F-specific RNA bacteriophages are adequate model organisms for enteric viruses in fresh water

Abstract

Culturable enteroviruses were detected by applying concentration techniques and by inoculating the concentrates on the BGM cell line. Samples were obtained from a wide variety of environments, including raw sewage, secondary effluent, coagulated effluent, chlorinated and UV-irradiated effluents, river water, coagulated river water, and lake water. The virus concentrations varied widely between 0.001 and 570/liter. The same cell line also supported growth of reoviruses, which were abundant in winter (up to 95% of the viruses detected) and scarce in summer (less than 15%). The concentrations of three groups of model organisms in relation to virus concentrations were also studied. The concentrations of bacteria (thermotolerant coliforms and fecal streptococci) were significantly correlated with virus concentrations in river water and coagulated secondary effluent, but were relatively low in disinfected effluents and relatively high in surface water open to nonhuman fecal pollution. The concentrations of F-specific RNA bacteriophages (FRNA phages) were highly correlated with virus concentrations in all environments studied except raw and biologically treated sewage. Numerical relationships were consistent over the whole range of environments; the regression equations for FRNA phages on viruses in river water and lake water were statistically equivalent. These relationships support the possibility that enteric virus concentrations can be predicted from FRNA phage data.

Evaluation of methodology for detection of human adenoviruses in wastewater, drinking water, stream water and recreational waters

“…The effectiveness of the filtration procedure was tested by addition of Bacteriophage MS2 (c. 1 · 10 6 PFU ⁄ ml sample) to a number of samples of different water types with subsequent analysis of MS2 phage in the concentrate by single layer plaque assay using an Escherichia coli C3000 host (Havelaar et al 1993) Cell culture component of integrated cell culture PCR and direct analysis of adenovirus infectivity Continuous cell culture A549 cell line (ATCC number CCL-185) from human lung carcinoma cells was utilized as it is one of the most extensively used cell lines for adenoviruses propagation and plaque titration (Mei et al 2002). A549 cells were grown in a 25 cm 2 cell culture flask until they became confluent monolayers on F12K growth media (Invitrogen).…”

Correlation between bacterial indicators and bacteriophages in sewage and sludge

“…Many studies indicate that bacteriophages may be promising predictors of viral gastrointestinal illness and demonstrate a strong correlation between viruses and bacteriophages (Wade et al, 2003). According to Havelaar et al (1993) and Lee et al (1997), a strong relationship exists between enteroviruses and FRNAPH in surface waters, and propose FRNAPH as indicators of health risk in recreational waters. Moce-Llivina et al (2005) report that SOMCPH show a very good potential to predict the risk of viruses being present in bathing waters.…”

Distribution of indicator bacteria and bacteriophages in shellfish and shellfish-growing waters

“…It is well known, however, that absence or very low levels of these indicators do not necessarily mean that enteric viruses are also absent. Detection of phages as model organisms for enteric viruses would therefore seem to be a good alternative to the use of bacterial indicators (Simkowa and Cervenka 1981;Stetler 1984;IAWPRC 1991;Havelaar et al 1993). A second use of bacteriophages frequently reported in the literature is that of an index of faecal pollution (Wentsel et al 1982;IAWPRC 1991).…”

“…Reports suggest that these bacteriological criteria are not sufficient to assure the absence of bacterial, and especially viral pathogens in water used for drinking, recreation and growing shellfish. The additional search for pathogenic bacteria (Wilson and Moore 1996) and bacteriophages as indicators of faecal pollution and viral contamination was therefore discussed (Vaughn and Metcalf 1975;Simkova and Cervenka 1981;Borrego et al 1983;Stetler 1984;Havelaar et al 1993).…”