Interactions Between Biotic and Abiotic Factors and Viruses in a Water System

Abstract

A river intensively used along its entire course for extracting potable water and for discharging domestic and industrial effluents permanently carries a high load of viruses, including hepatitis A and rotaviruses. In the areas supplied with potable water from this river hepatitis A is endemic. The river has been investigated four times at 16 or more sampling points throughout its course in the years 1981, 1982 and 1983. Coincident with the virological investigation, biological, microbiological and chemical examinations were conducted with the same water sample. At some representatively distributed sampling points along the river course, tests for heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Cu, Cr, Pb) and selected chemical compounds were also performed. The virological quality of the river water largely depends on the virus input via domestic sewage. Statistically significant correlations have been found between virus level, pH, NH4+ and NO3−. Amoebae species are likely to counteract viruses. Knowing the dynamics of river water exploitation above the extraction sites, a model for the estimation of virus content in the raw water could be developed.

Virus Transport and Survival in Saturated and Unsaturated Flow through Soil Columns

“…Cliver and Herrman (1972) tested six bacterial species and found only Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruqinosa gave firm evidence of antiviral activity against Coxsackie virus A9. Walter et al (1985) report that cyanobacteria and algae are capable of inactivating enteric viruses. Cheo (1980) found that tobacco mosaic viruses were relatively stable in sterile soils, but were rapidly inactivated when placed in a nonsterile soil environment.…”

Use of modified diatomaceous earth for removal and recovery of viruses in water

“…The ability of aluminum hydroxide and other metallic precipitates to efficiently adsorb viruses has led to their use in methods for the recovery of viruses from water. Aluminum hydroxide flocs have been used as the virus adsorbent in the first or second stages of virus concentration procedures (6,28). Preformed magnesium hydroxide flocs have been used to further concentrate viruses eluted from microporous filters (24).…”