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VirWaTest, A Point-of-Use Method for the Detection of Viruses in Water Samples
Published on: May 11, 2019
Torque teno virus: an improved indicator for viral pathogens in drinking waters
Jennifer S Griffin1, Jeanine D Plummer, Sharon C Long
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 100 Institute Road, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA. jensgriffin@wpi.edu
Virology Journal
|October 7, 2008
Summary
Current bacterial indicators for water safety are insufficient against enteric viruses. Torque teno virus (TTV) shows promise as a more reliable viral pathogen indicator in drinking water due to its ubiquitous nature and ease of detection.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Virology
- Public health
Background:
- Conventional bacterial indicators like coliforms inadequately protect public health from enteric viruses in water.
- Waterborne disease outbreaks have occurred despite negative coliform tests, highlighting limitations of current systems.
- Bacterial indicators do not consistently co-occur with or respond similarly to viruses under various stressors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Torque teno virus (TTV) as a superior indicator for viral pathogens in drinking water compared to traditional bacterial indicators.
- To test the hypothesis that TTV's characteristics make it a more appropriate indicator of viral risk.
Main Methods:
- Develop a rapid, sensitive, and specific PCR assay for TTV detection.
- Establish an in vitro method to assess TTV infectivity.
- Determine TTV occurrence and density in various water matrices (feces, wastewater, source water).
- Investigate TTV's fate during drinking water treatment alongside traditional indicators and pathogens.
Main Results:
- (Study pending further research) Establishing TTV's ubiquitous presence and fecal-oral transmission supports its potential as an indicator.
- Developing rapid molecular assays (PCR) for TTV is feasible.
- Further research is needed to correlate TTV levels with viral pathogen risk and treatment efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Torque teno virus (TTV) has the potential to serve as a novel, reliable, and efficient indicator for viral pathogen risk in water.
- Successful substantiation of TTV as an indicator would significantly enhance drinking water safety assessments.
- This new indicator system could benefit water utilities, watershed managers, and public health agencies in protecting communities.
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