Sampling methods for recovery of human enteric viruses from environmental surfaces

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Virology
• Public health

Background:

• Acute gastroenteritis represents a major global infectious disease burden.
• Human enteric viruses are key causes of gastroenteritis and foodborne illnesses, often transmitted via fecal-oral routes.
• Evidence suggests fomite contamination, including food contact surfaces, plays a role in virus transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review factors influencing the effectiveness of surface sampling for human enteric viruses.
• To highlight the variability in current surface sampling methods.
• To advocate for the development of more sensitive and standardized sampling techniques.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on viral persistence on fomites.
• Analysis of parameters affecting virus recovery efficiency from surfaces.
• Discussion of challenges and limitations in current surface sampling methodologies.

Main Results:

• Human enteric viruses can remain infectious on fomites for extended periods.
• Surface sampling methods exhibit significant variability in recovery efficiency.
• Numerous factors, including virus type, surface material, and elution buffers, impact sampling outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing surface sampling methods is crucial for understanding viral environmental contamination.
• Standardized protocols are needed to ensure accurate assessment of fomite-mediated virus transmission.
• Improved sampling techniques will enhance the implementation of effective preventative measures against enteric virus spread.