Enteric Viruses in Surface Waters from Argentina: Molecular and Viable-Virus Detection

Abstract

Water resources contaminated with wastewater are an important source for the dissemination of enteric viruses with an impact on the health of the population. The aim of the study was to assess the viral contamination of freshwater from a dam in Argentina by using infectious enterovirus detection, viral RNA amplification, and a genetic characterization of five enteric viruses associated with diarrhea and hepatitis. Enterovirus infectivity (iEV) was evaluated by cell culture and direct immunofluorescence. The detection of the viral genome of rotavirus (RV), human astrovirus (HAstV), norovirus (NoV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV) was performed by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). A total of 48 water samples from 4 monitoring points on the body of the dam from January to December 2012 and 66 water samples from 3 tourist beaches on the edge of the dam from October 2013 to October 2015 were collected monthly. During the first period, the overall viral frequency detection was 52.1% for group A RV, 50% for HAstV, 60.4% for NoV, 22.9% for HAV, 2.1% for HEV, and 64.6% for iEV. The overall frequency detection for the second sampling was 18.2% for RV and HAstV, 31.8% for NoV, 7.57% for HEV, and 66.7% for iEV. There was no detection of HAV during this period. The genotypes and genogroups detected through the study correlated with the most common genomic variants associated with human gastrointestinal and hepatitis illnesses. The results obtained could alert the health systems and environmental sanitation to make decisions for viral control and prevention in our environment. The study shows the impact of anthropic contamination of one of the most important tourist water resources in Argentina. This course of recreational water would be a favorable scenario for infection, as well as a reservoir for the enteric viruses, creating a risk for the population exposed to these waters. The results obtained could alert the health systems and environmental sanitation to make decisions for the control and prevention of viral diseases in this environment.

Molecular detection of three gastroenteritis viruses in an urban sewage treatment plant and river water in Egypt

“…However, our results are higher than those obtained by El-Senousy et al (2007) and 2014, who detected AstV (8%) and NoV (6.9%) of Nile water in Egypt (El-Senousy et al, 2007 and. In a study from Argentina, group A rotavirus, AstV, and NoV were detected in 52.1%, 50%, and 60.4% of freshwater samples, respectively (Masachessi et al 2018). Another report of AstV, NoV GI, NoV GII, and group A rotavirus incidence on Seine River in France are already described by Prevost et al (2015), with 36%, 88%, 92% and 57% of positivity in water samples, respectively.…”

Hepatitis A outbreak affecting men who have sex with men (MSM) in central Argentina, occurred in July 2017–April 2018, later than the European outbreak

“…On the other hand, we evidenced the presence of HAV RNA in sewage and river samples during the same period in which susceptible individuals were found. These findings demonstrate the potential risk of infection for these individuals in our area [7,16].…”

Hepatitis E virus in South America: The current scenario

“…Studies about environmental HEV detection in South America are scarce. Only 4 studies, performed in Argentina, Brazil and Colombia, have searched the virus on environmental samples (Table ) . In all studies HEV‐3 was found and the subtypes described belonged to clade 3abchij.…”