Effects of environmental variables and soil characteristics on virus survival in soil

Abstract

Because of the increasing emphasis placed upon land application as a means of wastewater disposal, it is important to evaluate the influences of different factors upon virus survival in soil. The objective of this study was to measure the effects of various environmental variables on virus persistence. Test samples of soil were placed in vials, and the soil was wetted with suspensions of virus in either distilled water, unchlorinated secondary sewage effluent, or mixtures of effluent and water. The viruses used were coxsackieviruses A9 and B3, echovirus 1, poliovirus 1, rotavirus SAll, and bacteriophages T2 and MS2. The rate of virus inactivation was evaluated statistically with regard to conditions under which the vials were incubated and to the soil characteristics. The factors that were found to influence virus survival were temperature, soil moisture content, presence of aerobic microorganisms, degree of virus adsorption to the soil, soil levels of resin-extractable phosphorus, exchangeable aluminum, and soil pH. Overall, temperature and virus adsorption to soil appeared to be the most important factors affecting virus survival. Viruses conta;ined in wastewater that is applied to soil can persist in the environment for prolonged periods of time. Indigenous enteroviruses have been isolated from soils of rapid infiltration basins receiving primary and secondary sewage effluents (7). Indigenous enterovi

Pathogens in livestock waste, their potential for movement through soil and environmental pollution

“…Both high and low pH values are known to decrease the survival of most bacterial and viral pathogens (Hurst et al, 1980;Reddy et al, 1981) although protozoal cysts are in general considered more resistant to extremes of pH (Williams, 1979). Both the biological and physico-chemical properties of soil are affected by pH and this in turn will affect survival and transport of microorganisms.…”

“…Soil temperature may influence the transport of microorganisms through soil by its effect on dispersal, survival or adsorption (Kemp et al, 1992). In general, low temperatures favour survival of both viruses (Yeager and O'Brian, 1979;Hurst et al, 1980) and bacteria (Kibbey et al, 1978;Zibilske and Weaver, 1978). However, the majority of studies have compared survival at 37°C with those at lower (e.g.…”

Suitability of canine herpesvirus as a vector for oral bait vaccination of foxes

“…The reasons for this difference were not established, but FOXOFF baits appear to have a higher moisture content than PROBAIT baits which may have been a contributing factor for the quicker virus inactivation in this bait. Temperature and moisture are known to be the most important factors affecting virus survival in the environment (Hurst et al, 1980). It was therefore not surprising that temperatures above 0 8C destroyed the infectivity of fd-CHV in some baits within weeks.…”

Natural persistence of food- and waterborne viruses

“…Prolonged persistence has also been shown in such environments. Hurst et al . ( 1980 ) investigated the effects of several environmental conditions on virus persistence in soil.…”