Food and Environmental Virology

, Volume 2, Issue 2, pp 64–68 | Cite as

Real-Time PCR Detection of Norovirus in Mussels Collected from the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey

  • Huseyin Yilmaz
  • Kamil Bostan
  • Nuri Turan
  • Karlo Muratoglu
  • Aysun Yilmaz
  • Ayşe A. Ozkul
  • Bekir Kocazeybek
  • Christopher Helps
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Norovirus (NoV) is recognised as one of the most common causes of foodborne infections, and shellfish are a well-documented source of this virus. The presence of NoV in shellfish has not previously been investigated in Turkey, and hence the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of human NoV genogroups I and II in mussels collected from the Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 320 mussels representing 110 samples originating along the Bosphorus coast were collected from fish distributors. RNA was extracted using the RNeasy Mini Kit and real-time RT–PCR performed using primers specific for NoV genogroup I and II. Amongst the 110 samples, 5 (4.5%) were found to be positive for NoV genogroup II by SYBR Green assay; no genogroup I was detected. A positive signal was obtained by SYBR Green for NoV Genogroup II in mussels collected in October, November and December 2008, and February and July 2009. Only four out of five SYBR Green positive samples could be confirmed by the use of a NoV GII probe-based real-time RT–PCR. The average count and SD of Enterobactericaeae, E. coli and sulphide reductase anaerobic bacteria in PCR positive mussels were 3.56 log ± 0.96 log, 2.32 log ± 0.77 log and 1.70 log ± 0.56 log, respectively. This study shows that NoV Genogroup II is present in mussels collected from the Bosphorus, Istanbul, and may constitute a risk to human health.

Keywords

Norovirus Real-time RT–PCR Mussel Istanbul Turkey 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank to Dr. Jens Dreier, Dr. Reuter Gabor, Dr. Hartmut Campe, Dr. Christiane Holler and Dr. Kathrin Hartelt for supplying positive controls for PCR. In particular, thanks are due to TUBITAK for funding this study (Project No: 106T759, TBAG, COST Action 929).

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Copyright information

© Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • Huseyin Yilmaz
    • 1
  • Kamil Bostan
    • 2
  • Nuri Turan
    • 1
  • Karlo Muratoglu
    • 2
  • Aysun Yilmaz
    • 3
  • Ayşe A. Ozkul
    • 4
  • Bekir Kocazeybek
    • 5
  • Christopher Helps
    • 6
  1. 1.Department of Virology, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of IstanbulAvcilar, IstanbulTurkey
  2. 2.Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Veterinary FacultyUniversity of IstanbulAvcilar, IstanbulTurkey
  3. 3.Cevre Industrial Analysis LaboratoryKagıthane, IstanbulTurkey
  4. 4.Department of Pediatrics, Zubeyde Hanim Training and Research CenterBaskent UniversityIzmirTurkey
  5. 5.Department of Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of MedicineUniversity of IstanbulCerrahpasa, IstanbulTurkey
  6. 6.Department of Clinical Veterinary ScienceUniversity of BristolLangford, BristolUK

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