Persistence of murine norovirus, bovine rotavirus, and hepatitis A virus on stainless steel surfaces, in spring water, and on blueberries. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leblanc, Danielle; Gagné, Marie-Josée; Poitras, Élyse; Brassard, Julie
• Is Part Of: Food microbiology. Volume 84(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Enteric viruses -- Stainless steel coupons -- Drinking water -- Blueberries; Food Microbiology -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Food -- Microbiology; Periodicals; Food -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Food contamination -- Periodicals; 664.001579
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2019.103257
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0740-0020

Abstract

Abstract: The viability of murine norovirus (MNV-1), bovine rotavirus (boRV), and hepatitis A virus (HAV) was evaluated at 21 °C, 4 °C, and −20 °C on stainless steel surfaces, in bottled water, and on blueberries for up to 21 days. After 14 days of incubation at 21 °C on stainless steel, a viability loss >4 log for MNV-1, >8 log for boRV, and >1 log for HAV was observed. Losses were observed for MNV-1 (>1 log) and HAV (>2 log) incubated in water at 21 °C for 21 days. No significant loss was detected for MNV-1 and HAV at 4 °C and −20 °C and for boRV at 21 °C, 4 °C, and −20 °C. On blueberries incubated at 4 °C and −20 °C, they all maintained their infectivity. After 7 days at 21 °C, a loss >2 log, a loss of 3 log, and no loss were observed for boRV, MNV-1, and HAV, respectively. After RNase pretreatment, the detection of extracted RNA from infectious and noninfectious samples suggested the protection of RNA inside the capsid. Even though they all are enteric viruses, their persistence varied with temperature and the nature of the commodity. It is therefore important to use more than one viral surrogate, during inactivation treatments or implementation of control measures. Highlights: On stainless steel surfaces MNV-1, boRV and HAV were all infectious after 3 days at 21 °C and for up to 21 days for HAV. In bottled water, MNV-1, boRV and HAV incubated at 21 °C, 4 °C and −20 °C were all infectious after 21 days. On blueberries, a loss of infectivity was only detected for BoRV and MNV-1 after 7 days of incubation at 21 °C. Presence of high level of viral RNA was detected after RNase treatment from non-infectious particles.