Presence of Enteric Viruses in Shellfish Samples from the Persian Gulf

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Food Hygiene, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University

2 Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University

3 Research Center of Nutrition and Organic Products (RCNOP), Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University

10.32592/ARI.2024.79.1.129

Abstract

Shellfishes are significant economic and nutritious seafood amongst people of different countries. Seafood products, particularly shellfish samples, are potential reservoirs of enteric viruses. This research investigated the incidence of RoV, NoV GI and GII, HAV, and HEV in shellfish samples from the Persian Gulf, Iran. One hundred and fifty shellfish samples were collected. RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis was performed using commercial kits. The real-time PCR assessed the presence of enteric viruses in extracted cDNA samples. Thirty-two out of 150 (21.33%) shellfish samples were contaminated with enteric viruses. Prevalence of NoV GI, NoV GII, HAV, and RoV amongst shellfish samples were 8.00%, 11.33%, 1.33%, and 0.66%, respectively. There were no contaminated shellfish samples with HEV. Simultaneous prevalence of HAV and NoV GI and HAV and NoV GII viruses were 0.66% and 0.66%, respectively. Examined viruses had a higher prevalence in shellfish samples collected through the winter season (P < 0.05). Prevalence of HAV, RoV, NoV GI, and NoV GII amongst shellfish samples collected through the winter season was 2.85%, 9.09%, 11.90%, and 20%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the incidence of enteric viruses, particularly HAV, NoV GI, NoV GII, and RoV, in shellfish samples from the Persian Gulf, Iran. Shellfish samples may serve as a potential source of enteric viruses for the human population. Therefore, routine viral assessments should be conducted. Completely cooking shellfish samples before consumption can significantly reduce the risk of HAV, RoV, NoV GI, and NoV GII infections. Furthermore, given the export value and importance of shellfish samples, their microbial quality and safety should be routinely monitored.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

References
1. Alipour Amroabadi M., Rahimi E., Shakerian A.,
Momtaz H. (2021). Incidence of hepatitis A and
hepatitis E viruses and norovirus and rotavirus in fish
and shrimp samples caught from the Persian Gulf.
Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinaria e
Zootecnia, 73 (01): 169-178.
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-11742
2. Wittman, R. J. & Flick, G. J. (1995). Microbial
contamination of shellfish: prevalence, risk to human
health, and control strategies. Annual Review of Public
Health, 16, 123-140.
3. La Bella, G., Martella, V., Basanisi, M. G., Nobili, G.,
Terio, V. & La Salandra, G. (2017). Food-Borne
Viruses in shellfish: investigation on norovirus and
HAV presence in Apulia (SE Italy). Food Environ
Virol, 9(2), 179-186.
4. Goyal, S. M. & Cannon, J. L. (2016). ShellfishAssociated Enteric Virus Illness: Virus Localization,
Alipoor Amroabadi et al / Archives of Razi Institute, Vol. 79, No. 1 (2024) 134-142 141
Disease Outbreaks and Prevention. Viruses in Foods,
185–207.
5. Thebault, A., Teunis, P. F., Le Pendu, J., Le Guyader,
F. S. & Denis, J. B. (2013). Infectivity of GI and GII
noroviruses established from oyster related
outbreaks. Epidemics, 5(2), 98-110.
6. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). (2019).
Analysis of the European baseline survey of norovirus
in oysters. EFSA Journal, 17(7), 5762.
7. Crawford, S. E., Ramani, S. & Tate, J. E. (2017).
Rotavirus infection. Nature Reviews Disease Primers,
3, 17083.
8. Lemon, S. M. & Walker, C.M. (2019). Hepatitis A
Virus and Hepatitis E Virus: Emerging and ReEmerging Enterically Transmitted Hepatitis
Viruses. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine,
9(6), 31823.
9. Randazzo, W. & Sánchez, G. (2020). Hepatitis A
infections from food. Journal of Applied
Microbiology, 10, 1111.
10. Tahk, H., Lee, K. B. & Lee, M. H. (2012).
Development of Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase
Chain Reaction Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent
Assay for the Detection of Hepatitis a Virus in
Vegetables. Food Control, 23, 210-214.
11. Suffredini, E., Lanni, L. & Arcangeli, G. (2014).
Qualitative and quantitative assessment of viral
contamination in bivalve molluscs harvested in
Italy. International Journal of Food Microbiology,
184, 21-26.
12. Joo Seo, D., Hwa Lee, M., Ry Son, N., Seo, S., Bum
Lee, K., Wang, X. & Choi, C. (2014). Seasonal and
regional prevalence of norovirus, hepatitis A virus,
hepatitis E virus, and rotavirus in shellfish harvested
from South Korea. Food Control, 41, 178-184.
13. Momtaz, H., Rahimi, E., Hajian, S. & Momeni, M.
(2012). Prevalence of hepatitis A virus in sea food in
Iran. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinarian e
Zootecnia, 64(4), 887-890.
14. Mesquita, J. R., Vaz, L. & Cerqueira, S. (2011).
Norovirus, hepatitis a virus and enterovirus presence in
shellfish from high quality harvesting areas in
Portugal. Food Microbiology, 28, 936-941.
15. Kittigul, L., Thamjaroen, A., Chiawchan, S.,
Chavalitshewinkoon-Petmitr, P., Pombubpa, K.,
Diraphat, P. (2016). Prevalence and molecular
genotyping of noroviruses in market oysters, mussels,
and cockles in Bangkok, Thailand. Food Environ
Virol, 8(2), 133-140.
16. Tao, J., Chunhui, H., Fanning, S., Nan, L., Jiahui, W.,
Hongyuan, Z., Jing, Z. & Fengqin, L. (2018).
Norovirus contamination in retail oysters from Beijing
and Qingdao, China. Food Control, 86, 415-419.
17. Anbazhagi, S. & Kamatchiammal, S. (2010).
Contamination of Seafood by Norovirus in
India. International Journal of Virology, 6, 138-149.
18. Loutreul, J., Cazeaux, C., Levert, D., Nicolas, A.,
Vautier, S., Sauvage, A. L., Perelle, S. & Morin, T.
(2014). Prevalence of Human Noroviruses in Frozen
Marketed Shellfish, Red Fruits and Fresh Vegetables.
Food Environ Virol, 6,157–168.
19. Rodriguez-Manzano, J., Hundesa, A., Calgua, B.,
Carratala, A., Maluquer de Motes, C., Rusin˜ol, M.,
Moresco, V., Paula Ramos, A., Martı´nez-Marca, F.,
Calvo, M., Monte Barardi, C. R., Girones, R. & BofillMas, S. (2013). Adenovirus in commercially
distributed and norovirus contaminants shellfish. Food
and Environmental Virology, 6(1), 31-41.
20. Sdiri‐Loulizi, K., Hassine, M., Aouni, Z.,
Gharbi‐Khelifi, H., Chouchane, S., Sakly, N.,
Neji‐Guédiche, M., Pothier, P., Aouni, M. &
Ambert‐Balay, K. (2010). Detection and molecular
characterization of enteric viruses in environmental
samples in Monastir. Journal of Applied Microbiology,
109, 1093-1104.
21. DePaola, A., Jones, J. L., Woods, J., Burkhardt, W.,
Calci, K. R. & Krantz, J. A. (2010). Bacterial and viral
pathogens in live oysters. Applied and Environmental
Microbiology, 76(9), 2754–2768.
22. Torok, V., Hodgson, K., McLeod, C., Tan, J., Malhi,
N. & Turnbull, A. (2018). National survey of
foodborne viruses in Australian oysters at production.
Food Microbiology, 69, 196–203.
23. Suffredini, E., Le, Q. H., Di Pasquale, S., Pham, T. D.,
Vicenza, T., Losardo, M. & De Medici, D. (2020).
Occurrence and molecular characterization of enteric
viruses in bivalve shellfish marketed in Vietnam. Food
Control, 108, 106828.
24. Chironna, M., Germinario, C., De Medici, D., Fiore,
A., Di Pasquale, S., Quarto, M. & Barbuti, S. (2002).
Detection of hepatitis a in mussels from different
sources marketed in Puglia region (South Italy).
International Journal Food Microbiology, 75(1-2), 11-
18.
25. Mohan, V., Rawat, S., Lokesh, K. M., Mohan, H. V.,
Avinash Reddy, D., Kumar, A. & Bhilegaonkar, K. N.
(2014). Prevalence of Rotavirus in shellfish from
Southern Kerala. Veterinary World, 7(10), 821-824.
26. Le Guyader, F., Haugarreau, L., Miossec, L., Dubois,
E. & Pommepuy, M. (2000). Three-year study to
assess human enteric viruses in shellfish. Applied and
Environmental Microbiology, 66, 3241–3248.
142 Alipoor Amroabadi et al / Archives of Razi Institute, Vol. 79, No. 1 (2024) 134-142
27. Park, K., Yeo, S. & Jeong, H. (2012). Updates on the
genetic variations of norovirus in sporadic
gastroenteritis in Chungnam Korea. Virology Journal,
9(1), 29.
28. Fusco, G., Anastasio, A., Kingsley, D., Amoroso, M.
G., Pepe, T., Fratamico, P. M., Cioffi, B., Rossi, R.,
Rosa, G. L. & Boccia, F. (2019). Detection of hepatitis
a virus and other enteric viruses in shellfish collected
in the gulf of naples, Italy. International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health,16(4),
2588.
29. Purpari, G., Macaluso, G. & Gucciardi, F. (2019).
Molecular characterization of human enteric viruses in
food, water samples, and surface swabs in Sicily.
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 80, 66-
72. 
Archives of Razi Institute
Volume 79, Issue 1
January and February 2024
Pages 129-137

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics