Molecular detection and prevalence of enterovirus within environmental water in Taiwan

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the presence of enterovirus RNA in various samples of environmental water collected in Taiwan during 2004–2005, and to characterize the genotypes and distribution of the viruses identified in Taiwan. Methods and Results: Total 131 environmental samples were screened using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for the highly conserved 5′‐nontranslated regions (5′‐NTR). Among these enterovirus RNA‐positive samples, 32, 15 and 6 of the samples were recovered from surface water, ground water and sewage water respectively. However, the total positive detection rate increased to 40·5% with the application of seminested PCR. Sequencing revealed that the majority of isolates belonged to the following genotypes: coxsackie A2 (35·8%), coxsackie A6 (13·2%) and enterovirus (EV)71 (11·3%); echovirus 11, porcine EV9 and coxsackie A16 isolates were also observed. Conclusions: This study confirms that the major epidemic genotypes of enterovirus are prevalent in the surface and ground water of Taiwan. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study is helpful in understanding the significance and epidemiology of the virus within and beyond the study area. Moreover, it was possible to predict the enterovirus genotype and evaluate possible correlations between water contamination and viral sequences found among clinical samples.

Epidemiologic and clinical features of non-polio enteroviral infections in northern Taiwan in 2008

“…The recent survey of EVs in environmental water and hot spring water showed CA2 to be a dominant serotype in Taiwan. 9,10 We suspect that CA2 may circulate in the environment and, thus, play some role in the outbreak of 2008.…”

Virology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and control of enterovirus 71

“…EV71 and other enteroviruses have also been detected in surface and ground water and in hot spas. 23,24 Enteroviruses are resistant to organic solvents (eg, ether and chloroform), alcohol, and freezing, but can be inactivated by temperatures higher than 56°C, chlorination, formaldehyde, and ultraviolet irradiation. In one study EV71 was destroyed by virucidal disinfectants.…”

Characterization of an Outbreak of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Nanchang, China in 2010

“…Enteroviruses are able to survive exposure to human gastric acid, and can survive at room temperature in the environment for several days [2]. They can be detected in surface and ground water and in hot spas [12], [13]. These properties are believed to facilitate the extremely efficient transmission of human enteroviruses, even though humans are the only known natural hosts for these viruses [2].…”