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Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Norovirus and E. coli in Sydney Rock Oysters Following a Sewage Overflow into an Estuary

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Abstract

This paper reports a study of norovirus (NoV) GII distribution and persistence in Sydney rock oysters (SRO) (Saccostrea glomerata) located in an estuary after a pump station sewage overflow. SRO were strategically placed at six sites spanning the length of the estuary from the pump station to the sea. The spatial and temporal distribution of NoV, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in oysters was mapped after the contamination event. NoV GI and GII, HAV and E. coli were quantified for up to 48 days in oysters placed at six sites ranging from 0.05 to 8.20 km from the sewage overflow. NoV GII was detected up to 5.29 km downstream and persisted in oysters for 42 days at the site closest to the overflow. NoV GII concentrations decreased significantly over time; a reduction rate of 8.5% per day was observed in oysters (p < 0.001). NoV GII concentrations decreased significantly as a function of distance at a rate of 5.8% per km (p < 0.001) and the decline in E. coli concentration with distance was 20.1% per km (p < 0.001). HAV and NoV GI were not detected. A comparison of NoV GII reduction rates from oysters over time, as observed in this study and other published research, collectively suggest that GII reduction rates from oysters may be broadly similar, regardless of environmental conditions, oyster species and genotype.

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Acknowledgements

Oysters were collected from the estuary using a NSW Government Industry and Investment Scientific Collection Permit no. P09/001-2.0 as per section 37, Fisheries Management Act 1994. Laboratory analyses were conducted at South Australian Research & Development Institute, South Australia. Kate Hodgson is thanked for performing part of the HAV testing. NSW State Shellfish regulator Anthony Zammit identified the survey site. Geoffrey Lawler, an oyster farmer from NSW kindly helped with provision, installation and sampling of the oysters. Brenda Hay (AquaBio Consultants Ltd. NZ), Peter Rees, Manager Utilities, Infrastructure Services (Byron Shire Council, NSA), Dr. Rod Ratcliffe (SA Pathology) and David Allsop (Manly Hydraulics Laboratory NSW) are thanked for their advice. The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding from NSWFA. Felicity Brake was supported with funding from the Australian Seafood CRC, grant number 2008/741.

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  1. Catherine McLeod

    Present address: Seafood Safety Assessment Ltd, Scotland, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture – School of Land and Food, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Felicity Brake & Tom Ross

  2. South Australian Research and Development Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Felicity Brake, Andreas Kiermeier, Geoffrey Holds, Lina Landinez & Catherine McLeod

Authors
  1. Felicity Brake
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Correspondence to Catherine McLeod.

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Brake, F., Kiermeier, A., Ross, T. et al. Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Norovirus and E. coli in Sydney Rock Oysters Following a Sewage Overflow into an Estuary. Food Environ Virol 10, 7–15 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12560-017-9313-5

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