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Rapid Detection of Human Norovirus in Frozen Raspberries

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Abstract

Raspberries have lately caused several human norovirus (HuNoV) outbreaks in Europe. In this study, we developed and evaluated for HuNoV reverse transcription (RT)-PCR detection in frozen raspberries extraction methods that have equal sensitivity but are less time-consuming than widely used methods based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation and chloroform–butanol purification. One method was applied to stored frozen raspberries linked to previous HuNoV outbreaks and berries on sale. In the virus elution-based Method 1, sparkling water eluted viruses most efficiently from the berries. Method 2, based on direct nucleic acid extraction with minor PEG supplement, yielded the highest number of positive findings (4 out of 9) at low virus concentration level of 100 genome copies HuNoV genogroup II per 25 g raspberries. Both methods showed approximately equal sensitivity to a method including PEG precipitation and chloroform–butanol purification. Two naturally contaminated berry samples linked to HuNoV outbreaks in 2006 and 2009 were still positive for HuNoV genogroup I, but all berry products purchased from a local store remained negative for HuNoV. In conclusion, this study presents two efficient and rapid methods which can be used in urgent HuNoV outbreak investigations, since the results of the virus analysis are available in a few hours.

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Acknowledgements

We thank K. Söderberg for her valuable contribution during the method design and C.H. von Bonsdorff for his specialist advice when proceeding this study.

Funding

The work was funded by the Academy of Finland (Grant Number 1122782), the Walter Ehrström Foundation and the Finnish Foundation of Veterinary Research.

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  1. Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, PO Box 66, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Maija Summa & Leena Maunula

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  1. Maija Summa
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  2. Leena Maunula
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Correspondence to Maija Summa.

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Summa, M., Maunula, L. Rapid Detection of Human Norovirus in Frozen Raspberries. Food Environ Virol 10, 51–60 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12560-017-9321-5

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