TY - CPAPER T1 - Inadequacy of bacterial indicators for assessing elimination rates of viruses from molluscan shellfish A1 - Burkhardt,W A1 - Watkins,W A1 - Rippey,S UR - https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/1609/ KW - Mollusca KW - Intestinal microflora KW - Phages KW - Seafood KW - Public health KW - Diseases KW - Marine molluscs KW - Viruses KW - Shellfish KW - Self purification KW - Bacteria KW - Indicator species N2 - The reported incidence of shellfish-borne illness in the United States increased dramatically during the last decade. Most of the outbreaks are attributed to diseases of viral aetiology. These human health problems result primarily from the ingestion of raw shellfish which have accumulated enteric pathogens from environmental waters or from wet storage facilities. Our studies have demonstrated that hard-shelled clams concentrate different indicator micro-organisms at variable and unpredictable rates during the year. In temperate waters, this has been observed at two abbreviated periods in mid-spring and again in late fall when accumulation rates increased dramatically. Moreover, these rates were not generally coincident for viruses and bacteria. In addition, our studies have shown that, using conventional depuration technologies, the elimination rates for viruses and bacteria are profoundly different. Relative to vegetative bacterial indicators (fecal coliforms, Echerischia coli), the male-specific coliphage group may take as long as ten times that of the conventional indicator for a similar degree of elimination. Our results, coupled with those of other investigators as well as with certain epidemiological reports, demonstrate that viral behaviour within molluscan shellfish is not indexed by bacterial indicator organisms. Y1 - 1992/04 CY - 2. Conference Internationale sur la Purification des Coquillages, Rennes (France), 6-8 Apr 1992 SO - Actes de colloques. Ifremer. Brest [ACTES COLLOQ. IFREMER.]. 1995 ID - 1609 ER -