Detection and quantification of Hepatitis A and E vírus in wastewater from Tunisia

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Detection and quantification of Hepatitis A and E vírus in wastewater from Tunisia Imen Ouardani1, Carmen F. Manso2, Manhjoub Aouni1 and Jesus L. Romalde2* 1 University of Monastir, Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases and Biological Active Substances LR99ES2,, Tunisia 2 Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain Enteric viruses contaminating the environment represent a danger for public health. They are present quite frequently in wastewater and transmitted to humans by the fecal-oral route. The aim of our study was to detect hepatitis A and E viruses (HAV and HEV) in wastewater samples collected from 6 different Tunisian sewage treatment plants during thirteen months. A total of 325 samples were analyzed by real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results showed the presence of HAV contamination in 36% of the samples. Msaken (58.9%) and SidiBouzid (51.85%) regions showed the highest contamination, followed by Ouerdanine (35.2%), Kasserine (38.9%), Sbitla (23.6%) and El Jem (7.7%) regions. Contamination with HEV was significantly lower (4.9%), being detected HEV positive samples in SidiBouzid (9.25%), El Jem (5.76%), Kasserine (3.7%), Ouerdanine (3.7%), Sbitla (3.63%) and Msaken (3.6%) regions. On the another hand, our research found that, in entry points, 54% of wastewater samples were contaminated with HAV, whereas, in exit points a percentage of 17.9% was found. HAV values were also analyzed by plant showing percentages of positive samples in entry points between 15.38% and 85.18%, while in exit points values ranged from 3.57% to 57.14%. HAV was detected in exit points of all plants except El Jem region. Concerning HEV, the average percentage of contaminated wastewater at entry was 6.75% which was reduced until 3.1% at exit. By plant, HEV positive samples were detected only in three plants, Kasserine, El Jem and Sidi Bouzid at rates of 3.7% 3.84% and 11.11%, respectively. These results support previous findings on the stability of enteric viruses in wastewater and the inefficiency of the procedures employed in the sewage treatment plants. On the other hand, molecular procedures proved to be very sensitive to detect viral genomes in this type of samples. In conclusion, wastewater treatments employed in Tunisian plants can reduce the number of viral particles of hepatitis A and E but do not remove all of them, which constitute a potential risk for human health. Keywords: Hepatitis A virus, Hepatitis E virus, wastewater, RT-qPCR., quantification Conference: IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2014, Peniche, Portugal, 10 Jul - 11 Jul, 2014. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: BIODIVERSITY, CONSERVATION AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT Citation: Ouardani I, Manso CF, Aouni M and Romalde JL (2014). Detection and quantification of Hepatitis A and E vírus in wastewater from Tunisia . Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2014. doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2014.02.00082 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 09 May 2014; Published Online: 18 Jul 2014. * Correspondence: Prof. Jesus L Romalde, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, jesus.romalde@usc.es Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Imen Ouardani Carmen F Manso Manhjoub Aouni Jesus L Romalde Google Imen Ouardani Carmen F Manso Manhjoub Aouni Jesus L Romalde Google Scholar Imen Ouardani Carmen F Manso Manhjoub Aouni Jesus L Romalde PubMed Imen Ouardani Carmen F Manso Manhjoub Aouni Jesus L Romalde Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.