Prevalence of noroviruses in oysters in Korea

• Published in: Food science and biotechnology Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 1151 - 1154
• Main Authors: Moon, Aerie, Hwang, In-Gyun, Choi, Weon Sang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology 01.08.2011; 한국식품과학회
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Food Science; Norovirus; Nutrition; Research Note; 식품과학; oyster; genogroup I; genogroup II; norovirus; semi-nested reverse transcription-PCR
• ISSN: 1226-7708; 2092-6456
• DOI: 10.1007/s10068-011-0157-8

A total of 156 raw oyster samples were collected from 23 retail points in Korea between February 13 and April 7, 2006 and were analyzed by a semi-nested reverse transcription-PCR for naturally occurring noroviruses (NoV). As a whole, noroviral RNA was detected in 14.1% (22/156) of the samples, of which 12.2% (19/156) belonged to genogroup I (GI) and 1.9% (3/156) genogroup II (GII), respectively. The frequencies of NoV contamination apparently differed depending on the retail points or harvesting areas considered: however, the differences were not statistically significant.