Virus hazards from food, water and other contaminated environments
Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: Numerous viruses of human or animal origin can spread in the environment and infect people via water and food, mostly through ingestion and occasionally through skin contact. These viruses are released into the environment by various routes including water run-offs and aerosols. Furthermore, zoonotic viruses may infect humans exposed to contaminated surface waters. Foodstuffs of animal origin can be contaminated, and their consumption may cause human infection if the viruses are not inactivated during food processing. Molecular epidemiology and surveillance of environmental samples are necessary to elucidate the public health hazards associated with exposure to environmental viruses. Whereas monitoring of viral nucleic acids by PCR methods is relatively straightforward and well documented, detection of infectious virus particles is technically more demanding and not always possible (e.g. human norovirus or hepatitis E virus). The human pathogenic viruses that are most relevant in this context are nonenveloped and belong to the families of the Caliciviridae, Adenoviridae, Hepeviridae, Picornaviridae and Reoviridae. Sampling methods and strategies, first-choice detection methods and evaluation criteria are reviewed.
Source: FEMS Microbiology Reviews
Authors: David Rodríguez-Lázaro, Nigel Cook, Franco M. Ruggeri, Jane Sellwood, Abid Nasser, Maria Sao Jose Nascimento, Martin D'Agostino, Ricardo Santos, Juan Carlos Saiz, Artur Rzeżutka, Albert Bosch, Rosina Gironés, Annalaura Carducci, Michelle Muscillo, Katarina Kovač, Marta Diez-Valcarce, Apostolos Vantarakis, Carl-Henrik von Bonsdorff, Ana Maria de Roda Husman, Marta Hernández, Wim H. M. van der Poel
Institutions: Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León, Fera Science (United Kingdom), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, British Standards Institution, Beit Berl College, Universidade do Porto, Instituto Superior Técnico, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, National Veterinary Research Institute, Universitat de Barcelona, University of Pisa, University of Patras, University of Helsinki, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, University of Liverpool, Wageningen University & Research
Language: English
Subfield: Water Science and Technology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2148384906