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Interference between enterovirus and reovirus as a limiting factor in environmental virus detection
A Carducci1, L Cantiani, R Moscatelli
1Department of Experimental Pathology, Medical Biotechnologies, Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. carducci@ocs.unipi.it
Letters in Applied Microbiology
|February 19, 2002
Summary
The presence of reovirus significantly reduces the sensitivity of tests for detecting enterovirus in water samples. This interference impacts the reliability of water quality testing for enterovirus contamination.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Virology
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Drinking and recreational water contamination by faecal material is a public health concern.
- Italian regulations mandate testing for enterovirus in water sources.
- Traditional enterovirus detection methods rely on cell culture cytopathic effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate interference phenomena in enterovirus detection.
- To assess the impact of co-infection with other viruses on enterovirus detection sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- Co-infection of Buffalo Green Monkey cell cultures with poliovirus type 3 and reovirus type 1.
- Observation of cytopathic effects.
- Detection of enterovirus using RT-PCR.
Main Results:
- Reovirus type 1 co-infection masked cytopathic effects.
- The sensitivity of enterovirus detection was considerably decreased in the presence of reovirus.
Conclusions:
- Reovirus interferes with enterovirus detection in cell cultures.
- This interference can lead to underestimation of enterovirus contamination in water samples.
- Current testing methods may require adjustments to account for viral interference.