 |
|
Failure of Cooking to Prevent Shellfish-Associated Viral Gastroenteritis
Sharon McDonnell, MD;
Kathryn B. Kirkland, MD;
W. Gary Hlady, MD;
Carlos Aristeguieta, MD;
Richard S. Hopkins, MD;
Stephan S. Monroe, PhD;
Roger I. Glass, MD
Arch Intern Med. 1997;157(1):111-116.
Abstract
Background
In January 1995, Florida experienced the largest outbreak of oyster-associated gastroenteritis ever reported.
Methods
We interviewed both the cohort of persons from 38 gatherings where illness was reported and a sample of harvesters and harvest-area residents. Oysters were traced by means of tags and dealer records, and water quality measures in harvest areas were reviewed. We examined stool specimens for small round structured viruses by means of electron microscopy and amplification of RNA by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We also tested serum specimens for antibodies to Norwalk virus.
Results
Of 223 oyster eaters, 58% (129/223) became ill, compared with 3% (2/76) of non—oyster eaters (relative risk, 22; 95% confidence interval, 5.6-87.0). Most oyster eaters (67% [149/223]) ate only cooked (grilled, stewed, or fried) oysters. Oyster eaters who reported eating only thoroughly cooked oysters were as likely to become ill as those who ate raw oysters (relative risk, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.45-1.0; P=.1). In 29 clusters, implicated oysters were from Apalachicola Bay, Florida. A community outbreak occurred in 2 bayside communities before the oyster harvest, leading to an increase in the reportedly common practice of overboard dumping of feces. Small round structured viruses were identified in the stool specimens of 2 harvest-area residents and 9 persons from 8 clusters. Results of water quality tests for fecal coliforms were within acceptable limits.
Conclusions
This large outbreak of gastroenteritis associated with oysters may have resulted from overboard dumping of feces during a community outbreak of diarrheal illness. Our findings of acceptable water quality measures for fecal contamination and the lack of appreciable protective effect from cooking leave the consumer with no assurance of safety.
Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:111-116
Author Affiliations
From the Epidemic Intelligence Service, Epidemiology Program Office, Division of Field Epidemiology (Drs McDonnell and Kirkland), and National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Viral Gastroenterology Unit (Drs Monroe and Glass), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta Ga; Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Epidemiology Program, Tallahassee (Drs Hlady and Hopkins); and Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Fla (Dr Aristeguieta). Dr McDonnell is now with the Division of Nutrition, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; and Dr Kirkland is now with the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
 CiteULike  Connotea  Delicious  Digg  Facebook  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Epidemiology of Seafood-Associated Infections in the United States
Iwamoto et al.
Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 2010;23:399-411.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Histo-Blood Group Antigen Assay for Detecting Noroviruses in Water
Cannon and Vinje
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2008;74:6818-6819.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Internationally Distributed Frozen Oyster Meat Causing Multiple Outbreaks of Norovirus Infection in Australia
Webby et al.
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2007;44:1026-1031.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Inactivation of a Norovirus by High-Pressure Processing
Kingsley et al.
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2007;73:581-585.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Detection of Enteric Viruses in Shellfish from the Norwegian Coast
Myrmel et al.
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2004;70:2678-2684.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The Epidemiology of Enteric Caliciviruses from Humans: A Reassessment Using New Diagnostics
Glass et al.
The Journal of Infectious Disease 2000;181:S254-S261.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Detection of Norwalk-like Virus in Shellfish Implicated in Illness
Shieh et al.
The Journal of Infectious Disease 2000;181:S360-S366.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Evaluation of F-Specific RNA Bacteriophage as a Candidate Human Enteric Virus Indicator for Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish
Dore et al.
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2000;66:1280-1285.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Development of Methods To Detect "Norwalk-Like Viruses" (NLVs) and Hepatitis A Virus in Delicatessen Foods: Application to a Food-Borne NLV Outbreak
Schwab et al.
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2000;66:213-218.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Reverse Transcriptase PCR Detection of Astrovirus, Hepatitis A Virus, and Poliovirus in Experimentally Contaminated Mussels: Comparison of Several Extraction and Concentration Methods
Traore et al.
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 1998;64:3118-3122.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|
