title: Use of rotavirus virus-like particles as surrogates to evaluate virus persistence in shellfish.
abstract: Rotavirus virus-like particles (VLPs) and MS2 bacteriophages were bioaccumulated in bivalve mollusks to evaluate viral persistence in shellfish during depuration and relaying under natural conditions. Using this nonpathogenic surrogate virus, we were able to demonstrate that about 1 log10 of VLPs was depurated after 1 week in warm seawater (22 degrees C). Phage MS2 was depurated more rapidly (about 2 log10 in 1 week) than were VLPs, as determined using a single-compartment model and linear regression analysis. After being relayed in the estuary under the influence of the tides, VLPs were detected in oysters for up to 82 days following seeding with high levels of VLPs (concentration range between 10(10) and 10(9) particles per g of pancreatic tissue) and for 37 days for lower contamination levels (10(5) particles per g of pancreatic tissue). These data suggest that viral particles may persist in shellfish tissues for several weeks.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Microbiologie, IFREMER, BP 21 105, 44 311 Nantes cedex 03, France.
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Loisy
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Atmar
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Le Saux
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Marie-Paule
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Caprais
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pommepuy
authors.forename: Françoise S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Le Guyader
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D017909:Levivirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000821:virology; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012758:Shellfish / Q000821:virology*; D014771:Virion / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C442545:VP2 protein, Rotavirus; C061332:VP6 protein, Rotavirus