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Persistence of hepatitis A virus in oysters
David H Kingsley1, Gary P Richards
1U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Microbial Food Safety Research Unit, W.W. Baker Center, Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware 19901, USA. dkingsle@dsc.edu
Abstract:
We investigated the ability of hepatitis A virus (HAV) to persist for up to 6 weeks in Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Viral RNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction 6 weeks after 16 h of exposure to 90,000 PFU (180 PFU/ml of seawater) of HAV. Assaying for infectious virus in oysters that received a daily feeding of phytoplankton recovered 3,800, 650, and 500 PFU of HAV 1, 2, and 3 weeks after contamination with 90,000 PFU of HAV, respectively. However, no infectious HAV was isolated from oysters 4, 5, or 6 weeks after contamination. These results support the position that shellfish depuration is insufficient for the complete removal of infectious viruses. Extended relay times (in excess of 4 weeks) may be required to produce virologically safe shellfish.