Viruses in shellfish — food safety risks

Abstract

Shellfish production in the EU has declined in recent decades, which is not the case with global aquaculture production of shellfish. The trend towards a healthy lifestyle and diet is becoming increasingly topical and often involves the consumption of uncooked shellfish. Unfortunately, sh ellfish can often be contaminated with various pathogens, especially virus-es, which can endanger human health. Among the outbreaks of shellfish-borne viruses, the most notable are those caused by Norovirus (NoV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV). However, other viruses belonging to the Herpeviridae, Picornaviridae, Adenoviridae, Astroviridae, and Reoviridae can mainly cause intestinal disease in humans after consumption of contami-nated shellfish. The listed viruses have been detected in shellfish worldwide and they are mostly the consequence of sewage-contaminated water. Numerous preventive and control measures are recommended to solve this problem.