[Detection of enteroviruses in seawater and beach sand]

In the years from 1975 to 1978 investigations were carried out to detect enteroviruses in the sea-water and in the sand of the beaches of the Rumanian Black Sea coast, in zones with and without waste water discharge. The quantities of enteroviruses found in the seawater and in the sand of the beaches were lower than those verified in other countries. For the identification of viruses we used two concentration methods simultaneously (polyelectrolyte PE60 Monsanto USA and brewer's yeast cells) as well as two methods of isolation (in cell cultures and with newborn mice). The incidence of enteroviruses depended on the season, with no viruses present in the sea-water and in the sand of the beaches during the periods considered to be outside the holidaying season. The discharge of purified sewage into the sea was not attended by considerable viral contamination of the sea-water and of the beaches.