Environmental Conditions Leading to Shellfish Contamination and Related Outbreaks

Human fecal wastes contain a large variety of viruses that can enter the environment through discharge of waste materials from infected individuals. Despite the high diversity of viruses that are introduced into the environment by human fecal pollution, only a few have been recognized to cause disea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Food and environmental virology 2010-09, Vol.2 (3), p.136-145
Main Authors: Maalouf, Haifa, Pommepuy, Monique, Le Guyader, Françoise S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidental contamination
Aquatic environment
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Chemistry/Food Science
Consumer protection
Consumption
Contamination
Environmental conditions
Epidemics
Epidemiology
Fecal coliforms
Food Science
Human wastes
Life Sciences
Mollusks
Original Paper
Outbreaks
Overflow
Rainfall
Sewage treatment plants
Shellfish
Virology
Viruses
Waste materials
Wastewater treatment plants
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Summary:Human fecal wastes contain a large variety of viruses that can enter the environment through discharge of waste materials from infected individuals. Despite the high diversity of viruses that are introduced into the environment by human fecal pollution, only a few have been recognized to cause disease in association with consumption of contaminated shellfish. To explain bivalve mollusks contamination, several factors including human epidemiology, virus persistence through sewage treatment plant, and shellfish uptake may be suggested. Considering different outbreaks described in the literature, the most common route for transmission is accidental contamination after heavy rainfall, when extra loads cause an overflow, and release of untreated sewage into the aquatic environment. Outbreak analysis also demonstrates the impact on shellfish consumption of some viral strain transmission and thus their impact on molecular epidemiology, especially for norovirus. To limit shellfish contamination and thus to protect the consumer, the most desirable and effective option is to reduce the viral input.
ISSN:1867-0334
1867-0342
DOI:10.1007/s12560-010-9043-4