Determination of enteroviruses, hepatitis A virus, bacteriophages and Escherichia coli in Adriatic Sea mussels

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of enteric virus es in mussels and to verify the possibility of using phages as indirect ind icators of mussel viral contamination. Mussels (36 samples) collected from three different areas of the Adriatic Sea were analysed to determine the fo llowing parameters: Escherichia coli, somatic coliphage (T6 phage), F-Plus (MS2 phage), B40-8 (phage of Bacteroides fragilis), enteroviruses and hepat itis A virus. Most of the results of the bacteriological analysis (most pro bable number (MPN) ml(-1)) were in accordance with the bacteriological limi ts established by European law, with the exception of seven samples. The ba cteriophage analyses were always negative for F-Plus and B40-8, with the ex ception of a few samples, whereas the somatic coliphages were generally bet ween 0 and 20 MPN g(-1), with the exception of two samples (110 MPN g(-1)). The virological analysis showed five samples positive for the presence of enteroviruses and 13 for the presence of hepatitis A virus (in three sample s both viruses were present). Most of these samples presented acceptable ba cteriological parameters and the bacteriophages were absent or their value was generally very low. The results show that the detection of E. coli and phages does not seem to be a good indicator of viral contamination.