ABSTRACT
This chapter provides state-of-the-art overviews on foodborne diseases caused by astrovirus in relation to their biology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Foodborne illnesses caused by viral contamination of food are a significant burden to public health. While foodborne illness is typically attributed to noroviruses, rotaviruses, and hepatitis A and E viruses, astroviruses (AstVs) are recognized as a leading contaminant of food and water sources. AstV is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus, and its genome consists of three open reading frames (ORFs). Most pathogenesis studies have focused on the mechanism by which AstV causes diarrhea. Intestinal epithelial cells, the primary replication site of AstV, form a tight barrier and carefully regulate the passage of nutrients, molecules, ions, other solutes, and water from the mucosal side to the intestinal lumen. AstV is a widespread and potentially dangerous enteric pathogen that cannot be ignored.
