RESUMO
In the present study, the efficiency of several primer sets for the RT-PCR detection of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and astrovirus from both crude viral extracts and experimentally infected shellfish tissues was evaluated. Differences were observed depending on the primer set employed in the sensitivity of amplification of both viral types. For HAV primers, HAV240/HAV68 yielded the higher sensitivity: showing a detection limit of 0.02-0.1 infectious particles/microL or mg of tissue (either crude extracts or seeded mussel tissues). Regarding detection of AsV, a better performance was observed with primer set A1/A2 achieving a sensitivity of 0.1-1 PFU/microL or mg of tissue. The results obtained in this work strongly indicated that selection of primer sets to be employed for the routine detection of enteric viruses was a critical point in the design of the RT-PCR protocols.
Assuntos
Astroviridae/genética , Bivalves/virologia , Contaminação de Alimentos , Hepatite A/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa/métodos , Animais , Primers do DNARESUMO
A study of the presence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and enterovirus (EV) in shellfish from the northwestern coast of Spain, one of the most important mussel producers in the world, was carried out employing dot-blot hybridization and RT-PCR techniques. In addition, bacterial contamination of the samples was evaluated by Escherichia coli (EC) counts, according to the European Union (EU) standards of shellfish microbiological quality. Shellfish samples included raft-cultured and wild mussels, as well as wild clams and cockles. Bacterial counts showed that the majority of samples (40.8%) could be classified as moderately polluted following the EU standards, and therefore should undergo depuration processes. However, differences in bacterial contamination were observed between cultured mussel and wild shellfish. Thus, percentage of clean samples (<230 EC/100 g shellfish) was clearly higher in cultured mussels (49.1%) than in wild mussels (22.8%) or clams and cockles (10.7%). HAV was detected in 27.4% and EV in 43.9% of the samples that were analyzed. Simultaneous detection of both viral types occurred in 14.1% of the samples. Statistical tests of dependence (chi-square test) showed no relationship either between viral and bacterial contamination, or between the presence of HAV and EV. Comparative analysis of hybridization and RT-PCR for viral detection yielded different results depending on the virus type that was studied, RT-PCR being effective for HAV but not for EV detection. The obtained results reinforce once again the inadequacy of bacteriological standards to assess viral contamination and suggest that although virological analysis of shellfish is possible by molecular techniques, interlaboratory standardization and validation studies are needed before the routine use in monitoring shellfish microbiological safety.
Assuntos
Enterovirus/isolamento & purificação , Vírus da Hepatite A/isolamento & purificação , Moluscos/virologia , Frutos do Mar/microbiologia , Frutos do Mar/normas , Animais , Contagem de Colônia Microbiana , Qualidade de Produtos para o Consumidor , Enterovirus/genética , União Europeia , Microbiologia de Alimentos , Vírus da Hepatite A/genética , Immunoblotting/métodos , Moluscos/microbiologia , Prevalência , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Frutos do Mar/virologia , EspanhaRESUMO
A total of 16 mollusk imports from South America to Spain, including clam and scallop species, were analyzed for hepatitis A virus (HAV), due to the great concern about this type of food after an important hepatitis A outbreak in eastern Spain in September 1999. In addition, clams from the stock that had caused the outbreak were also tested. Of the 17 stocks, four were positive for the presence of HAV RNA as demonstrated by RT-PCR and Southern hybridization. Contradictory analyses confirmed the results of the primary tests in all cases. The findings obtained in this work strongly support the role of mollusk imports from endemic areas of HAV as an important vehicle of hepatitis A, and demonstrate the imperative need for sanitary control measures to prevent future outbreaks of this disease (AU)
No disponible
Assuntos
Humanos , Microbiologia de Alimentos , Frutos do Mar/virologia , Vírus da Hepatite A/etiologia , RNA Viral , Espanha/epidemiologia , Southern Blotting , Saúde Global , Peru , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Surtos de Doenças , Hepatite ARESUMO
A total of 16 mollusk imports from South America to Spain, including clam and scallop species, were analyzed for hepatitis A virus (HAV), due to the great concern about this type of food after an important hepatitis A outbreak in eastern Spain in September 1999. In addition, clams from the stock that had caused the outbreak were also tested. Of the 17 stocks, four were positive for the presence of HAV RNA as demonstrated by RT-PCR and Southern hybridization. Contradictory analyses confirmed the results of the primary tests in all cases. The findings obtained in this work strongly support the role of mollusk imports from endemic areas of HAV as an important vehicle of hepatitis A, and demonstrate the imperative need for sanitary control measures to prevent future outbreaks of this disease.