E. coli Is a Poor End-Product Criterion for Assessing the General Microbial Risk Posed From Consuming Norovirus Contaminated Shellfish

Jasmine H. Sharp; Katie Clements; Mallory Diggens; James E. McDonald; Shelagh K. Malham; Davey L. Jones

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.608888

Back

E. coli Is a Poor End-Product Criterion for Assessing the General Microbial Risk Posed From Consuming Norovirus Contaminated Shellfish

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

E. coli Is a Poor End-Product Criterion for Assessing the General Microbial Risk Posed From Consuming Norovirus Contaminated Shellfish

Jasmine H. Sharp, Katie Clements, Mallory Diggens, James E. McDonald, Shelagh K. Malham and Davey L. Jones

Frontiers in microbiology, Vol.12, 608888

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.608888

PMID: 33679634

Files and links (1)

pdf

Published6.26 MBDownload View

CC BY V4.0, Open Access

Abstract

food safety

microbiological standard

Microbiology

mussel (Mytilus edulis)

norovirus

risk assessment

shellfish handling

STEC

The fecal indicator organism (FIO) Escherichia coli is frequently used as a general indicator of sewage contamination and for evaluating the success of shellfish cleaning (depuration) processes. To evaluate the robustness of this approach, the accumulation, retention, and depuration of non-pathogenic E. coli, pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 and norovirus GII (NoV GII) RNA were evaluated using a combination of culture-based (E. coli) and molecular methods (E. coli, NoV GII) after exposure of mussels (Mytilus edulis) to water contaminated with human feces. We simulated water contamination after a point-source release from a combined sewer overflow (CSO) where untreated wastewater is released directly into the coastal zone. All three microbiological indicators accumulated rapidly in the mussels, reaching close to maximum concentration within 3 h of exposure, demonstrating that short CSO discharges pose an immediate threat to shellfish harvesting areas. Depuration (72 h) in clean water proved partially successful at removing both pathogenic and non-pathogenic E. coli from shellfish tissue, but failed to eradicate NoV GII RNA. We conclude that current EU standards for evaluating microbiological risk in shellfish are inadequate for protecting consumers against exposure to human norovirus GII found in polluted marine waters.

Details

Title: E. coli Is a Poor End-Product Criterion for Assessing the General Microbial Risk Posed From Consuming Norovirus Contaminated Shellfish
Authors/Creators: Jasmine H. Sharp - Bangor University
Katie Clements - Bangor University
Mallory Diggens - Bangor University
James E. McDonald - , , , , , ,
Shelagh K. Malham - Bangor University
Davey L. Jones - , , , , , ,
Publication Details: Frontiers in microbiology, Vol.12, 608888
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A
Grant note: Food Standards Agency Natural Environment Research Council
Identifiers: 991005560434207891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#12 Responsible Consumption & Production

Metrics

1 File views/ downloads

101 Record Views

13 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.246 Diarrheal Diseases; 1.246.710 Enteric Viruses
Web Of Science research areas: Microbiology
ESI research areas: Microbiology