Bacteriophages MS2 and PRD1 in Turfgrass by Subsurface Drip Irrigation

• Published in: Journal of environmental engineering (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 129; no. 9; pp. 852 - 857
• Main Authors: Enriquez, Carlos, Alum, Absar, Suarez-Rey, Elisa M, Choi, Christopher Y, Oron, Gideon, Gerba, Charles P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Society of Civil Engineers 01-09-2003
• Subjects: Adenovirus; Bacteria; Poliovirus 1; TECHNICAL PAPERS
• ISSN: 0733-9372; 1943-7870
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(2003)129:9(852)

The contamination of turfgrass by bacteriophages MS-2 and PRD-1 was assessed in the field under sprinkler irrigation (SI) and subsurface drip irrigation (SDI). No contamination of turfgrass by MS-2 was observed using SDI in the summer or winter seasons. In the summer, PRD-1 was detected in low numbers in SDI turfgrass; however, at significantly lower numbers than in SI turfgrass (p<0.05). In contrast, SI turfgrass was readily contaminated with MS-2 and PRD-1 during both seasons. Column experiments showed that viral migration was greater in sandy soil than in clay soil. Descending viral transport was more pronounced than upward migration, but only significantly greater (p<0.05) in sandy soil. The survival in soil of MS-2 and PRD-1 was compared with that of poliovirus 1 and enteric adenovirus 40. MS-2 showed shorter survival in comparison to the other viruses (p<0.05). The results obtained in this study suggest that SDI used to irrigate turfgrass with wastewater may effectively reduce the risk of contamination by potential viral pathogens.