Foodborne infections vectored by molluscan shellfish.
Foodborne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5000 deaths each year in the United States. The authors present and analyze information derived from epidemiologic investigations and surveillance systems on foodborne infections caused by consumption of molluscan shellfish. This review focuses on the bias in reporting of shellfish-vectored illness, prevention and control of such infections, the origin of recognized viral and bacterial etiologic agents, and a new potential public health threat of a food-and-waterborne protozoan contaminant, Cryptosporidium parvum.
Graczyk
T K
TK
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. tgraczyk@jhsph.edu
Schwab
K J
KJ
D000818:Animals; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000209:etiology; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000209:etiology; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008974:Mollusca / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D009663:Norwalk virus; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000382:microbiology; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000150:complications; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution