ROTAVIRUS AND HEPATITIS-A VIRUS IN MARKET LETTUCE (LATUCA-SATIVA) IN COSTA-RICA

We assessed the presence of rotavirus and Hepatitis A virus in lettuce bought in farmer markets from San Jose, Costa Rica, during months of low (April-June) and high (December-January) incidence of diarrhea ass ociated with rotavirus, respectively. Lettuce samples were pooled and evaluated for rotavirus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) a nd for Hepatitis A virus by radioimmunoassay, polymerase chain reactio n (PCR) and electron microscope. Three sample pools, collected during the period of high prevalence of diarrhea, were positive for rotavirus by ELISA and in one of them rotavirions were visualized by electron m icroscopy. Two samples pools collected during the same period were pos itive for Hepatitis A virus as shown by PCR. In almost all the pools f ecal coliform bacteria were detected by cultivation and bacteriophages were visualized by electron microscopy. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V .