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Prevalence and control of norovirus and hepatitis A virus in shellfish
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Edité par CCSD -
Shellfish related outbreaks are mainly due to the presnece of Norovirus or hepatis A vrus. These human enteric vriruses are very resistant and are introduced into the environment through incorrectly treated human sewage or accidental contamination. When these viruses are transported to an estuarine environment, several important factros such as dilutions or sunlight radiation may interfere with their behaviour. Shellfish during filter-feeding activity may conentrate these pathogens. Specific ligands have been characterized for Norovirus in digestive tissues of some oyster species, explaining some observations suh as rapid bioaccumulation and long persistence of viral particles withing shellfish bodies. In recent years sensitive and specific methods have been described and a quantitative approach is feasible. These developments allowed characterisation of these viruses in shellfish related outbreaks, demonstrating the need for regulations. Quantitative approaches demonstrated that a broad range of concentrations per consumed oyster has been linked to human cases, but risk analysis data are scarce. Many studies have been dedicated to understanding shellfish contamination by human enteric viruses but additional research needs to be done to protect consumers.