Abstract
BackgroundHuman polyomavirus 2 (HPyV2 or JCPyV) is persistent in the environment due to its excretion in urine and feces; it is detected in samples of wastewater, surface water and drinking water. A lack of basic sanitation and sewage collection results in the presence of this virus in food, especially in oysters, since they are bioaccumulators and are consumed in their natural form, thus posing a risk to human health.MethodsThis study investigated the frequency of HPyV2 in samples of oysters marketed in northeastern Pará State, Brazil, and optimized a real-time PCR (qPCR) protocol for the detection of an endogenous oyster control. A total of 217 oysters in 22 pools from five municipalities in the state of Pará were analyzed. Samples underwent dissection and total maceration of oyster tissue using a viral concentration technique, followed by DNA extraction with phenol-chloroform and amplification of the VP1 region for molecular detection via qPCR.ResultsHPyV2 was detected in 18.2% (4/22) of the pooled samples, with frequencies of 25, 20, 20 and 16% in the municipalities of Salinópolis, Augusto Corrêa, São Caetano de Odivelas and Curuçá, respectively. Notably, the sample pool from the municipality of Bragança did not have detectable HPyV2 and this was the only sampled location with a water treatment station. In this study, Crassostrea genus-specific primers (AFL52 ribosomal RNA gene) of oyster were developed for use as an endogenous control in the qPCR analysis, which will be useful for future studies.ConclusionsThe detection of HPyV2 in oyster samples commercialized in the state of Pará shows the circulation of this virus in the studied municipalities. Thus, it is necessary to implement measures for improving sewage collection and basic sanitation to avoid contamination of water and food with HPyV2.
Highlights
Human polyomavirus 2 (HPyV2 or JCPyV) is persistent in the environment due to its excretion in urine and feces; it is detected in samples of wastewater, surface water and drinking water
The present study is the first to identify HPyV2 contamination in oysters marketed in northern Brazil, especially in the northeastern region of Pará
The presence of HPyV2 was identified in 18.2% of the samples analyzed, indicating circulation of the virus in the human population of the investigated municipalities, which may result in possible contamination via water intake, water consumption, or consumption of bivalve mollusks
Summary
Human polyomavirus 2 (HPyV2 or JCPyV) is persistent in the environment due to its excretion in urine and feces; it is detected in samples of wastewater, surface water and drinking water. Human polyomavirus 2 (HPyV2 or JCPyV) belongs to the Polyomaviridae family, genus Betapolyomavirus, and was one of the first human polyomaviruses to be isolated. Reactivation of this virus, in immunocompromised individuals, is associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a neurological disease caused. The infection usually occurs in childhood and persists asymptomatically. Viral reactivation may occur, leading to PML.
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