Abstract
It is well recognized that the classical biological and chemical markers of environmental pollution do not necessarily indicate the presence or absence of emerging threats to public health, such as waterborne viruses and genotoxicants. The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate the presence of material of enteroviruses (EV), rotavirus (RV) and adenovirus (AdV) and genotoxicity in water samples from points of routine monitoring of water quality in the main course of the Sinos River. The points are classified into different levels of pollution in accordance to the Brazilian federal regulations. Viral genomes from EV, AdV were detected in two of the 4 collection points regardless of the level of urbanisation of the surrounding areas. In contrast, genotoxicity was not observed in piava (Leporinus obtusidens) fingerlings cultivated on these same water samples. Results were compared with classical physical, chemical and microbiological parameters. There was no clear evidence of association between any of the classical markers and the presence of viral genomes in the water samples tested.
Highlights
The Rio dos Sinos basin accounts for 4.5% of the Guaíba watershed and occupies 1.5% of the area of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
This study evaluated water quality at 4 points routinely monitored by local authorities using classical water quality markers, genotoxicological assays and molecular methods to detect genetic material of enteroviruses (EV, single‐stranded positive sense RNA, family Picornaviridae, genus Enterovirus), rotavirus (RV, double-stranded segmented RNA, family Reoviridae, genus Rotavirus) and adenovirus (AdV, double‐stranded DNA, family Adenoviridae, genus Mastadenovirus)
Enteric viruses and genotoxicity in Sinos River test was used for statistical analysis between groups, and the level of significance was set at p
Summary
The Rio dos Sinos basin accounts for 4.5% of the Guaíba watershed and occupies 1.5% of the area of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. From Campo Bom to the source of the Jacuí Delta, the human population increases (Rio Grande do Sul, 2009). Enteric viruses, such as EV, RV and AdV, may be found in the environment as a consequence of fecal pollution and in surface waters (Hot et al, 2003; Vecchia et al, 2012).
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