First molecular detection of group A rotavirus in urban and hospital sewage systems by nested-RT PCR in Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

BackgroundGroup A rotaviruses are the most significant cause of acute gastroenteritis in children worldwide. Rotaviruses are shed in high numbers and dispersed widely throughout bodies of water in the environment. This represents a significant health hazard for humans, mainly due to the stability of the viruses during wastewater treatment processes. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of rotaviruses, to determine G genotypes of circulating rotaviruses and to assess the efficiency of rotavirus removal in urban and hospital sewage treatment plants in Shiraz, Iran.Materials and methodsDuring the period from October 2010 to June 2011, a total of sixty sewage samples from urban and hospital sewage disposal systems were collected by Grab Sampling in Shiraz, Iran. All the samples were concentrated in pellet form and two-phase methods and then group A rotaviruses were investigated with enzyme immunoassays (EIA). Rotavirus-positive specimens were genotyped by the nested RT-PCR and by using different types of specific primers.ResultsIn total, rotaviruses were identified in 25% (15 cases) of sewage samples, representing 73.33% (11 cases) of influent and 26.67% (4 cases) of effluent systems. The frequency of rotavirus detection in autumn, winter and spring was 46.67%, 33.33% and 20%, respectively (P= 0.004). The most common circulating genotype was G1 (73.33%), followed by G1G4 (20%) and non-typeable (6.67%), respectively.ConclusionsThe high prevalence of rotaviruses in urban and hospital sewage systems highlights the importance of environmental surveillance as a tool to detect new genotypes and to investigate the epidemiology of rotaviruses circulating in the community.

First Molecular Detection and Vp7 (G) Genotyping of Group a Rotavirus by Semi-Nested Rt-PCR From Sewage in Nigeria

“…A total of 14.2% of the sewage samples collected during the study period tested positive, this result is similar to that of a recent study from Shiraz, conducted in Iran, in which 25% (n = 15) of urban and hospital sewage samples tested positive for group A rotaviruses 4 . Other studies have reported detection rates from 11% to 42% 20 , 21 .…”

“…Contamination of surface water with these viruses leading to public health consequences has also been previously reported 5 . Some studies such as the one from Kargar et al 4 have also shown the presence of rotavirus in treated sewage effluents. Globally, rotavirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in children of less than five years, and over half a million deaths annually 6 .…”

“…This method has been reported to enhance the yield of intact virions 4 . Hovi et al 23 have demonstrated that the virus concentration from water samples can be increased by up to 100 fold using the two-phase method.…”

“…Many workers have indicated the presence of enteric viruses such as rotavirus and noroviruses in urban human sewages 3 , 4 . Contamination of surface water with these viruses leading to public health consequences has also been previously reported 5 .…”

Detection and Occurrence of Indicator Organisms and Pathogens

“…Research was thus conducted to determine the prevalence of rotaviruses and their genotypes (Kargar et al, 2013).…”