Infectious diseases associated with molluscan shellfish consumption.
A history of shellfish-vectored illnesses (i.e., those associated with consumption of clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops) occurring in the past nine decades is presented. Typhoid fever was a significant public health problem among consumers of raw molluscan shellfish earlier in this century. The development of more effective sewage treatment procedures and the institution of a national program following these outbreaks led to a series of measures which eventually eliminated shellfish-associated typhoid fever. Present-day problems associated with this food source still involve some wastewaterborne bacterial illnesses. However, the principal public health concerns are with wastewater-derived viral pathogens and with bacterial agents of an environmental origin. The nature, occurrence, and magnitude of these public health problems are described.
Northeast Seafood Laboratory, Food and Drug Administration, Davisville, Rhode Island 02852.
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D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000266:history*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D012621:Seasons; D012722:Sewage; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology*; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history / Q000382:microbiology
D012722:Sewage