Assessment of norovirus contamination in environmental samples from Florianópolis City, Southern Brazil

• Published in: Journal of applied microbiology Vol. 109; no. 1; pp. 231 - 238
• Main Authors: Victoria, M., Rigotto, C., Moresco, V., De Abreu Corrêa, A., Kolesnikovas, C., Leite, J.P.G., Miagostovich, M.P., Barardi, C.R.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-07-2010; Blackwell; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystems; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Chemical analysis; Cities; Contamination; Drinking water; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Epidemiology; Fresh Water - virology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenteritis; genotyping; Health hazards; Lagoons; Microbiology; Norovirus; Norovirus - genetics; Norovirus - isolation & purification; Phylogeny; Pollution control; quantitative PCR; RNA, Viral - isolation & purification; Seawater; Seawater - virology; semi‐nested PCR; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Sewage; Sewage - virology; Sewage disposal; Sewage treatment; Treated sewage; Ultrafiltration; Viruses; Waste treatment; Wastewater treatment; Water analysis; Water Microbiology; Water pollution; water samples; Water sampling; South America; Brazil; America; Brazil, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina I., Florianopolis; Water; Applied microbiology; quantitative PCR; Sample; genotyping; Genotype; semi-nested PCR; Contamination; Polymerase chain reaction; Virus; norovirus; water samples; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 1364-5072; 1365-2672
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2009.04646.x

Aims:  To assess norovirus (NoV) contamination in aquatic ecosystems in the city of Florianópolis, in Southern Brazil, to provide epidemiological data that can support actions for environmental contamination control.
Methods and Results:  An adsorption–elution method, followed by ultrafiltration, was performed to concentrate the viruses. NoV were detected using semi‐nested PCR and quantified by real‐time PCR. From June 2007 to May 2008, NoV were detected in 23% (22/94) of the samples analysed, including seawater, drinking water, superficial water (creek and brackish lagoon) and treated sewage. The mean viral loads for genogroups (G)I and GII in treated sewage samples were 297 and 440 genomic copies (gc) l−1, respectively, whereas creek water samples contained 2603 and 1361 gc l−1, respectively. Six samples were sequenced: two samples were GII.4, two were GII.2 and two were GI.3.
Conclusions:  NoV were detected in all water types analysed, demonstrating the widespread contamination of this geographical area with several cocirculating strains belonging to GI and GII.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study demonstrates the environmental spread of NoV in environmental waters and highlights the potential hazard for human health following the consumption of or contact with these waters, which could result in waterborne or foodborne acute gastroenteritis.