Detection method for avian influenza viruses in water

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Virology
• Public health

Background:

• Human infections with pathogenic avian influenza A viruses (AIV) are a growing concern.
• Environmental water bodies can be reservoirs for AIV, necessitating effective monitoring strategies.
• Rapid detection of AIV in water is essential for preventing disease transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate convenient and effective methods for detecting AIV in natural water samples.
• To assess the performance of different filtration membranes for AIV recovery.
• To establish a practical approach for environmental surveillance of AIV.

Main Methods:

• Artificial contamination of water samples (distilled, lake, river, seawater) with AIV (H5N3).
• Filtration of contaminated water using various membrane types (Zetapor, SMWP, Sartobind D5F, GF/F with pre-filter).
• Detection of AIV from filter membranes using real-time RT-PCR.

Main Results:

• Cellulose membrane SMWP demonstrated practical utility for AIV recovery from water.
• Viral recovery yields ranged from 62.1-65.9% in distilled water and 1-16.7% in natural water samples using SMWP.
• A GF/F filter combined with a pre-filter was also feasible for natural water samples, yielding 1.98-7.33%.

Conclusions:

• The SMWP membrane is a practical option for recovering AIV from various water types.
• The described filtration and RT-PCR methods are suitable for monitoring fresh and seawater for AIV.
• These methods can aid in identifying AIV transmission sources during outbreaks.