Waterborne gastroenteritis outbreak in Albania

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Viral infections pose significant public health challenges globally.
• Understanding the environmental transmission of viruses is crucial for effective control strategies.
• Albania has faced several viral disease outbreaks, necessitating detailed investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate viral pollution and associated outbreaks in Albania.
• To identify the causative agents and transmission routes of gastroenteritis and hepatitis.
• To determine the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Hepatitis E virus (HEV).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of clinical data from pediatric gastroenteritis outbreak.
• RT-PCR for viral detection in fecal samples.
• Phylogenetic analysis of viral genetic material (VP1/2A region).
• Serological testing for HAV and HEV prevalence.
• Genomic analysis of viral sequences.

Main Results:

• Rotavirus was the primary cause of a large gastroenteritis outbreak in Tirana children (0-5 years).
• Hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreak occurred in Lac, with genotype IA identified.
• Rotavirus was detected in drinking water during the HAV outbreak in Lac.
• High prevalence of HAV (66.2%) was found in sera across Albania, with no HEV detected.
• HAV genotype IA was dominant, with minor mutations and potential antigenic variants identified.

Conclusions:

• Rotavirus and HAV represent significant viral pollution concerns in Albania.
• Environmental contamination, including drinking water, likely contributes to viral transmission.
• Genomic surveillance reveals a predominant HAV strain (genotype IA) with potential for antigenic variation.