Article Abstract:
A collaborative evaluation of a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for the direct detection of Norwalk virus in shellfish tissues confirms its reliability and reproducibility. The sensitivity and specificity of the method is 85% and 91%, respectively, in detecting viruses added to the stomachs and hepatopancreatic tissues of oysters or hard-shell clams. The use of ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel improves the sensitivity to 87% and specificity to 100%.
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Article Abstract:
A new PCR-based technique to detect both Norwalk virus and hepatitis A virus in shellfish was developed that also had internal standards for the quantitation of viral RNA and the detection of inhibition of reverse transcription-PCR. The assay, which was tested on oysters and hard-shell clams, was faster and more sensitive than a previously reported method. This technique may be useful in the investigation of gastroenteritis associated with shellfish.
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Article Abstract:
The utilization of the polymerase chain reaction for describing the first phase of developing methods for the detection of hepatitis A and Norwalk viruses in shellfish is discussed. Organic flocculation and polyethylene glycol precipitation were used to extract the viruses seeded into oysters. The utilityof the method for detecting viruses and other shellfish-borne viral pathogens was demonstrated.
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