Surveillance of adenoviruses and noroviruses in European recreational waters

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Peter P Wyn Jones (Author) Other; Annalaura Carducci (Author) Other; Nigel Cook (Author) Other; Martin D'Agostino (Author) Other; Maurizio Divizia (Author) Other; Jens Fleischer (Author) Other; Christophe Gantzer (Author) Other; Andrew Gawler (Author) Other; Rosina Girones (Author) Other; Christiane Hoeller (Author) Other; Ana Maria de Roda Husman (Author) Other; David Kay (Author) Other; Iwona Kozyra (Author) Other; Juan Lopez Pila (Author) Other; Michele Muscillo (Author) Other; Maria S Sao Jose Nascimento (Author) FFUP; George Papageorgiou (Author) Other; Saskia Rutjes (Author) Other; Jane Sellwood (Author) Other; Regine Szewzyk (Author) Other; Mark Wyer (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Water Research

Vol. 45

Pages: 1025-1038

ISSN: 0043-1354

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 165 Citations

Scopus - 80 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Environmental engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-ZPE

DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2010.10.015

Abstract (EN): Exposure to human pathogenic viruses in recreational waters has been shown to cause disease outbreaks. In the context of Article 14 of the revised European Bathing Waters Directive 2006/7/EC (rBWD, CEU, 2006) a Europe-wide surveillance study was carried out to determine the frequency of occurrence of two human enteric viruses in recreational waters. Adenoviruses were selected based on their near-universal shedding and environmental survival, and noroviruses (NoV) selected as being the most prevalent gastroenteritis agent worldwide. Concentration of marine and freshwater samples was done by adsorption/elution followed by molecular detection by (RT)-PCR. Out of 1410 samples, 553 (39.2%) were positive for one or more of the target viruses. Adenoviruses, detected in 36.4% of samples, were more prevalent than noroviruses (9.4%), with 3.5% GI and 6.2% GII, some samples being positive for both GI and GII. Of 513 human adenovirus-positive samples, 63 (12.3%) were also norovirus-positive, whereas 69 (7.7%) norovirus-positive samples were adenovirus-negative. More freshwater samples than marine water samples were virus-positive. Out of a small selection of samples tested for adenovirus infectivity, approximately one-quarter were positive. Sixty percent of 132 nested-PCR adenovirus-positive samples analysed by quantitative PCR gave a mean value of over 3000 genome copies per L of water. The simultaneous detection of infectious adenovirus and of adenovirus and NoV by (RT)PCR suggests that the presence of infectious viruses in recreational waters may constitute a public health risk upon exposure. These studies support the case for considering adenoviruses as an indicator of bathing water quality.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14