Detection of potentially pathogenic enteric viruses in environmental samples from Kenya using the bag-mediated filtration system.

Erin M Symonds,Evans Komen,Maureen B Taylor,Benlick Mwangi,J Scott Meschke,Peter Borus,James Nyangao,David S Boyle,Alexandra L Kossik,Marianne Wolfaardt,Peter N Matsapola,Walda B Van Zyl,Nicolette A Zhou,Christine S Fagnant-Sperati,Fhatuwani B Ngwana,Jeffry H Shirai,Nicola K Beck

doi:10.2166/ws.2019.046

Abstract

Enteric virus environmental surveillance via a highly sensitive method is critical, as many enteric viruses have low infectious doses and can persist in the environment for extended periods. This study determined the potential of the novel bag-mediated filtration system (BMFS) to recover human enteric viruses and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) from wastewater and wastewater-impacted surface waters, examined PMMoV use as a fecal contamination indicator in Kenya, and identified potential BMFS process controls. From April 2015 to April 2016, BMFS samples were collected from seven sites in Kenya (n = 59). Enteroviruses and PMMoV were detected in 100% of samples, and human adenovirus, human astrovirus, hepatitis A virus, norovirus GI, norovirus GII, sapovirus, and human rotavirus were detected in the majority of samples. The consistent detection of enteroviruses and PMMoV suggests that these viruses could be used as indicators in similarly fecally contaminated sites and BMFS process controls. As contamination of surface water sources remains a global issue, enteric virus environmental surveillance is necessary. This study demonstrates an effective way to sample large volumes of wastewater and wastewater-impacted surface waters for the detection of multiple enteric viruses simultaneously.

Highlights

Waterborne diseases are responsible for approximately 3.4 million deaths per year globally, and enteric viruses are Downloaded from http://iwaponline.com/ws/article-pdf/19/6/1668/578203/ws019061668.pdf by guest1669 W
For EV, hepatitis A virus (HAV), and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), Cq values were within 2 Cq for all replicate filters
Results were within 2 Cq for all except three replicate filter sets for human adenovirus (HAdV), norovirus GI (NoV GI), and human rotavirus (HRV) and for all except six replicate filter sets for human astrovirus (HAstV)

Summary

Introduction

Waterborne diseases are responsible for approximately 3.4 million deaths per year globally, and enteric viruses are Downloaded from http://iwaponline.com/ws/article-pdf/19/6/1668/578203/ws019061668.pdf by guest1669 W. B. van Zyl et al | Enteric viruses in Kenyan BMFS environmental samples. Water Supply | 19.6 | 2019 frequently implicated in waterborne disease outbreaks (Gibson ). Enteric virus shedding in stool from infected individuals can contaminate environmental waters, leading to waterborne outbreaks (Gibson ). Enteric viruses can be detected in wastewater and wastewater-impacted surface waters in areas with poor sanitation (Gibson et al ; Masachessi et al ). Environmental surveillance informs on virus prevalence in the community, and is a critical adjunct method as clinical surveillance is limited to health-seeking, symptomatic individuals. Environmental surveillance can detect silently circulating pathogens, which helps guide vaccine efforts (World Health Organization (WHO) ). Environmental surveillance is a vital supplement to clinical surveillance for informing on disease burdens within a community (WHO )

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion