Infectious Outbreaks Associated with Bivalve Shellfish Consumption: A Worldwide Perspective

Abstract

Outbreaks of shellfish-associated infection have been reported for more than a century. Since the early 1970s, the global consumption of shellfish has increased considerably--and with it, the reports of outbreaks of infection. Most of these reports have originated from the United States, but Europe and, to a lesser extent, Asia and Australia have also been represented. The majority of outbreaks have been linked to oysters, followed by clams and mussels. Hepatitis A virus caused the largest ever shellfish-associated outbreak, but caliciviruses have caused the highest number of outbreaks; Vibrio species lead the list of bacterial pathogens. The prognosis of shellfish-associated infections is generally good, except for outbreaks of Vibrio vulnificus infection, which have a mortality rate of up to 50% in vulnerable people. Conventional and molecular techniques should be applied to better identify the causative agents, thereby enabling more-targeted control measures in growing, harvesting, and shipping bivalves.

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression analysis of cytoplasmic Cu/Zn-superoxid dismutase (SOD) from pearl oyster Pinctada fucata

“…Recent decline in pearl production is mainly due to mortality of pearl oyster. The cause for high mortality is related to ocean pollution, disease outbreaks and stock degeneration [19,20]. In order to control disease and enhance the yields and quality of seawater pearls, it is necessary to study the innate immune defense mechanisms of pearl oysters, which lack the adaptive immune system.…”

Vibrio parahaemolyticusO3:K6 Epidemic Diarrhea, Chile, 2005

“…parahaemolyticus ( 3 , 4 ). Stool samples of 60 patients with acute diarrhea were analyzed by standard procedures ( 5 , 6 ).…”

“…parahaemolyticus O3:K6 pandemic clone may have also been facilitated by expansion of international trade because bacteria could have been transported to Chile by ballast water from the Northern Hemisphere ( 1 , 4 , 6 ). As in previous outbreaks, shellfish responsible for this epidemic were harvested near international shipping lanes ( 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ). The appearance of V .…”

Microbiological quality assessment for oysters produced and traded in Paraná, Brazil

“…Despite the oysters evaluated in this study being in agreement with the legal standards in Brazil, the main etiological agents involved in outbreaks related to consumption of oysters are the hepatitis A virus and calicivirus, followed by bacteria from the Vibrio and Salmonella genus (POTASMAN et al, 2002). Shellfi sh may also convey protozoal diseases, particularly Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Toxoplasma gondii (ROBERTSON, 2007).…”