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. 1995 Aug;61(8):3014–3018. doi: 10.1128/aem.61.8.3014-3018.1995

Detection of Norwalk virus and hepatitis A virus in shellfish tissues with the PCR.

R L Atmar 1, F H Neill 1, J L Romalde 1, F Le Guyader 1, C M Woodley 1, T G Metcalf 1, M K Estes 1
PMCID: PMC167576  PMID: 7487032

Abstract

A method for the detection of Norwalk virus and hepatitis A virus from shellfish tissues by PCR was developed. Virus was added to the stomach and hepatopancreatic tissues of oysters or hard-shell clams, and viral nucleic acids were purified by a modification of a previously described method (R.L. Atmar, T.G. Metcalf, F.H. Neill, and M.K. Estes, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59:631-635, 1993). The new method had the following advantages compared with the previously described method: (i) more rapid sample processing; (ii) increased test sensitivity; (iii) decreased sample-associated interference with reverse transcription-PCR; and (iv) use of chloroform-butanol in place of the chlorofluorocarbon trichlorotrifluoroethane. In addition, internal standards for both Norwalk virus and hepatitis A virus were made which demonstrated when inhibitors to reverse transcription-PCR were present and allowed quantitation of the viral nucleic acids present in samples. This assay can be used to investigate shellfish-associated gastroenteritis outbreaks and to study factors involved in virus persistence in shellfish.

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Selected References

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