Norovirus: The Burden of the Unknown

Adv Food Nutr Res. 2018:86:13-53. doi: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2018.02.005. Epub 2018 May 21.

Abstract

Human noroviruses (HNoVs) are primarily transmitted by the fecal-oral route, either by person-to-person contact, or by ingestion of contaminated food or water as well as by aerosolization. Moreover, HNoVs significantly contribute to foodborne diseases being the causative agent of one-fifth of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. As a consequence of globalization, transnational outbreaks of foodborne infections are reported with increasing frequency. Therefore, in this review, state-of-the-art information regarding molecular procedures for human norovirus detection in food as well common food processing technologies have been summarized. Besides, the purpose of this chapter is to consolidate basic information on various aspects of HNoVs and to summarize food processing technologies that can potentially be applied in the food industry.

Keywords: Antiviral compounds; Detection methods; Food processing; Human norovirus; Thermal treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Caliciviridae Infections / pathology
  • Caliciviridae Infections / transmission
  • Caliciviridae Infections / virology*
  • Food Microbiology
  • Foodborne Diseases / virology
  • Humans
  • Norovirus / classification*
  • Norovirus / genetics
  • Public Health