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.
Rippey
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Northeast Seafood Laboratory, Food and Drug Administration, Davisville, Rhode Island 02852.
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