Real-Time PCR-Based Methods for Detection of Hepatitis E Virus in Pork Products: A Critical Review

Standard methods for detection of hepatitis A virus and norovirus in at-risk foodstuffs are available, but currently there is no standard method for detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in pork products or other foods that can be contaminated with the virus. Detection assays for HEV are mainly based...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microorganisms (Basel) 2022-02, Vol.10 (2), p.428
Main Authors: Cook, Nigel, D'Agostino, Martin, Wood, Ann, Scobie, Linda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Assaying
Calibration
Data acquisition
detection
Efficiency
Food
Food availability
Hepatitis
Hepatitis A
hepatitis E virus
Laboratories
Medical research
Nucleic acids
Polymerase chain reaction
Pork
pork products
Process controls
Real time
real-time RTPCR
Reverse transcription
Review
Reviews
Sample preparation
sample treatment
Viruses
Zoonoses
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Standard methods for detection of hepatitis A virus and norovirus in at-risk foodstuffs are available, but currently there is no standard method for detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in pork products or other foods that can be contaminated with the virus. Detection assays for HEV are mainly based on nucleic acid amplification, particularly the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) in real-time format. RTPCR-based methods can be sensitive and specific, but they require a suite of controls to verify that they have performed correctly. There have been several RTPCR methods developed to detect HEV in pork products, varying in details of sample preparation and RTPCR target sequences. This review critically discusses published HEV detection methods, with emphasis on those that have been successfully used in subsequent studies and surveys. RTPCR assays have been used both qualitatively and quantitatively, although in the latter case the data acquired are only reliable if appropriate assay calibration has been performed. One particular RTPCR assay appears to be ideal for incorporation in a standard method, as it has been demonstrated to be highly specific and sensitive, and an appropriate control and calibration standard is available. The review focuses on the detection of HEV in pork products and similar foodstuffs (e.g., boar). The information may be useful to inform standardisation activities.
ISSN:2076-2607
2076-2607
DOI:10.3390/microorganisms10020428