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Published on: December 3, 2011
Human astroviruses in raw sewage samples in Hungary
1Regional Laboratory of Virology, Baranya County Institute of State Public Health Service, Pécs, Hungary. melegedina@freemail.hu
Journal of Applied Microbiology
|October 17, 2006
Summary
Human astroviruses (HAstVs) were detected in 43% of Hungarian wastewater samples, indicating frequent circulation in the population. This study highlights HAstVs as potential indicators of viral contamination in environmental water.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Virology
- Public health
Background:
- Enteric viruses, such as astroviruses, can persist in the environment and pose public health risks through contamination of water resources.
- Standardized methods for monitoring viruses like astroviruses in water microbiology screening are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detect the presence of human astroviruses (HAstVs) in raw wastewater samples.
- To assess the prevalence and potential role of HAstVs as indicators of viral pollution in environmental samples.
Main Methods:
- Concentration of astroviruses from 35 raw sewage samples using a polyethylene glycol method.
- Extraction of viral RNA using a guanidinium thiocyanate-silica procedure.
- Detection and amplification of HAstVs via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), with confirmation by nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.
Main Results:
- Human astroviruses (HAstVs) were detected in 15 out of 35 (43%) raw sewage samples.
- Sequence analysis identified HAstV genotypes 1 and 2.
- No correlation was found between the presence of HAstVs and standard indicators of fecal pollution.
Conclusions:
- The high detection rate of HAstVs suggests their frequent circulation within the Hungarian population.
- This study is the first to report HAstV detection in sewage in Hungary.
- HAstVs show potential as effective indicators for viral contamination in environmental water.
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