Detection of Human-Transmissible Animal Viruses in Meat Markets: A Survey Using PCR Techniques
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the prevalence of animal viruses transmissible to humans in meat products traded in Iraqi markets, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Sixty equal samples were collected from three types of meat: poultry, red meat, and fish (20 samples for each type). The study focused on detecting hepatitis E viruses, adenovirus, and rotavirus, as these are among the viruses most associated with foodborne illnesses.
The results showed a high percentage of contaminated samples, with 71.7% of samples testing positive for viruses, particularly HEV, AdV and RV reflecting the seriousness of markets with poor sanitary conditions. Analysis revealed differences in contamination rates depending on the type of meat, with poultry and red meat being more susceptible to contamination. PCR was also proven effective as a sensitive and accurate method for the early detection of foodborne viruses.
The study concluded that markets that lack regular health supervision represent a fertile environment for the transmission of viruses from animals to humans, posing a threat to public health. The findings were supported by comparison with similar studies in Brazil and Laos, which emphasized the seriousness of open markets as a major source of viral epidemics. The study recommends strict market controls, the implementation of periodic PCR testing programs, and increased health awareness among consumers and food chain workers.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Chiș, L. M., & Vodnar, D. C. (2018). Methods of detecting meat species in food of animal origin.
Feagins, A. R., Opriessnig, T., Guenette, D. K., Halbur, P. G., & Meng, X. J. (2008). Inactivation of infectious hepatitis E virus present in commercial pig livers sold in local grocery stores in the United States. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 123(1–2), 32–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2007.11.068
Greening, G. E. (2016). Human and animal viruses in food (including taxonomy of enteric viruses). In S. R. Goyal (Ed.), Viruses in foods (pp. 5–57). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30723-7_2
Holzmann, H., Aberle, S. W., Stiasny, K., Werner, P., Mischak, A., Zainer, B., ... & Heinz, F. X. (2009). Tick-borne encephalitis from eating goat cheese in a mountain region of Austria. Emerging infectious diseases, 15(10), 1671. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1510.090017
Kingsley, D. H., & Chen, H. (2009). Influence of pH, salt, and temperature on pressure inactivation of hepatitis A virus. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 130(1), 61–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2009.01.004
Kohl, C., Brinkmann, A., Dabrowski, P. W., Radonić, A., Nitsche, A., & Kurth, A. (2015). Protocol for metagenomic virus detection in clinical specimens. Emerging infectious diseases, 21(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2101.140766
Murcia Rodriguez, D. (2018). Influenza A viruses of swine in Western Canadian pigs and people (Doctoral dissertation).
Rodriguez, J. M. (1997). Detection of animal pathogens by using the polymerasechain reaction (PCR). The Veterinary Journal, 153(3), 287-305. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1090-0233(97)80063-9
Scallan, E., Hoekstra, R. M., Angulo, F. J., Tauxe, R. V., Widdowson, M. A., Roy, S. L., Jones, J. L., & Griffin, P. M. (2011). Foodborne illness acquired in the United States—Major pathogens. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17(1), 7–15. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1701.p11101
Senvanpan, N., Phimolsarnnousith, V., Rattanavong, S., Mayxay, M., Reinharz, D., Fine, A. E., ... & Robinson, M. T. (2023). Longitudinal comparison of bacterial pathogen seropositivity among wet market vendors in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. One Health, 17, 100618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100618
Soares, V. M., Dos Santos, E. A. R., Tadielo, L. E., Cerqueira-Cézar, C. K., Sampaio, A. N. D. C. E., Eisen, A. K. A., ... & Pereira, J. G. (2022). Detection of adenovirus, rotavirus, and hepatitis E virus in meat cuts marketed in Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. One Health, 14, 100377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100377
Sobhy, A., & Shaltout, F. (2020). Detection of food poisoning bacteria in some semi-cooked chicken meat products marketed at Qaliubiya Governorate. Benha Veterinary Medical Journal, 39(2), 93–96. https://doi.org/10.21608/bvmj.2020.25547.1184
Zhou, S., Zhong, G., Zhou, H., Zhang, X., Zeng, X., Wu, Z., ... & Liu, Q. (2022). A heptaplex PCR assay for molecular traceability of species origin with high efficiency and practicality in both raw and heat processing meat materials. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, 890537. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.890537