title: Depuration kinetics of hepatitis A virus in clams.
abstract: The efficacy and dynamic of depuration for the removal of hepatitis A virus (HAV) contamination were evaluated under experimental conditions using Manila clams previously subjected to bioaccumulation with this virus. Five independent trials were assayed in a closed experimental system with a total volume of approximately 1750 l, using clam batches of 60 Kg. The reverse transcriptase-real time PCR (RT-qPCR) technique was utilized for viral quantification. Infectivity assays were conducted at the end of depuration. Although the final viral loads in shellfish after 7 days remained relatively high and still infectious, an average reduction in HAV levels of 1.44 log units (approx. 93.1%) was observed. This reduction showed a two-phase removal kinetic, with an initial rapid reduction of viruses during the first 72 h of depuration, with a 0.6 log units (69%) of average decrease in HAV RNA copies/g digestive tissue, and a subsequent stabilization with a slower depuration rate in the remaining days.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, CIBUS-Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.affiliation: Instituto Tecnolóxico para o Control do Medio Mariño de Galicia (INTECMAR), 36611 Vilagarcía de Arousa, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ávarez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, CIBUS-Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: M Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Vilariño
authors.affiliation: Consello Regulador da Denominación de Orixe Protexida do Mexillón de Galicia, 36600 Vilagarcía de Arousa, Spain.
authors.forename: Ángeles
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Longa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, CIBUS-Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Electronic address: jesus.romalde@usc.es.
authors.forename: Jesús L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Romalde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000821:virology*; D003666:Decontamination; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007700:Kinetics; D012758:Shellfish / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Clam; Depuration; Hepatitis A virus; Infectivity; Real time RT-PCR