DETOXIFICATION BY SEPHADEX LH20 OF SEAFOOD CONCENTRATES FOR ROTAVIRUS ASSAY

Virological analysis of seafood is often limited because of the toxic effects of the mollusc concentrates on cell cultures. We have developed a method of detoxification based on filtration through a Sephadex LH20 gel. Results show that in mussels concentrates after filtration the toxicity has decreased in a factor between 4 and 10 in 79 % of cases. With oysters the toxicity has decreased in a factor between 4 and 10 in 55 % of concentrates. Virus were recovered from 10 % mussels concentrates after filtration while no virus were recovered from crude concentrates before filtration. LH20 Sephadex filtration appears to be a simple method for decreasing shellfish tissues toxicity for cell cultures.