DETECTION OF G8P[1] BOVINE-LIKE ROTAVIRUS IN ARGENTINEAN OYSTERS

FRYDMAN, C.; MIÑO, S.; BARBIERI, E.S.; SEILER, ERINA N.; GALEANO SOLANGE; MATTHIJNSSENS JELLE; PARREÑO, V.; MOZGOVOJ, M.

Congreso; 14th International dsRNA Virus Symposium; 2022

Foodborne viruses are a leading cause of enteric diseases worldwide.Viruses can be transmitted by consumption of contaminated bivalve shellfishthat are usually eaten raw or slightly cooked. These filter-feeding organismscan concentrate pathogens present in water in their digestive glands. The aimof this study was to determine the presence of rotavirus in oysters (Crassotreagigas) collected from the south coast of Buenos Aires and Golfo Nuevo, Argentina.A total of 209 oysters were processed according to ISO/TS 15216-2:2019 standardof quality. RVA detection was carried out by real time RT-qPCR targeting theNSP3. The virus was detected in 20% of the pooled samples. Only two detectedviruses could be characterized. The genotype of RVA from a pool of oysterscollected at Golfo Nuevo was G8P[1] while a second pool from Isla Gama wasisolated in cell culture demonstrating virus viability as infective particleswere detected by immunofluorescence. The genotype constellation of the isolatedstrain was G8-P[1]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T6-E2-H3, which has a bovine-like genomebackbone. Interestingly, RVA detected strains do not cluster closely previouslybovine-like RVA reported strains from Argentina. These findings evidence thepresence of infective RVA in oysters that can lead to potential outbreaks.Surveillance programs should be considered to prevent foodborne illnesseslinked to ingestion of contaminated shellfish. Moreover, oysters could be usedto monitoring environment polluted with viruses that affect human health.