New tools for the study and direct surveillance of viral pathogens in water

Abstract

Half a century ago scientists attempted the detection of poliovirus in water. Since then other enteric viruses responsible for gastroenteritis and hepatitis have replaced enteroviruses as the main target for detection. However, most viral outbreaks are restricted to norovirus and hepatitis A virus, making them the main targets in water. The inclusion of virus analysis in regulatory standards for viruses in water samples must overcome several shortcomings such as the technical difficulties and high costs of virus monitoring, the lack of harmonised and standardised assays and the challenge posed by the ever-changing nature of viruses. However, new tools are nowadays available for the study and direct surveillance of viral pathogens in water that may contribute to fulfil these requirements.

Análisis filogenético de las cepas de rotavirus y virus de la hepatitis A encontradas en agua de consumo en el municipio de Quibdó, Chocó

“…Entre los virus reportados, el rotavirus y el virus de la hepatitis A juegan un papel importante por ser unos de los agentes etiológicos más frecuentes (1,16,17). Si bien la eliminación de virus de las aguas es un proceso difícil y costoso, Deetz y colaboradores y Keswick y colaboradores, en 1984, demostraron que un adecuado tratamiento del agua logra eliminar, aproximadamente, 94% de los virus presentes en ella (18,19).…”

“…La presencia de virus entéricos tipo rotavirus y virus de la hepatitis A en el agua de consumo, además de ser un indicador de contaminación, es una posible fuente de infección para los individuos que la consumen (1). Teniendo en cuenta que estos virus son estables en el ambiente, que el comportamiento epidemiológico de las infecciones virales está asociado con las condiciones sociales, ambientales y de higiene de la población, y que el acueducto en el departamento del Chocó presenta deficiencias en la cobertura y la calidad del agua (2,3), se puede suponer que esta agua está actuando como fuente de diseminación de virus.…”

Adenovírus e rotavírus em águas superficiais do córrego Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil

“…Sabe-se, ainda, que em idosos e pessoas com o sistema imunológico suprimido estas infecções podem ser fatais. 5,6 . Umas das grandes preocupações no contexto da saúde pública se deve à baixa dose de vírus entéricos necessária para causar infecção em hospedeiros humanos, bem como, a gravidade da morbidade em indivíduos imunossuprimidos, idosos e crianças 7,8 .…”

Real-time PCR quantitative assessment of hepatitis A virus, rotaviruses and enteroviruses in the Tyume River located in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

“…However, for the detection of noroviruses (NoVs), hepatitis A virus (HAV) and other enteric viruses like enteroviruses (EVs) for which appropriate cell cultures are not available, slow or limited (Hong et al, 2011), molecular techniques become the most viable option. Molecular techniques have been successfully applied on environmental samples, allowing a rapid and specific detection of human enteric viruses (Bosch et al, 2008;De Paula et al, 2007;Costafreda et al, 2006). The ability of real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to generate accurate quantitative data has had a huge impact on the study of viral agents of infectious disease (Schutten and Niesters, 2001).…”