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Surveillance of Enteric Viruses and Microbial Indicators in the Eastern Oysters ( Crassostrea virginica ) and Harvest Waters along Louisiana Gulf Coast
Author(s) -
Montazeri Naim,
Maite Morgan,
Liu Da,
Cormier Jiemin,
Landry Matthew,
Shackleford John,
Lampila Lucina E.,
Achberger Eric C.,
Janes Marlene E.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of food science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1750-3841
pISSN - 0022-1147
DOI - 10.1111/1750-3841.12871
Subject(s) - norovirus , crassostrea , oyster , fecal coliform , shellfish , biology , ostreidae , feces , outbreak , coliphage , indicator bacteria , indicator organism , sewage , veterinary medicine , bivalvia , eastern oyster , microbiology and biotechnology , escherichia coli , fishery , ecology , aquatic animal , water quality , virology , mollusca , fish <actinopterygii> , bacteriophage , environmental science , medicine , environmental engineering , biochemistry , gene
Noroviruses are the most common causative agent of viral gastroenteritis in humans, and are responsible for major foodborne illnesses in the United States. Filter‐feeding molluscan shellfish exposed to sewage‐contaminated waters bioaccumulate viruses, and if consumed raw, transmit the viruses to humans and cause illness. We investigated the occurrence of norovirus GI and GII and microbial indicators of fecal contamination in the eastern oysters ( Crassostrea virginica ) and water from commercial harvesting areas along the Louisiana Gulf Coast (January to November of 2013). Microbial indicators (aerobic plate count, enterococci, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli , male‐specific coliphages, and somatic coliphages) were detected at the densities lower than public health concerns. Only one oyster sample was positive for norovirus GII at 3.5 ± 0.2 log 10 genomic equivalent copies/g digestive tissues. A stool specimen obtained from an infected individual associated with a norovirus outbreak and the suspected oysters (Cameron Parish, La., area 30, January 2013) were also analyzed. The norovirus strain in the stool belonged to GII.4 Sydney; however, the oysters were negative and could not be linked. In general, no temporal trend was observed in the microbial indicators. Low correlation among bacterial indicators was observed in oysters. Strongest correlations among microbial indicators were observed between enterococci and fecal coliforms ( r = 0.63) and between enterococci and E. coli ( r = 0.64) in water ( P < 0.05); however, weak correlations were found in oysters ( r < 0.45) and between oysters and harvest water ( r ≤ 0.36, P > 0.05). Our results emphasize the need for regular monitoring of pathogenic viruses in commercial oyster harvesting areas to reduce the risks of viral gastroenteritis incidences.