Gastroenteric virus dissemination and influence of rainfall events in urban beaches in Brazil

• Published in: Journal of applied microbiology Vol. 117; no. 4; pp. 1210 - 1218
• Main Authors: Victoria, M, Fumian, T.M, Rocha, M.S, Dalmao, F, Leite, J.P.G, Girones, R, Miagostovich, M.P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Published for the Society for Applied Bacteriology by Blackwell Science 01-10-2014; Blackwell; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adenoviruses, Human - genetics; Adenoviruses, Human - isolation & purification; bacteriophages; Bacteriophages - genetics; Bacteriophages - isolation & purification; beach; Beaches; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Cities; Epidemiology; flocculation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gastroenteric viruses; Gastroenteritis - virology; genome; Human adenovirus; Human rotavirus; Humans; microbiological quality; Microbiology; monitoring; Norovirus; Norovirus - genetics; Norovirus - isolation & purification; quantification; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; Rain; Rain - virology; rainfall; recreational water; risk; Rotavirus; Rotavirus - genetics; Rotavirus - isolation & purification; Rotavirus A; Seawater - virology; skim milk; viral load; Virology; Virology - methods; Water quality; waterborne diseases; Brazil; South America; America; ASW, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro; Water; Virus; gastroenteric viruses; recreational water; rainfall; quantification; Applied microbiology; Dissemination; beach; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 1364-5072; 1365-2672
• DOI: 10.1111/jam.12592

AIMS: This study was conducted to assess rotavirus A (RV‐A), genogroup II (GII) norovirus (NoV), and human adenovirus (HAdV) dissemination in recreational water in an urban beach located in the city of Rio de Janeiro and their persistence during rainfall events. METHODS AND RESULTS: Viruses, including bacteriophage (PP7), used as internal control, were concentrated, reverse transcribed and quantified by a low‐cost method based on organic flocculation with skimmed milk coupled with quantitative polymerase chain reaction protocols. The analysis of 74 superficial water samples obtained during 6 months of monitoring detected HAdV (66%), RV‐A (37%) and GII NoV (14%), with a mean viral load of 4·1 log₁₀ genome copies l⁻¹(g.c. l⁻¹), 4·3 log₁₀ g.c l⁻¹and 3·8 log₁₀ g.c. l⁻¹, respectively. Investigation of those viruses during two rainfall events showed a longer permanence after rainfall events compared with bacterial indicators. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the need for further monitoring using viral parameters to determine the microbiological quality of recreational waters to allow bath in these waters, especially during rainy events. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides data on virus contamination in recreational waters on tourist beaches frequented throughout the year, emphasizing the importance of viral parameters for assessing microbiological quality of water, as well as the potential risk of waterborne infections.