evaluation of F-Specific RNA Bacteriophage as a Candidate Human Enteric Virus Indicator for Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish |
title_full |
Evaluation of F-Specific RNA Bacteriophage as a Candidate Human Enteric Virus Indicator for Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish |
title_fullStr |
Evaluation of F-Specific RNA Bacteriophage as a Candidate Human Enteric Virus Indicator for Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish |
title_full_unstemmed |
Evaluation of F-Specific RNA Bacteriophage as a Candidate Human Enteric Virus Indicator for Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish |
title_sort |
evaluation of f-specific rna bacteriophage as a candidate human enteric virus indicator for bivalve molluscan shellfish |
publisher |
American Society for Microbiology |
publishDate |
2000 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.66.4.1280-1285.2000 https://journals.asm.org/doi/pdf/10.1128/AEM.66.4.1280-1285.2000 |
genre |
Crassostrea gigas |
genre_facet |
Crassostrea gigas |
op_source |
Applied and Environmental Microbiology volume 66, issue 4, page 1280-1285 ISSN 0099-2240 1098-5336 |
op_rights |
https://journals.asm.org/non-commercial-tdm-license |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.66.4.1280-1285.2000 |
container_title |
Applied and Environmental Microbiology |
container_volume |
66 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
1280 |
op_container_end_page |
1285 |
_version_ |
1802643574784786432 |