Agricultural Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Using Fecal Indicators: A Systematic Review

Fresh-produce consumers may be at risk of pathogen infection due to fecal contamination of the agricultural environment. Indicators of fecal contamination may be used as a proxy to evaluate the potential presence of human pathogens, such as norovirus and hepatitis A, on agricultural samples. The obj...

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Main Authors: Courtney P. Victor, Karen Ellis, Frederica Lamar, Juan S. Leon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Microbiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6631920
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author Courtney P. Victor
Karen Ellis
Frederica Lamar
Juan S. Leon
author_facet Courtney P. Victor
Karen Ellis
Frederica Lamar
Juan S. Leon
author_sort Courtney P. Victor
collection DOAJ
description Fresh-produce consumers may be at risk of pathogen infection due to fecal contamination of the agricultural environment. Indicators of fecal contamination may be used as a proxy to evaluate the potential presence of human pathogens, such as norovirus and hepatitis A, on agricultural samples. The objective of this systematic review was to determine whether the presence of human norovirus or hepatitis A was associated with microbial indicators in agricultural samples including fresh produce, equipment surfaces, and hands. Four databases (Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Agricola) were systematically searched and fifteen articles met inclusion and exclusion criteria. After data extraction, individual indicator-pathogen relationships were assessed using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. The level of agreement between norovirus with adenovirus was 0.09 (n = 16, 95% CI −0.05, 0.23), indicating poor agreement using Landis and Koch’s criterion. Similarly, the Kappa coefficient between norovirus with E. coli (κ = 0.04, n = 14, 95% CI −0.05, 0.49) or total coliforms (κ = 0.03, n = 4, 95% CI −0.01, 0.02) was also poor. The level of agreement between hepatitis A with adenovirus (κ = −0.03, n = 3, 95% CI −0.06, 0.01) or fecal coliforms (κ = 0, n = 1, 95% CI 0, 0) was also poor. There were moderate relationships between hepatitis A with E. coli (κ = 0.49, n = 3, 95% CI 0.28, 0.70) and total coliforms (κ = 0.47, n = 2, 95% CI 0.47, 0.47). Based on these limited results, common indicator organisms are not strong predictors of the presence of norovirus and hepatitis A virus in the agricultural environment.
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spelling doaj-art-9003c302e4d94d15a930c012e956d9be2025-08-20T03:37:19ZengWileyInternational Journal of Microbiology1687-918X1687-91982021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66319206631920Agricultural Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Using Fecal Indicators: A Systematic ReviewCourtney P. Victor0Karen Ellis1Frederica Lamar2Juan S. Leon3Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USAHubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USAHubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USAHubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USAFresh-produce consumers may be at risk of pathogen infection due to fecal contamination of the agricultural environment. Indicators of fecal contamination may be used as a proxy to evaluate the potential presence of human pathogens, such as norovirus and hepatitis A, on agricultural samples. The objective of this systematic review was to determine whether the presence of human norovirus or hepatitis A was associated with microbial indicators in agricultural samples including fresh produce, equipment surfaces, and hands. Four databases (Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Agricola) were systematically searched and fifteen articles met inclusion and exclusion criteria. After data extraction, individual indicator-pathogen relationships were assessed using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. The level of agreement between norovirus with adenovirus was 0.09 (n = 16, 95% CI −0.05, 0.23), indicating poor agreement using Landis and Koch’s criterion. Similarly, the Kappa coefficient between norovirus with E. coli (κ = 0.04, n = 14, 95% CI −0.05, 0.49) or total coliforms (κ = 0.03, n = 4, 95% CI −0.01, 0.02) was also poor. The level of agreement between hepatitis A with adenovirus (κ = −0.03, n = 3, 95% CI −0.06, 0.01) or fecal coliforms (κ = 0, n = 1, 95% CI 0, 0) was also poor. There were moderate relationships between hepatitis A with E. coli (κ = 0.49, n = 3, 95% CI 0.28, 0.70) and total coliforms (κ = 0.47, n = 2, 95% CI 0.47, 0.47). Based on these limited results, common indicator organisms are not strong predictors of the presence of norovirus and hepatitis A virus in the agricultural environment.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6631920
spellingShingle Courtney P. Victor
Karen Ellis
Frederica Lamar
Juan S. Leon
Agricultural Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Using Fecal Indicators: A Systematic Review
International Journal of Microbiology
title Agricultural Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Using Fecal Indicators: A Systematic Review
title_full Agricultural Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Using Fecal Indicators: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Agricultural Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Using Fecal Indicators: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Agricultural Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Using Fecal Indicators: A Systematic Review
title_short Agricultural Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Using Fecal Indicators: A Systematic Review
title_sort agricultural detection of norovirus and hepatitis a using fecal indicators a systematic review
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6631920
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