Enteric viruses in the Danube river water and sludge

A study of the viral pollution of the Roumanian course of the Danube river was carried out from 1972 to 1974. The presence of enteric viruses was investigated in 123 water samples, taken by the gauze swab method and in 116 sludge samples from the bottom of the river. The samples were collected from 20 sampling points along the river from Moldova Veche to Brăila, in accordance with the water use and the main pollution sources. Viruses were recovered from 17.5% of the samples. The frequency of virus isolations from water samples was similar to that observed in sludge samples. Therefore, the viral pollution of the Romanian course of the Danube showed a low level in comparison with other rivers, though two concentration techniques into suckling mice and into tissue cultures, were used for each sample.