First Detection of Hepatitis E Virus in Shellfish and in Seawater from Production Areas in Southern Italy.

G La RosaY T R ProrogaD De MediciF CapuanoM IaconelliS Della LiberaElisabetta Suffredini

Published in: Food and environmental virology (2017)

Shellfish samples (n = 384) from production areas, water samples from the same areas (n = 39) and from nearby sewage discharge points (n = 29) were analyzed for hepatitis E virus (HEV) by real-time and nested RT-PCR. Ten shellfish samples (2.6%) and five seawater samples (12.8%) tested positive for HEV; all characterized strains were G3 and showed high degree of sequence identity. An integrated surveillance in seafood and waters is relevant to reduce the risk of shellfish-associated illnesses.

Keyphrases

escherichia coli
public health
real time pcr
label free
antibiotic resistance genes
high resolution
mass spectrometry