Evaluation of Adenovirus and E. coli as indicators for human enteric viruses presence in mussels produced in La Spezia Gulf (Italy).
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work was to verify whether E. coli is a good indicator of viral contamination in mussels and Adenovirus could represent a better alternative as indicator organism of viral presence to guarantee consumer health protection.


RESULTS
Eighty samples of mussels from La Spezia Gulf were analysed for E. coli, Salmonella, Adenovirus, Norovirus and hepatitis A virus with cultural and biomolecular tests. The results of bacterial parameters showed E. coli within the law's limits and the absence of Salmonella. Twelve samples were positive for Adenovirus presence, one for Norovirus genogroup II and two for hepatitis A virus. None of these positive mussels was found to be contaminated with more than one virus at the same time.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that there was not a direct correlation between the presence of human pathogenic viruses and bacterial indicators.


CONCLUSIONS
Both E. coli and Adenovirus cannot be considered valid substitutes for the direct research of human pathogenic viruses in mussels. To improve consumer health protection, the European Commission will provide standardized methods for Norovirus and hepatitis A virus detection as soon as possible.
Serracca
L
L
Marine Microbiology Laboratory of the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Piemonte Liguria e Valle d'Aosta-La Spezia, Italy. laura.serracca@izsto.it
Verani
M
M
Battistini
R
R
Rossini
I
I
Carducci
A
A
Ercolini
C
C
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D007558:Italy; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*