Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment and Infectious Disease Transmission Modeling of Waterborne Enteric Pathogens

Abstract

QMRA research has focused on food contamination and recreational water in high-income countries (HICs) and drinking water and wastewater in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). IDTM research has focused on large outbreaks (predominately LMICs) and vaccine-preventable diseases (LMICs and HICs). Human ecology determines the niches that pathogens exploit, leading researchers to focus on different risk assessment research strategies in different settings. To enhance risk modeling, QMRA and IDTM approaches should be integrated to include dynamics of pathogens in the environment and pathogen transmission through populations.

Viruses in wastewater: occurrence, abundance and detection methods

“…For a complete information on the presence of viruses in water, as well as in other environments, their viability and corresponding potential infectivity should also be investigated. This information is an essential input for determining pathways of virus transmission, quantifying the extent of disease risk, and identifying interventions through the use Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) and Infectious Disease Transmission Modeling (IDTM) ( Brouwer et al, 2018 ).…”

Capsid integrity quantitative PCR to determine virus infectivity in environmental and food applications – A systematic review

“…In addition, enteric viruses have shown a significantly higher persistence in the aquatic environment compared to conventional fecal indicator bacteria ( Rames et al., 2016 ). Several enteric viruses relevant to human health could pass conventional sewage treatment in high numbers, thus posing a health risk when partially treated reclaimed sewage is utilized to irrigate fruits and vegetables ( Brouwer et al., 2018 ) or released into the aquatic environment of rivers and lakes ( Hellmér et al., 2014 ). Consequently, viral infectivity measurements have been proposed to be included in guidelines of water reuse for potable and non-potable purposes to demonstrate water reuse safety and evaluate water treatment efficiencies through log-reduction value achievements ( Farkas et al., 2020 ; Gerba and Betancourt, 2019 ).…”

Capsid integrity quantitative PCR to determine virus infectivity in environmental and food applications – a systematic review

“…In addition, enteric viruses have shown a significantly higher persistence in the aquatic environment compared to conventional fecal indicator bacteria (Rames et al, 2016). Several enteric viruses relevant to human health could pass conventional sewage treatment in high numbers, thus posing a health risk when partially treated reclaimed sewage is utilized to irrigate fruits and vegetables (Brouwer et al, 2018) or released into the aquatic environment of rivers and lakes (Hellmér et al, 2014). Consequently, viral infectivity measurements are included in guidelines of water reuse for potable and non-potable purposes to demonstrate water reuse safety and evaluate water treatment efficiencies through log-reduction value achievements (Farkas et al, 2020; Gerba and Betancourt, 2019).…”