Occurrence of Human Enteric Viruses in Shellfish along the Production and Distribution Chain in Sicily, Italy.

Giusi Macaluso,Walter Randazzo,Francesca Gucciardi,Santina Di Bella,Elisabetta Suffredini,Annalisa Guercio,Giuseppina La Rosa,Giuseppa Purpari

doi:10.3390/foods10061384

Abstract

Contamination of bivalve mollusks with human pathogenic viruses represents a recognized food safety risk. Thus, monitoring programs for shellfish quality along the entire food chain could help to finally preserve the health of consumers. The aim of the present study was to provide up-to-date data on the prevalence of enteric virus contamination along the shellfish production and distribution chain in Sicily. To this end, 162 batches of mollusks were collected between 2017 and 2019 from harvesting areas, depuration and dispatch centers (n = 63), restaurants (n = 6) and retail stores (n = 93) distributed all over the island. Samples were processed according to ISO 15216 standard method, and the presence of genogroup GI and GII norovirus (NoV), hepatitis A and E viruses (HAV, HEV), rotavirus and adenovirus was investigated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time-RT PCR), nested (RT)-PCR and molecular genotyping. Our findings show that 5.56% of samples were contaminated with at least one NoV, HAV and/or HEV. Contaminated shellfish were sampled at production sites and retail stores and their origin was traced back to Spain and several municipalities in Italy. In conclusion, our study highlights the need to implement routine monitoring programs along the whole food chain as an effective measure to prevent foodborne transmission of enteric viruses.

Highlights

Is the Mediterranean Sea’s largest island, and the aquaculture sector plays a significant role in the regional economy
Mollusks were identified as Mytilus galloprovincialis, Crassostrea gigas (n = 14), Ensis directus (n = 1), Glycymeris glycymeris (n = 2), Haliotis sp. (n = 1), Nassarius mutabilis (n = 2), Ostrea edulis (n = 4), Ruditapes decussatus (n = 1), Ruditapes philippinarum (n = 2), Venus verrucosa (n = 1), Pahia undulata (n = 1), Tapes decussatus (n = 1), Tapes philippinarumm (n = 5), Donax trunculus (n = 1), Buccinum undatum (n = 1), Callista chione (n = 1)
Data about the occurrence of enteric virus along the Sicilian shellfish chain are scarce [21,33], this work expands the knowledge currently available on the safety of food products produced and marketed on the largest Mediterranean island. This longitudinal study shows that bivalve molluscan shellfish harvested and marketed in Sicily, Italy, are occasionally contaminated by human pathogenic enteric viruses

Summary

Introduction

Is the Mediterranean Sea’s largest island, and the aquaculture sector plays a significant role in the regional economy. It provides about 4000 tons per year of fishery products, which represents 20% of the overall Italian seafood production [1,2]. Human enteric viruses are excreted in feces by infected people and might reach coastal areas through inefficient wastewater treatments, sewage overflow or direct release of untreated sewage. This factor is concerning in developing countries where untreated sewage is disposed into water sources causing environmental pollution [6]

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