CrAssphage as a Human Enteric Viral Contamination Bioindicator in Marketed Bivalve Mollusks
CrAssphage, a bacteriophage that infects human gut-associated <i>Bacteroides</i> spp., has emerged as a potential anthropogenic fecal pollution indicator in environmental matrices. This study investigated the presence and concentration of crAssphages in bivalve mollusks (oysters and muss...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/7/1012 |
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| author | Isabella Rodrigues Negreiros Natália Lourenço dos Santos Bruna Barbosa de Paula Bruna Lopes Figueiredo Marcelo Luiz Lima Brandão José Paulo Gagliardi Leite Marize Pereira Miagostovich Carina Pacheco Cantelli |
| author_facet | Isabella Rodrigues Negreiros Natália Lourenço dos Santos Bruna Barbosa de Paula Bruna Lopes Figueiredo Marcelo Luiz Lima Brandão José Paulo Gagliardi Leite Marize Pereira Miagostovich Carina Pacheco Cantelli |
| author_sort | Isabella Rodrigues Negreiros |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | CrAssphage, a bacteriophage that infects human gut-associated <i>Bacteroides</i> spp., has emerged as a potential anthropogenic fecal pollution indicator in environmental matrices. This study investigated the presence and concentration of crAssphages in bivalve mollusks (oysters and mussels) marketed in three cities in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sampled from January to December 2022. CrAssphages were detected during the study period in 66.7% (48/72) of sampled oysters and 54.8% (34/62) of sampled mussels, at median concentrations of 1.9 × 10<sup>4</sup> and 4.2 × 10<sup>4</sup> genome copies (GC)/g, respectively. These levels were 1–2 log<sub>10</sub> higher than those observed for major human enteric viruses, including norovirus genogroups GI and GII, sapovirus, human mastadenovirus (HAdV), rotavirus A, human astrovirus (HAstV), and hepatitis A virus. CrAssphage specificity and sensitivity were calculated for all viruses. Moderate correlations between crAssphage (log<sub>10</sub> GC/g) and norovirus GI and GII, HAdV, SaV, and HAstV (Spearman’s <i>rho</i> = 0.581–0.464, <i>p</i> < 0.001) were observed in mussels. Altogether, the data support the use of crAssphage as a molecular indicator of human viral contamination in shellfish, with potential application in routine environmental and food safety monitoring in production areas. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d6d276d8e10f46ec86205b969934e03c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-d6d276d8e10f46ec86205b969934e03c2025-08-20T02:47:14ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-07-01177101210.3390/v17071012CrAssphage as a Human Enteric Viral Contamination Bioindicator in Marketed Bivalve MollusksIsabella Rodrigues Negreiros0Natália Lourenço dos Santos1Bruna Barbosa de Paula2Bruna Lopes Figueiredo3Marcelo Luiz Lima Brandão4José Paulo Gagliardi Leite5Marize Pereira Miagostovich6Carina Pacheco Cantelli7Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilLaboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilLaboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilLaboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilDepartment of Experimental and Preclinical Development, Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilLaboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilLaboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilLaboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilCrAssphage, a bacteriophage that infects human gut-associated <i>Bacteroides</i> spp., has emerged as a potential anthropogenic fecal pollution indicator in environmental matrices. This study investigated the presence and concentration of crAssphages in bivalve mollusks (oysters and mussels) marketed in three cities in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sampled from January to December 2022. CrAssphages were detected during the study period in 66.7% (48/72) of sampled oysters and 54.8% (34/62) of sampled mussels, at median concentrations of 1.9 × 10<sup>4</sup> and 4.2 × 10<sup>4</sup> genome copies (GC)/g, respectively. These levels were 1–2 log<sub>10</sub> higher than those observed for major human enteric viruses, including norovirus genogroups GI and GII, sapovirus, human mastadenovirus (HAdV), rotavirus A, human astrovirus (HAstV), and hepatitis A virus. CrAssphage specificity and sensitivity were calculated for all viruses. Moderate correlations between crAssphage (log<sub>10</sub> GC/g) and norovirus GI and GII, HAdV, SaV, and HAstV (Spearman’s <i>rho</i> = 0.581–0.464, <i>p</i> < 0.001) were observed in mussels. Altogether, the data support the use of crAssphage as a molecular indicator of human viral contamination in shellfish, with potential application in routine environmental and food safety monitoring in production areas.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/7/1012CrAssphageenteric virusesfecal contaminationbivalve mollusksfood safetysanitary surveillance |
| spellingShingle | Isabella Rodrigues Negreiros Natália Lourenço dos Santos Bruna Barbosa de Paula Bruna Lopes Figueiredo Marcelo Luiz Lima Brandão José Paulo Gagliardi Leite Marize Pereira Miagostovich Carina Pacheco Cantelli CrAssphage as a Human Enteric Viral Contamination Bioindicator in Marketed Bivalve Mollusks Viruses CrAssphage enteric viruses fecal contamination bivalve mollusks food safety sanitary surveillance |
| title | CrAssphage as a Human Enteric Viral Contamination Bioindicator in Marketed Bivalve Mollusks |
| title_full | CrAssphage as a Human Enteric Viral Contamination Bioindicator in Marketed Bivalve Mollusks |
| title_fullStr | CrAssphage as a Human Enteric Viral Contamination Bioindicator in Marketed Bivalve Mollusks |
| title_full_unstemmed | CrAssphage as a Human Enteric Viral Contamination Bioindicator in Marketed Bivalve Mollusks |
| title_short | CrAssphage as a Human Enteric Viral Contamination Bioindicator in Marketed Bivalve Mollusks |
| title_sort | crassphage as a human enteric viral contamination bioindicator in marketed bivalve mollusks |
| topic | CrAssphage enteric viruses fecal contamination bivalve mollusks food safety sanitary surveillance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/7/1012 |
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