DIFFERENTIAL ACCUMULATION AND DEPURATION OF HUMAN ENTERIC VIRUSES BY MUSSELS

The tissue distribution of adenovirus 40 (ADV) and human rotavirus, se rotype 3 (HRV) was determined after feeding the common mussel (Mytilus spp.) with high levels of clay-associated virus. At different time in tervals, individual tissues were carefully dissected and assayed for i nfectivity. Viruses were detected in contaminated mussels after 1-hour contact, and maximum levels were observed after 6 hours. Most infecti ous viruses were located in the gills and in the digestive tract. Decr easing virus numbers were found in the mantle lobes. Mussels contamina ted with poliovirus 1 (PV), hepatitis A virus, strain HM-175 (HAV), AD V, HRV, and bacteriophages of Bacteroides fragilis (B40-8) were depura ted in 50-1 tanks with a continuous flow of ozonated marine water. Aft er 96 hours, HAV and HRV suffered less than 2 Log(10) titre reduction (LTR), while ADV showed a 2.7 LTR, PV showed a 3 LTR after 48 hours an d became undetectable thereafter. Bacteriophage B40-8 suffered less th an 2 LTR after 96 hours, suggesting that it could be an appropriate in dicator of the efficiency of virus elimination during shellfish depura tion.