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07:57
Necropsy-based Wild Fish Health Assessment
Published on: September 11, 2018
Shellfish-borne viral outbreaks: a systematic review
M Bellou1, P Kokkinos, A Vantarakis
1Environmental Microbiology Unit, Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Rio Patras, Greece.
Food and Environmental Virology
|February 16, 2013
Summary
Shellfish consumption causes viral outbreaks, primarily norovirus and hepatitis A, with oysters being the most common source. Japan reports the most outbreaks, highlighting global public health risks from contaminated seafood.
Area of Science:
- Foodborne illness
- Public health surveillance
- Virology
Background:
- Shellfish consumption is a known source of disease outbreaks.
- Systematic global data collation on shellfish-borne viral outbreaks is lacking.
- Understanding outbreak patterns is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review shellfish-borne viral outbreaks globally.
- To analyze the geographical distribution and implicated shellfish/viruses.
- To compare data reporting between scientific literature and surveillance systems.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of six databases (1980-2012).
- Inclusion of reports from a global electronic reporting system (ProMED).
- Analysis of outbreak data, including shellfish type, viral pathogen, and contributing factors.
Main Results:
- 359 shellfish-borne viral outbreaks identified, with 63.6% from Japan.
- Norovirus (83.7%) and Hepatitis A virus (12.8%) were the most common pathogens.
- Oysters (58.4%) were the most frequently implicated shellfish; sewage contamination and undercooking were common causes.
Conclusions:
- Shellfish-borne viral outbreaks are a significant global public health concern.
- Geographical disparities in reporting exist, with East Asia (especially Japan) dominating.
- Contaminated shellfish consumption poses risks, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
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