Quantitative Risk Assessment of Five Foodborne Viruses in Shellfish Based on Multiplex qPCR

Area of Science:

• Food safety and public health
• Virology
• Risk assessment

Background:

• Foodborne diseases are a critical global food safety concern.
• Limited hazard identification and exposure assessments exist for foodborne viruses in shellfish.
• Five key viruses (Norovirus GI, GII, Hepatitis A Virus, Rotavirus, Adenovirus) are prevalent in shellfish.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a multiplex qPCR method for simultaneous detection of five foodborne viruses in shellfish.
• To assess the infection risk associated with consuming contaminated shellfish.
• To provide data for risk management strategies concerning foodborne viral infections.

Main Methods:

• Development and validation of a multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay.
• Analysis of shellfish samples over a 1-year period.
• Application of risk assessment formulae and matrices for different demographics and consumption patterns.

Main Results:

• The multiplex qPCR demonstrated comparable sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility to conventional qPCR.
• 37.86% of shellfish samples tested positive for one or more foodborne viruses.
• Annual infection probability from shellfish consumption exceeds 1.6 × 10^-1 for the general population and 1.5 × 10^-2 for infants (0-4 years).
• Springtime consumption and mussel consumption were associated with higher risk levels (IV and III, respectively).

Conclusions:

• The developed multiplex qPCR method is efficient for detecting multiple foodborne viruses in shellfish.
• Shellfish consumption presents a substantial risk of viral infection, significantly exceeding international safety thresholds.
• Risk varies by age group, season (spring highest), and shellfish type (mussels medium risk).
• Findings provide crucial data for public health interventions and consumer guidance on shellfish safety.