Sampling methods for recovery of human enteric viruses from environmental surfaces

Abstract

Acute gastroenteritis causes the second highest infectious disease burden worldwide. Human enteric viruses have been identified as leading causative agents of acute gastroenteritis as well as foodborne illnesses in the U.S. and are generally transmitted by fecal-oral contamination. There is growing evidence of transmission occurring via contaminated fomite including food contact surfaces. Additionally, human enteric viruses have been shown to remain infectious on fomites over prolonged periods of time. To better understand viral persistence, there is a need for more studies to investigate this phenomenon. Therefore, optimization of surface sampling methods is essential to aid in understanding environmental contamination to ensure proper preventative measures are being applied. In general, surface sampling studies are limited and highly variable among recovery efficiencies and research parameters used (e.g., virus type/density, surface type, elution buffers, tools). This review aims to discuss the various factors impacting surface sampling of viruses from fomites and to explore how researchers could move towards a more sensitive and standard sampling method.

Surface contamination with SARS-CoV-2: A systematic review

“…However, studies have shown that other sampling tools such as bio wipes and cell scraper-aspiration methods could be more efficient than swabs to recover viruses from surfaces due to higher moisture retention ( De Keuckelaere et al, 2014 ; Taku et al, 2002 ). A review study concluded that more techniques and tools of recovery of viruses from environmental surfaces need to be evaluated and these evaluations should include a variety of human viruses ( Turnage and Gibson, 2017 ). Most studies reported results as either positive or negative or with Ct values, while some gave the viral concentrations.…”

A novel passive sampling approach for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in a Canadian province with low prevalence of COVID-19

“…Many factors of an elution mixture can impact the elution efficiency of viruses from materials, including difference in pH, salinity, or the use of a surfactant. 39 Tween®20 is a nonionic polysorbate surfactant widely used in biochemical applications and is known for being a gentle surfactant at lower concentrations to prevent premature cell lysis. 40 In other work, Tween®20 has been successfully implemented for ultrafiltration techniques, significantly increasing microbial recovery efficiencies.…”

Copper as an antimicrobial agent: recent advances

“…[2][3][4][5] Pathogenic microbes may be transmitted directly from person-to-person or indirectly via contamination of surfaces leading to both healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) and community-acquired infections (CAIs). [6][7][8] The exact mechanism of microbial death from copper is controversial and the significance and relative contribution of each proposed mechanism are unclear. One method is the physical interaction of the CuNPs with the cell, or virus, plasma membrane leading to its destruction, making the microbe susceptible to damage from copper ions.…”