Wastewater plays a major role in water pollution causing transmission of several viral pathogens, including Aichi virus (AiV) and human bocavirus (HBoV), associated with gastrointestinal illness in humans. In this study, we investigated the presence of AiV and HBoV in aquatic, sludge, sediment matrices collected from Abu-Rawash wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), El-Rahawy drain, Rosetta branch of the River Nile in Egypt by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). AiV RNA was detected in 16.6% (2/12), 8.3% (1/12), 8.3% (1/12), 22% (16/72), 12.5% (3/24), 4% (1/24), and 0/24 (0%) of untreated raw sewage, treated sewage, sewage sludge, drainage water, drain sediment, river water, and river sediment, respectively. On the other hand, HBoV DNA was detected in 41.6% (5/12), 25% (3/12), 16.6% (2/12), 48.6% (35/72), 29% (7/24), 3/24 (12.5%), 4% (1/24) of untreated raw sewage, treated raw sewage, sewage sludge, drainage water, drain sediment, river water, and river sediment, respectively. This study provides data on the presence of these viruses in various types of water samples that are valuable to environmental risk assessment. In addition, the current study demonstrates the importance of environmental monitoring as an additional tool to investigate the epidemiology of AiV and HBoV circulating in a given community.

In this study, the prevalence of astrovirus (AstV), norovirus (NoV), and group C rotaviruses (RVC) were described in urban sewage, sewage sludge, river water, and sediment samples from Egypt. AstV, NoV, and RVC were detected in 58.3%, 33.3%, and 25% of the raw sewage samples; in 33.3%, 25%, and 16.6% of the treated sewage samples; and in 66.6%, 16.6%, and 8.3% of the sludge samples, respectively. On the other hand, AstV, NoV, and RVC were detected in 25%, 16.6%, and 8.3% of the river water samples and in 16.6%, 8.3%, and 0% of the river sediment samples, respectively. The study revealed that AstV genogroup B and NoV genogroup I are the most frequent genotypes in the Egyptian environment. Furthermore, the peak prevalence of AstV and RVC in river water and raw sewage samples was found in winter months however there was no clear seasonality for NoV spread. This study support the importance of considering viral markers to ensure the quality of water and the utilization of these markers as additional tests for the characterization of water contamination.