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Detection of hepatitis A virus RNA in oyster meat
T L Cromeans1, O V Nainan, H S Margolis
1Hepatitis Branch (World Health Organization Collaborating Center), National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. TRC1@ciddvd1.em.cdc.gov
Abstract:
Detection of low concentrations of viruses in shellfish is possible with nucleic acid amplification by PCR. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) has been detected in oyster meat by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). We developed a method to identify HAV RNA by RT-PCR of total RNA extracted from oyster meat contaminated by adsorption, bioaccumulation, or injection. With dot blot hybridization detection of amplicons from the RT-PCR, rapid screening of a large number of samples is feasible. As few as 8 PFU of HAV/g of oyster meat can be detected.