The bivalve shellfish are filter feeders and they act as natural bio-filters in seawater and can thus efficiently bio-concentrate and bio-accumulate enteric viruses in their digestive tissue. In Morocco, shellfish sanitary quality analysis does not currently include enteric virus detection. Therefore, the objective of this study was to detect the presence of enterovirus in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected from three wild populations (Bouregreg estuary, Yacoub Al Mansour coast and Harhoura coast) in order to get an overview on the viral contamination in the aquatic environment. Between February 2014 and February 2015, two hundred and eighty-eight samples were collected and tested for viral contamination using cell culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) for intratypic differentiation (ITD). The results by cell culture and real-time PCR showed that the consumption of mussels originated from a contaminated area revealed a clear risk of infection. For this reason, the presence of enterovirus in shellfish production area represents a potential health risk by causing serious illnesses (gastroenteritis, hepatitis and poliomyelitis).

Background. The goal of Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance is to comprehensively investigate and report any case of a child below 15 years with a floppy weakness. This is essential for the poliovirus eradication initiative. Objective. In this study, we analyzed the results of nine-year surveillance (2010–2018) of AFP in Morocco. Method. This was a descriptive, retrospective study of cases with AFP routinely documented at the National Referral Laboratory of Polio (NRLP) from 2010 to 2018. Results. Among the 884 AFP cases identified and analyzed, we identified 11 polioviruses as Sabin-like vaccine strains (PSL). PSL were isolated in 11 samples of AFP cases received at the laboratory, including one PSL1, three PSL2 + PSL3, one PSL1 + PSL2, and one PSL1 + 2 + 3. The annualized nonpolio AFP rate per 100,000 children under 15 years ranged from 0.84 during 2011–2015 to 2.29 in 2018. The stool adequacy indicator was poor and may be improved with better delivery times and maintaining the cold chain. The incidence of isolated nonpolio enteroviruses (NPEV) varied between 2.27% and 12.6%, with the average not exceeding 6.35%; the incidence remained low compared to the indicator set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Conclusion. Morocco was certified polio-free by WHO in 2015, and since then no cases of wild poliovirus have been reported. Overall, although the nonpolio AFP rate has risen to the WHO standard, stool adequacy and the proportion of nonpolio enteroviruses need to be improved. The laboratory can adopt alternative techniques, independent of cell culture, to ensure that imported cases of poliovirus are not missed, especially in this era of eradication.