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Boxman ILA, Molin R, Persson S, Juréus A, Jansen CCC, Sosef NP, Le Guyader SF, Ollivier J, Summa M, Hautaniemi M, Suffredini E, Di Pasquale S, Myrmel M, Khatri M, Jamnikar-Ciglenecki U, Kusar D, Moor D, Butticaz L, Lowther JA, Walker DI, Stapleton T, Simonsson M, Dirks RAM. An international inter-laboratory study to compare digital PCR with ISO standardized qPCR assays for the detection of norovirus GI and GII in oyster tissue. Food Microbiol 2024; 120:104478. [PMID: 38431324 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2024.104478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
An optimized digital RT-PCR (RT-dPCR) assay for the detection of human norovirus GI and GII RNA was compared with ISO 15216-conform quantitative real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) assays in an interlaboratory study (ILS) among eight laboratories. A duplex GI/GII RT-dPCR assay, based on the ISO 15216-oligonucleotides, was used on a Bio-Rad QX200 platform by six laboratories. Adapted assays for Qiagen Qiacuity or ThermoFisher QuantStudio 3D were used by one laboratory each. The ILS comprised quantification of norovirus RNA in the absence of matrix and in oyster tissue samples. On average, results of the RT-dPCR assays were very similar to those obtained by RT-qPCR assays. The coefficient of variation (CV%) of norovirus GI results was, however, much lower for RT-dPCR than for RT-qPCR in intra-laboratory replicates (eight runs) and between the eight laboratories. The CV% of norovirus GII results was in the same range for both detection formats. Had in-house prepared dsDNA standards been used, the CV% of norovirus GII could have been in favor of the RT-dPCR assay. The ratio between RT-dPCR and RT-qPCR results varied per laboratory, despite using the distributed RT-qPCR dsDNA standards. The study indicates that the RT-dPCR assay is likely to increase uniformity of quantitative results between laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingeborg L A Boxman
- Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Ramia Molin
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Foodborne Viruses, Swedish Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Sofia Persson
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Foodborne Viruses, Swedish Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Anna Juréus
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Foodborne Viruses, Swedish Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Claudia C C Jansen
- Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Nils P Sosef
- Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Soizick F Le Guyader
- French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer) - Laboratoire de Santé, Environnement et Microbiologie, Nantes, France.
| | - Joanna Ollivier
- French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer) - Laboratoire de Santé, Environnement et Microbiologie, Nantes, France.
| | | | | | - Elisabetta Suffredini
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Rome, Italy.
| | - Simona Di Pasquale
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Rome, Italy.
| | - Mette Myrmel
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Virology Unit, Ås, Norway.
| | - Mamata Khatri
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Virology Unit, Ås, Norway.
| | - Urska Jamnikar-Ciglenecki
- University of Ljubljana Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Food Safety, Feed and Environment, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Darja Kusar
- University of Ljubljana Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Dominik Moor
- Federal Institute of Metrology METAS, Biological Analysis and References Laboratory, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Lisa Butticaz
- Federal Institute of Metrology METAS, Biological Analysis and References Laboratory, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - James A Lowther
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, United Kingdom.
| | - David I Walker
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, United Kingdom.
| | - Tina Stapleton
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, United Kingdom.
| | - Magnus Simonsson
- European Union Reference Laboratory for Foodborne Viruses, Swedish Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - René A M Dirks
- Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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Cozzi L, Vicenza T, Battistini R, Masotti C, Suffredini E, Di Pasquale S, Fauconnier ML, Ercolini C, Serracca L. Effects of Essential Oils and Hydrolates on the Infectivity of Murine Norovirus. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030682. [PMID: 36992391 PMCID: PMC10055854 DOI: 10.3390/v15030682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of natural substances with antiviral properties might reduce foodborne viral diseases. In this study, we evaluated the virucidal effect of Citrus limon and Thymus serpyllum essential oils (EOs) and of Citrus Limon, Thymus serpyllum and Thymus vulgaris hydrolates on murine norovirus (MNV), a human norovirus surrogate. To assess the virucidal effect of these natural substances, the reduction in viral infectivity was estimated by comparing the TCID50/mL of untreated viral suspension and the viral suspension treated with hydrolates and EOs at different concentrations. The results showed a natural loss of infectivity of the untreated virus after 24 h of approx. 1 log. The EO (1%) of T. serpyllum, and hydrolates (1% and 2%) of T. serpyllum and T. vulgaris immediately caused a reduction in MNV infectivity of about 2 log but did not provide a further significant decrease after 24 h. Instead, the EO (1%) and hydrolate (1% and 2%) of C. limon exerted an immediate reduction in the viral infectivity of about 1.3 log and 1 log, respectively, followed by a further reduction in infectivity of 1 log after 24 h for the hydrolate. These results will allow for the implementation of a depuration treatment based on the use of these natural compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Cozzi
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Teresa Vicenza
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Battistini
- Department of La Spezia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via degli Stagnoni 96, 19100 La Spezia, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Chiara Masotti
- Department of La Spezia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via degli Stagnoni 96, 19100 La Spezia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Suffredini
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Di Pasquale
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marie-Laure Fauconnier
- Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Molecules, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Carlo Ercolini
- Department of La Spezia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via degli Stagnoni 96, 19100 La Spezia, Italy
| | - Laura Serracca
- Department of La Spezia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via degli Stagnoni 96, 19100 La Spezia, Italy
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3
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De Sabato L, Suffredini E, Di Pasquale S, La Rosa G, De Santis P, Giammarioli M, Vaccari G, Bartolo ID. Novel subtypes and unexpected heterogeneity of hepatitis E viral strains in wild boar captured in a small area in Central Italy. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e2541-e2550. [DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luca De Sabato
- Department of Food Safety Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Istituto Superiore di Sanità Viale Regina Elena, 299 Rome 00161 Italy
| | - Elisabetta Suffredini
- Department of Food Safety Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Istituto Superiore di Sanità Viale Regina Elena, 299 Rome 00161 Italy
| | - Simona Di Pasquale
- Department of Food Safety Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Istituto Superiore di Sanità Viale Regina Elena, 299 Rome 00161 Italy
| | - Giuseppina La Rosa
- Department of Environment and Health Istituto Superiore di Sanità Viale Regina Elena, 299 Rome 00161 Italy
| | - Paola De Santis
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri'' Via Appia Nuova, 1411 Rome 00178 Italy
| | - Monica Giammarioli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” Via Salvemini, 1 Perugia 06100 Italy
| | - Gabriele Vaccari
- Department of Food Safety Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Istituto Superiore di Sanità Viale Regina Elena, 299 Rome 00161 Italy
| | - Ilaria Di Bartolo
- Department of Food Safety Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Istituto Superiore di Sanità Viale Regina Elena, 299 Rome 00161 Italy
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Pierri B, Mancusi A, Proroga YTR, Capuano F, Cerino P, Girardi S, Vassallo L, Lo Conte G, Tafuro M, Cuomo MC, Di Concilio D, Vicenza T, Cozzi L, Di Pasquale S, La Rosa G, Beikpour F, Suffredini E. SARS-CoV-2 detection in nasopharyngeal swabs: Performance characteristics of a real-time RT-qPCR and a droplet digital RT-PCR assay based on the exonuclease region (ORF1b, nsp 14). J Virol Methods 2022; 300:114420. [PMID: 34902456 PMCID: PMC8660663 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 has led to a compelling request for accurate diagnostic tests. The aim of this study was assessing the performance of a real-time RT-qPCR (rt RT-qPCR) assay and of a droplet digital RT-PCR (dd RT-PCR) targeting the nsp14 genome region for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs. A total of 258 nasopharyngeal swabs were analyzed with the nsp14 assays and, for comparison, with a reference assay targeting the RdRp and E genes. Conflicting results were further investigated by two additional protocols, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) real-time targeting N1/N2, and a nested RT-PCR for the spike region. Agreement of results was achieved on 226 samples (156 positive and 70 negative), 8 samples were positive in the reference assay and in the nsp14 rt RT-qPCR but negative with the dd RT-PCR, and 24 samples provided different combinations of results with the three assays. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy (95 %C.I.) of the nsp14 assays were: 100.0 % (97.4-100.0), 98.7 % (92.1-100.0), and 99.6 % (97.5-100.0) for the rt RT-qPCR; 92.4 % (87.4-95.6), 100.0 % (94.2-100.0), and 94.7 % (91.1-97.0) for the dd RT-PCR. The results of the study support the use of the nsp14 real-time RT-qPCR and ddPCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biancamaria Pierri
- Centro di Referenza Nazionale per l'analisi e studio di correlazione tra ambiente, animale e uomo, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA, Italy; Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry 'Scuola Medica Salernitana', University of Salerno, Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Andrea Mancusi
- Department of Food Microbiology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Yolande T R Proroga
- Department of Food Microbiology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Federico Capuano
- Department of Food Microbiology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Pellegrino Cerino
- Centro di Referenza Nazionale per l'analisi e studio di correlazione tra ambiente, animale e uomo, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Santa Girardi
- Department of Food Microbiology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Lucia Vassallo
- Centro di Referenza Nazionale per l'analisi e studio di correlazione tra ambiente, animale e uomo, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Gabriella Lo Conte
- Centro di Referenza Nazionale per l'analisi e studio di correlazione tra ambiente, animale e uomo, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Maria Tafuro
- Centro di Referenza Nazionale per l'analisi e studio di correlazione tra ambiente, animale e uomo, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Cuomo
- Centro di Referenza Nazionale per l'analisi e studio di correlazione tra ambiente, animale e uomo, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Denise Di Concilio
- Centro di Referenza Nazionale per l'analisi e studio di correlazione tra ambiente, animale e uomo, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Teresa Vicenza
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Loredana Cozzi
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Di Pasquale
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina La Rosa
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Farzad Beikpour
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Suffredini
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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5
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Amoroso MG, Di Concilio D, Langellotti AL, Martello A, Cioffi B, Suffredini E, Cozzi L, Russo V, Mauriello G, Di Pasquale S, Galiero G, Fusco G. Quantitative Real-Time PCR and Digital PCR to Evaluate Residual Quantity of HAV in Experimentally Depurated Mussels. Food Environ Virol 2021; 13:329-336. [PMID: 33730340 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-021-09470-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Kinetics of hepatitis A virus (HAV) accumulation and depuration from mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) was studied in an experimental depuration system. Different parameters likely to influence the rate of virus accumulation and elimination were evaluated. Analyses were carried out by both real-time RT-qPCR and digital PCR. Results demonstrated that the animals start to concentrate the virus already after one hour and reach the maximum level of contamination in 6 h of experiment. With respect to depuration, HAV showed a rapid reduction of the concentration (89%) during the first 24-48 h of experiment and a very slow virus decrement in the following days with a 1% residual RNA at the ninth day of depuration. When process parameters likely to increase the depuration rate (presence of ozone, microalgal feeding, presence of lactic bacteria, pre-treatment with digestive enzymes) were tested, no significant differences in the kinetics were observed. Only treatment with pancreatin seemed to positively affect depuration in the first two days of the experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Amoroso
- Unit of Virology, Department of Animal Health, Zooprofilactic and Experimental Institute of Southern Italy, Via Salute n. 2, Portici (Naples), Italy.
| | - Denise Di Concilio
- Unit of Virology, Department of Animal Health, Zooprofilactic and Experimental Institute of Southern Italy, Via Salute n. 2, Portici (Naples), Italy
| | - Antonio Luca Langellotti
- CAISIAL-Aquaculture division, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università n.133, Portici (Naples), Italy.
| | - Anna Martello
- CAISIAL-Aquaculture division, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università n.133, Portici (Naples), Italy
| | - Barbara Cioffi
- Unit of Virology, Department of Animal Health, Zooprofilactic and Experimental Institute of Southern Italy, Via Salute n. 2, Portici (Naples), Italy
| | - Elisabetta Suffredini
- Dipartimento Di Sicurezza Alimentare, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Nutrizione E Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Rep. Sicurezza Alimentare E Malattie Trasmesse Dagli Alimenti, Viale Regina Elena n. 299, Rome, Italy
| | - Loredana Cozzi
- Dipartimento Di Sicurezza Alimentare, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Nutrizione E Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Rep. Sicurezza Alimentare E Malattie Trasmesse Dagli Alimenti, Viale Regina Elena n. 299, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Russo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via Delpino n. 2, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Mauriello
- Department of Agriculture, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università n.133, Portici, Naples, Italy
| | - Simona Di Pasquale
- Dipartimento Di Sicurezza Alimentare, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Nutrizione E Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Rep. Sicurezza Alimentare E Malattie Trasmesse Dagli Alimenti, Viale Regina Elena n. 299, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Galiero
- Unit of Virology, Department of Animal Health, Zooprofilactic and Experimental Institute of Southern Italy, Via Salute n. 2, Portici (Naples), Italy
| | - Giovanna Fusco
- Unit of Virology, Department of Animal Health, Zooprofilactic and Experimental Institute of Southern Italy, Via Salute n. 2, Portici (Naples), Italy
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Suffredini E, Proroga YTR, Di Pasquale S, Di Maro O, Losardo M, Cozzi L, Capuano F, De Medici D. Occurrence and Trend of Hepatitis A Virus in Bivalve Molluscs Production Areas Following a Contamination Event. Food Environ Virol 2017; 9:423-433. [PMID: 28452010 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-017-9302-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the trend of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in a coastal zone impacted by a contamination event, providing data for the development of management strategies. A total of 352 samples, including four bivalve mollusc species (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Solen vagina, Venus gallina and Donax trunculus), were taken over a period of 6 months from 27 production areas of the coast and analysis were performed according to ISO/TS 15216-1:2013. HAV presence was detected in 77 samples from 11 production areas and all positive results were related to samples collected in the first 3 months of the surveillance, during which HAV prevalence was 39.9% and values as high as 5096 genome copies/g were detected. A progressive reduction of viral contamination was evident during the first trimester of the monitoring, with prevalence decreasing from 78.8% in the first month, to 37.8% in the second and 3.9% in the third and quantitative levels reduced from an average value of 672 genome copies/g to 255 genome copies/g over a period of 4 weeks (virus half-life: 21.5 days). A regression analysis showed that, during the decreasing phase of the contamination, the data fitted a reciprocal quadratic model (Ra2 = 0.921) and, based on the model, a residual presence of HAV could be estimated after negativization of the production areas. The statistical analysis of the results per shellfish species and per production area showed that there were limited differences in contamination prevalence and levels among diverse bivalve species, while a statistically significant difference was present in quantitative levels of one production area. These data could be useful for the development of both risk assessment models and code of practice for the management of viral contamination in primary production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Suffredini
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Yolande Thérèse Rose Proroga
- Department of Food Inspection, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute 2, Portici, 80055, Naples, Italy
| | - Simona Di Pasquale
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Orlandina Di Maro
- Department of Food Inspection, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute 2, Portici, 80055, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Losardo
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Loredana Cozzi
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Capuano
- Department of Food Inspection, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute 2, Portici, 80055, Naples, Italy
| | - Dario De Medici
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
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7
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Scavia G, Alfonsi V, Taffon S, Escher M, Bruni R, Medici DD, Pasquale SD, Guizzardi S, Cappelletti B, Iannazzo S, Losio NM, Pavoni E, Decastelli L, Ciccaglione AR, Equestre M, Tosti ME, Rizzo C, National Italian Task Force On Hepatitis A. A large prolonged outbreak of hepatitis A associated with consumption of frozen berries, Italy, 2013-14. J Med Microbiol 2017; 66:342-349. [PMID: 28086079 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE In 2013/2014, Italy experienced one of the largest community-wide prolonged outbreaks of hepatitis A virus (HAV) throughout the country. The article provides a comprehensive description of the outbreak and the investigation carried out by a multidisciplinary National Task Force, in collaboration with regional and local public health authorities. Control strategies of food-borne HAV infection in both the human and food sectors are also described. METHODOLOGY Enhanced human epidemiological and microbiological surveillance together with microbiological monitoring of HAV in food and trace-back investigation were conducted. RESULTS A total of 1803 HAV cases were identified from 1 January 2013 to 31 August 2014, in Italy. Sequencing was possible for 368 cases (20.4 %), mostly collected between 1 January 2013 and 28 February 2014, and 246 cases (66.8 %) harboured an HAV outbreak strain. Imported frozen berries contaminated with HAV were identified as the vehicle of the outbreak which also involved many other European countries in 2013 and 2014. Epidemiological evidence obtained through a case-control study was supported by the finding of a 100 % nucleotide similarity of the VP1/2A sequences of HAVs detected in human and food samples. Trace-back investigation revealed an extremely complex supplying network with no possibility for a point source potentially explaining the vast contamination of berries found in Italy. CONCLUSION The investigation benefited from an excellent collaboration among different sectors who shared proactively the available information. Our findings highlight the importance of considering frozen berries among the highest risk factors for HAV.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Nadia Marina Losio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy
| | - Enrico Pavoni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lucia Decastelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
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8
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Bruni R, Taffon S, Equestre M, Chionne P, Madonna E, Rizzo C, Tosti ME, Alfonsi V, Ricotta L, De Medici D, Di Pasquale S, Scavia G, Pavoni E, Losio MN, Romanò L, Zanetti AR, Morea A, Pacenti M, Palù G, Capobianchi MR, Chironna M, Pompa MG, Ciccaglione AR. Key Role of Sequencing to Trace Hepatitis A Viruses Circulating in Italy During a Large Multi-Country European Foodborne Outbreak in 2013. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149642. [PMID: 26901877 PMCID: PMC4764681 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Foodborne Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) outbreaks are being recognized as an emerging public health problem in industrialized countries. In 2013 three foodborne HAV outbreaks occurred in Europe and one in USA. During the largest of the three European outbreaks, most cases occurred in Italy (>1,200 cases as of March 31, 2014). A national Task Force was established at the beginning of the outbreak by the Ministry of Health. Mixed frozen berries were early demonstrated to be the source of infection by the identity of viral sequences in patients and in food. In the present study the molecular characterization of HAV isolates from 355 Italian cases is reported. Methods Molecular characterization was carried out by PCR/sequencing (VP1/2A region), comparison with reference strains and phylogenetic analysis. Results A unique strain was responsible for most characterized cases (235/355, 66.1%). Molecular data had a key role in tracing this outbreak, allowing 110 out of the 235 outbreak cases (46.8%) to be recognized in absence of any other link. The data also showed background circulation of further unrelated strains, both autochthonous and travel related, whose sequence comparison highlighted minor outbreaks and small clusters, most of them unrecognized on the basis of epidemiological data. Phylogenetic analysis showed most isolates from travel related cases clustering with reference strains originating from the same geographical area of travel. Conclusions In conclusion, the study documents, in a real outbreak context, the crucial role of molecular analysis in investigating an old but re-emerging pathogen. Improving the molecular knowledge of HAV strains, both autochthonous and circulating in countries from which potentially contaminated foods are imported, will become increasingly important to control outbreaks by supporting trace back activities, aiming to identify the geographical source(s) of contaminated food, as well as public health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Bruni
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Stefania Taffon
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Equestre
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Chionne
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Madonna
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Rizzo
- National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Elena Tosti
- National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Alfonsi
- National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Lara Ricotta
- National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Dario De Medici
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Di Pasquale
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Gaia Scavia
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Pavoni
- Reparto tecnologia acidi nucleici applicata agli alimenti, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marina Nadia Losio
- Reparto tecnologia acidi nucleici applicata agli alimenti, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luisa Romanò
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Anna Morea
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Monia Pacenti
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Maria Chironna
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Pompa
- Directorate General for Preventive Health Care, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Ciccaglione
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Rome, Italy
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Di Pasquale S, Falcone E, Knutsson R, Vaccari G, De Medici D, Di Trani L. Development and optimization of a biopreparedness protocol for extracting and detecting avian influenza virus in broiler chicken meat. Biosecur Bioterror 2013; 11 Suppl 1:S235-40. [PMID: 23971811 DOI: 10.1089/bsp.2012.0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Detection of avian influenza virus (AIV) in poultry meat is hampered by the lack of an efficient analytical method able to extract and concentrate viral RNA prior to PCR. In this study we developed a method for extracting and detecting AIV from poultry meat by a previously standardized 1-step real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RRT-PCR) assay. In addition, a new process control, represented by feline calicivirus (FCV), was included in the original protocol, to evaluate all analytical steps from sample preparation to the detection phase. The detection limit was below 1×10(-1) TCID50 of AIV per sample, and the quantification limit corresponded to 1×10(1) TCID50 of AIV per sample. Moreover, the addition of 1×10(2) TCID50/sample of FCV did not affect the quantification and detection limit of the reaction. These results show that the developed assay is suitable for detecting small amounts of AIV in poultry meat. In addition, the developed biopreparedness protocol can be applied to detect AIV in legal or illegal imported broiler chicken meat. The availability of a rapid and sensitive diagnostic method based on molecular identification of AIV in poultry meat provides an important tool in the prevention of AIV circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Di Pasquale
- Simona Di Pasquale is a Technical Assistant; Emiliana Falcone is a Senior Researcher; Gabriele Vaccari is a Researcher; Dario De Medici is a Senior Resaercher; and Livia Di Trani is a Senior Researcher; all at Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome, Italy. Rickard Knutsson, PhD, is Director of Security Department, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
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10
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Schultz AC, Perelle S, Di Pasquale S, Kovac K, De Medici D, Fach P, Sommer HM, Hoorfar J. Collaborative validation of a rapid method for efficient virus concentration in bottled water. Int J Food Microbiol 2011; 145 Suppl 1:S158-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2010.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2009] [Revised: 06/05/2010] [Accepted: 07/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Di Pasquale S, Paniconi M, De Medici D, Suffredini E, Croci L. Duplex Real Time PCR for the detection of hepatitis A virus in shellfish using Feline Calicivirus as a process control. J Virol Methods 2010; 163:96-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2009.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2009] [Revised: 09/02/2009] [Accepted: 09/07/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Croci L, Losio MN, Suffredini E, Pavoni E, Di Pasquale S, Fallacara F, Arcangeli G. Assessment of human enteric viruses in shellfish from the northern Adriatic sea. Int J Food Microbiol 2007; 114:252-7. [PMID: 17196284 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2006.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2006] [Revised: 08/08/2006] [Accepted: 09/19/2006] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Incidence and circulation of different strains of hepatitis A and Norovirus in shellfish were studied on 235 samples (Tapes philippinarum, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Ostrea spp. and Chlamys spp.) obtained from different sites, representing the shellfish production areas of the northern Adriatic sea. Shellfish were harvested in the period of one year and, after depuration, were examined for bacterial (Escherichia coli and Salmonella) and viral (HAV and NoV) contamination. Viral contamination was present on average in 22% of samples: specifically, 6% of samples tested positive for HAV, 14% for NoV and 2% for both viruses. None of the samples revealed the presence of Salmonella, and in most of them (93%) the number of E. coli was below the European legislation limit of 230 MPN/100 g. T. philippinarum was the species most often contaminated, as well as being the only species in which the legal limit for E. coli was, in some cases, exceeded. Both HAV and NoV contamination were detected throughout the year; NoV detection was slightly more frequent during winter months, but positive samples were also present in summer. The sequencing of the PCR products showed the circulation of only one HAV genotype (IA) and four different NoV genotypes (Hawaii, Melksham, Lordsdale and GGIIb) with a prevalence of the GGIIb genotype in the second period of the monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Croci
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Centro Nazionale per la Qualità degli Alimenti e per i Rischi Alimentari, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy.
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Croci L, De Medici D, Di Pasquale S, Toti L. Resistance of hepatitis A virus in mussels subjected to different domestic cookings. Int J Food Microbiol 2005; 105:139-44. [PMID: 16054720 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2005.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2004] [Revised: 04/15/2005] [Accepted: 04/21/2005] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis A is a worldwide infectious disease. Shellfish consumption has always been one of the major risk factors for hepatitis A infection, especially when these products are eaten raw or slightly cooked. Moreover, the cooking does not always guarantee the harmlessness of shellfish. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hepatitis A virus (HAV) resistance in experimentally contaminated mussels, subjected to domestic cooking. Three different domestic preparations (mussel hors-d'oevre, mussel au gratin, mussels with tomato sauce) were performed according to the traditional Italian cookery using different time and temperature conditions. To detect HAV-RNA, RT-nested-PCR was used; the presence of the infectious virus in the positive samples was confirmed by an integrated cell culture-RT-PCR method. The infectious virus was completely inactivated only in "mussels in tomato sauce", while it was still present, even if not quantitatively determinable, in the other preparations. The study confirmed that some factors can influence the HAV sensitivity to thermal inactivation preventing a complete decontamination of the product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Croci
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Centro Nazionale per la Qualità degli Alimenti ed i Rischi Alimentari, Viale Regina Elena, 299 00161, Rome, Italy.
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De Medici D, Croci L, Delibato E, Di Pasquale S, Filetici E, Toti L. Evaluation of DNA extraction methods for use in combination with SYBR green I real-time PCR to detect Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis in poultry. Appl Environ Microbiol 2003; 69:3456-61. [PMID: 12788750 PMCID: PMC161507 DOI: 10.1128/aem.69.6.3456-3461.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2002] [Accepted: 03/05/2003] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to develop a rapid, reproducible, and robust method for detecting Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis in poultry samples. First, for the extraction and purification of DNA from the preenrichment culture, four methods (boiling, alkaline lysis, Nucleospin, and Dynabeads DNA Direct System I) were compared. The most effective method was then combined with a real-time PCR method based on the double-stranded DNA binding dye SYBR Green I used with the ABI Prism 7700 system. The specificity of the reaction was determined by the melting temperature (T(m)) of the amplicon obtained. The experiments were conducted both on samples of chicken experimentally contaminated with serotype Enteritidis and on commercially available poultry samples, which were also used for comparisons with the standard cultural method (i.e., ISO 6579/2001). The results of comparisons among the four DNA extraction methods showed significant differences except for the results from the boiling and Nucleospin methods (the two methods that produced the lowest threshold cycles). Boiling was selected as the preferred extraction method because it is the simplest and most rapid. This method was then combined with SYBR Green I real-time PCR, using primers SEFA-1 and SEFA-2. The specificity of the reaction was confirmed by the T(m), which was consistently specific for the amplicon obtained; the mean peak T(m) obtained with curves specific for serotype Enteritidis was 82.56 +/- 0.22 degrees C. The standard curve constructed using the mean threshold cycle and various concentrations of serotype Enteritidis (ranging from 10(3) to 10(8) CFU/ml) showed good linearity (R(2) = 0.9767) and a sensitivity limit of less than 10(3) CFU/ml. The results of this study demonstrate that the SYBR Green I real-time PCR constitutes an effective and easy-to-perform method for detecting serotype Enteritidis in poultry samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario De Medici
- Laboratorio Alimentia, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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