Reverse transcriptase PCR detection of astrovirus, hepatitis A virus, and poliovirus in experimentally contaminated mussels: comparison of several extraction and concentration methods

Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used in assessing four methods of extraction and three methods of concentration of three enteric viruses from mussels. The mussels were contaminated by immersion in seawater with astrovirus, hepatitis A virus and poliovirus. Results showed that more RT-PCR-positive samples were obtained with the glycine solution and borate buffer extraction methods than with the saline beef extraction method. Detoxification of the samples by Sephadex LH20 filtration significantly diminished the efficiency of RT-PCR virus detection.