PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Erol, Nural
AU  - Delibaş, Songül B.
AU  - Özkoç, Soykan
AU  - Ergüden, Ceren
AU  - Aksoy, Ümit
TI  - Investigation of parasitic and viral pathogens in mussels (<em>Mytilus galloprovincialis</em>) in the Gulf of Izmir, Turkey
AID  - 10.15537/smj.2016.6.15034
DP  - 2016 Jun 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 703--706
VI  - 37
IP  - 6
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/37/6/703.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/37/6/703.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2016 Jun 01; 37
AB  - Objectives: To investigate Microsporidia spp. parasite, hepatitis A virus (HAV), and norovirus (NoV) contamination in mussels collected from 8 stations in the inner, middle, and outer regions of the Gulf of Izmir.Methods: In this cross-sectional study carried out between August 2009 and September 2010 in the Gulf of Izmir, Turkey, 15 mussels collected from each of the stations each season were pooled and homogenized to create a single representative sample. Thirty representative samples were available for analysis. Direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR), RT-nested PCR, and RT-booster PCR were used to investigate the pathogens.Results: The mussels were negative for Microsporidia spp., but 8 (26.7%) samples analyzed were positive for HAV and 9 (30%) were positive for NoV. Excluding Foca and Gediz, viral contamination was detected in all of the stations sampled.Conclusion: Our results suggest that viral contamination is present in mussels in the Gulf of Izmir and may pose a potential threat to human health in the region. Necessary measures should be taken to prevent future illness due to these pathogens.