ROTAVIRUS PRESENCE IN MEDITERRANEAN MUSSELS (MYTILUS GALLOPROVINCIALIS) FROM SOUTHWESTERN ALBANIAN COAST

Mediterranean mussel (M. galloprovincialis) is the most common bivalve species in the Mediterranean sea, able to survive across broad ranges of temperature and salinity. Albania is the 4th largest European producer of M. galloprovincialis, after Italy, Greece and France and there is an increasing trend. However, Mediterranean mussels is vehicles in the transmission of several bacterial and viral enteric diseases, where Rotavirus constitutes the main cause of severe diarrhea. The aim of our study was to investigate for the presence of Rotavirus in mussels from aquaculture sites, concentrated in Butrinti lagoon in Saranda, and from wild populations, Cape of Stillo by using molecular methods. The presented results represent the first time investigations results in Albania about Rotavirus presence in shellfish and they showed that Rotavirus were present in 41% of the mussels from wild populations, but fortunately the mussels from Aquacultures sites were Rotavirus free. The obtained results may be useful to revise the current regulations and make the detection of other pathogens (such as viruses) obligatory.