ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the methods for the virological examination of shellfish, seawater, and sediments and describes some of the most promising candidate methods. The use of methods for detecting enteric viruses in shellfish, seawater, and sediments is not yet routine because these methods are technically complex, lengthy, costly, and of unknown effectiveness for many viruses of interest. The efficiency of methods for detecting enteric viruses in shellfish, seawater, and sediments is likely to vary with the types, amounts, and conditions of viruses in the samples, the characteristics, quality, and size of the samples, and the characteristics of the virus recovery and assay procedures themselves. Enteric virus levels in fecally contaminated shellfish, seawater, and sediments are relatively low compared to their levels in human feces or even raw sewage. There are two basic procedures for recovering and assaying viruses in cell cultures: quantal methods and enumerative methods.
