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Published on: December 3, 2011
[Evolution of isolation and identification techniques of waterborne viruses]
1Centre de Recherche et de Contrôle des Eaux de la Ville de Paris, 144-156, avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier-75014 Paris.
Abstract:
The paralytic potential of the poliovirus was recognized as early as the 14th century B.C. as illustrated in Egyptian art. But it is only after the four last decades that methods for their concentration from water and their identification were performed. Among several of them the adsorption-elution method was retained. Nevertheless two important barriers had to be ran-over. The first one was the concentration-elution steps on different materials which had to be improved. The second one was the typing method which had to move from particle by particle identification to entire viral population. Despite of these advances only a few cytopathogenic serotypes were found. The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction with its far more wide spectrum allows the fast and direct identification of viral nucleic acids (or their fragments) of almost all viruses, cytopathogenic or not. With this method elevated amounts of drinking water samples were found positive for several non cytopathogenic viruses. The sanitary significance of these results has still to be proved.
Insights
Poliovirus detection in water has advanced from ancient observations to modern molecular methods. New techniques like RT-PCR reveal widespread non-cytopathogenic viruses in drinking water, though their health risks require further study.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Environmental Microbiology
Context:
- Poliovirus, known for its paralytic potential since antiquity, has seen advancements in water detection methods over the last four decades.
- Traditional methods like adsorption-elution faced challenges in concentration, elution, and typing of viral populations.
Purpose:
- To review the evolution of poliovirus detection methods in water.
- To highlight the advantages of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for broad-spectrum viral identification.
Summary:
- Early water concentration and identification methods for poliovirus were limited.
- Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) enables rapid, direct identification of viral nucleic acids, detecting both cytopathogenic and non-cytopathogenic viruses.
- RT-PCR identified numerous non-cytopathogenic viruses in drinking water samples, expanding the scope beyond previously detected serotypes.
Impact:
- RT-PCR significantly broadens the spectrum of detectable viruses in environmental samples.
- The widespread detection of non-cytopathogenic viruses necessitates further research into their public health significance and potential risks.
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