Abstract:
Potential ways to address the issues that relate to the techniques for analyzing food and
environmental samples for the presence of enteric viruses are discussed. It is not the
authors’ remit to produce or recommend standard or reference methods but to address
specific issues in the analytical procedures. Foods of primary importance are bivalve
molluscs, particularly, oysters, clams, and mussels; salad crops such as lettuce, green
onions and other greens; and soft fruits such as raspberries and strawberries. All types
of water, not only drinking water but also recreational water (fresh, marine, and
swimming pool), river water (irrigation water), raw and treated sewage are potential
vehicles for virus transmission. Well over 100 different enteric viruses could be food or
water contaminants; however, with few exceptions, most well-characterized foodborne
or waterborne viral outbreaks are restricted to hepatitis A virus (HAV) and calicivirus,
essentially norovirus (NoV). Target viruses for analytical methods include, in addition to
NoV and HAV, hepatitis E virus (HEV), enteroviruses (e.g., poliovirus), adenovirus,
rotavirus, astrovirus, and any other relevant virus likely to be transmitted by food or
water. A survey of the currently available methods for detection of viruses in food and
environmental matrices was conducted, gathering information on protocols for
extraction of viruses from various matrices and on the various specific detection
techniques for each virus type.
