Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

07 Mar 2025

UP Open University

Research uncovers new information on the voice of the Philippine flat-headed frog found only in Palawan

This study describes the call of Barbourula busuangensis, a peculiar and elusive fully aquatic frog endemic to the Palawan archipelago of...

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07 Mar 2025

UP Manila

High levels of body association lowers the risk of depression, anxiety and stress among Filipino emerging adults

Among Filipino emerging adults, prevalence rates of severe and extreme levels of depression, anxiety, and stress are relatively high. High...

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07 Mar 2025

Research uncovers new information on the voice of the Philippine flat-headed frog found only in Palawan

This study describes the call of Barbourula busuangensis, a peculiar and elusive fully aquatic frog endemic to the Palawan archipelago...

Read More

06 Mar 2025

Lemongrass has the potential to control the growth of fungi from skin mycoses, foodborne illnesses and opportunistic infections

Lemongrass is an abundant medicinal plant that is used as an herbal remedy for fungal infections. Despite being widespread, to...

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04 Mar 2025

UP Diliman

A hybrid Internet of Things-based smart system performs better than a purely wireless sensor in monitoring indoor hydroponics farms

Internet of Things (IoT) is a one of the technologies that are being applied to various applications and scenarios. This...

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28 Feb 2025

UP Diliman

Transforming higher education requires a more diverse and inclusive landscape especially for women and minority groups in STEAM

This research dives into how higher education can be transformed through leadership focused on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). In...

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26 Feb 2025

UP Diliman

The proposed Input-Process-Output-Outcome/Result Model evaluates the success of the Philippine Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission

The paper discusses the various institutions, laws, policies and programs of Olympic governance in the Philippines from the American era...

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25 Feb 2025

UP Diliman

Approximately 30% of older adults worldwide suffer from falls each year, making falls a critical public health issue

This study utilized baseline survey data from the Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP) and the...

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18 Feb 2025

UP Diliman

Preventing frailty and depression may improve sleep health in those who are food insecure

Extensive research reveals the close relationship between food insecurity and the occurrence of sleep problems due to mental health. In...

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17 Feb 2025

UP Los Baños

Verb-controlled that-clauses are the most useful finite complement clauses in applied linguistics, communication, and measurement and evaluation research articles

The study cross-investigated finite complement clauses (FCCs) in qualitative (QUALI) and quantitative (QUANTI) research articles (RAs) written by Filipino academic...

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12 Feb 2025

UP Los Baños

Machine learning can identify cancerous samples with almost 100% accuracy and could thus replace the current, more traumatic screening methods

The success rate of treating colorectal cancer (CRC) can be greatly increased through the early and accurate diagnosis of the...

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11 Feb 2025

UP Diliman

Roger Felix Salditos’s writings offer a key perspective on the persistence of one of the world’s longest-running rural insurgencies

Roger Felix V. Salditos was among seven Filipino revolutionaries who were summarily executed by police and military forces in San...

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Research

This study gathered information to establish baseline data on the potential risks of the hepatitis A virus (HAV) in the Philippine molluscan bivalve (oysters and mussels) supply chain.

HAV is an infectious liver disease and is a significant contributor to foodborne illness-related deaths. The primary cause of infection for shellfish is their living environment and feeding method. Socio-economic development and access to standard hygiene and sanitation influenced the geographical distribution, rural-to-urban migration, and population aging, which are crucial factors in the widespread presence of HAV.

HAV is considered a primary concern in the Philippines, and its endemicity levels remain moderate to high. The molluscan bivalve industry is usually cultured in polluted shallow coastal areas near industrial and household areas. In the Philippines, there are only select parameters in which shellfish are monitored, and it does not include the presence of HAV, where infection cases attributed to the virus in contaminated food range around 5%.

Southeast Asian countries have limited established action plans for HAV outbreaks and lack coordination. In this regard, food risk analysis is crucial to understanding the increased susceptibility of the Filipino population to shellfish-related HAV infections. Food safety risk assessment is a science-based and sensible approach to gauge the current safety of local shellfish consumption. It involves exposure assessment, risk characterization, and risk estimation. Therefore, food safety risk assessment is a crucial approach that a developing country can utilize to strengthen its capacity and competence in food safety and public health protection, specifically in controlling shellfish-related HAV endemicity.

Authors:

Abigail S. Rustia (Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Home Economics,
University of the Philippines Diliman)

Crisanto M. Lopez (Department of Biology, School of Science and Engineering,
Ateneo de Manila University)

Erniel B. Barrios (School of Business, Monash University Malaysia Selangor)

Dennis D. Tanay (National Fisheries Development Center, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Dagupan City, Pangasinan)


Patricia Mae M. Lagazon (Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Home Economics,
University of the Philippines Diliman)

John Carlo G. Gosilatar (National Fisheries Development Center, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Dagupan City, Pangasinan)

Leslie M. Dalmacio (College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila)

Read the full paper: https://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/defining-risk-hepatitis-a-virus-in-philippine-shellfish-oyster-and-mussels/