Detection and quantification of human adenovirus (HAdV), JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) in recreational waters of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Retrieving the real microbial diversity in aquatic plastisphere

Disposed plastics in oceans provide a substrate to which microbes can adhere and structure the biofilm, namely the plastisphere. In this study, we showed that the mesoplastic density-based separation, routinely used in quantification assays, is detrimental to studying the microbiome diversity and ecology as it underestimates the real microbial diversity within these samples. Based on SEM and microbiome observations, we propose that chemically fixing samples before density separation preserves cellular diversity (2.32-fold change) and richness (1.12-fold change) that would be naturally lost due to the current methodology. OTUs assigned to Gram-negative bacterial species are the most negatively affected by omitting fixation and polymer composition was not decisive in shifting microbiome composition. Considering our findings, the formaldehyde-fixation step should be incorporated into the current methodology described in most studies as this is crucial to promote a deeper understanding of the microbial community in this ecosystem and biofilm-adhered scattering through aquatic ecosystems.

Hepatitis A in Latin America: The current scenario

This review aims to gather and disseminate updated information regarding hepatitis A virus (HAV) in Latin America (LA) in the last 11 years, including seroprevalence, post-vaccination studies, virus detection in aqueous matrices and food samples, and outbreak reports. Only 24 seroprevalence studies were published between 2012 and 2023 with 55%-100% reported prevalences of anti-HAV IgG. Among the 25 LA countries, only eight of them have introduced HAV vaccines into their immunisation programs. Outbreaks of hepatitis A occurred between 2017-2019, mainly affecting men who have sex with men in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, probably as a consequence of the abrupt decline of young adults' immunity. This could be due to that young adult have never been infected in childhood (due to socio-health improvements) and are above the cut-off ages to be included when the vaccination programs were introduced. Although scarce, studies focused on environmental and food HAV surveillance have shown viral presence in these samples. Surface waters presented HAV detections between 1.2% and 86.7%, and untreated wastewaters between 2.8% and 70.9%. Genotypes found in all cases were IA and IC. The only wastewater-based epidemiology study showed to be a useful tool as a complement of traditional epidemiological surveillance. Only four LA countries have looked for HAV in food samples, with genome detection rates between 9% and 33%. Latin American HAV circulation scenario is changing. In countries where socioeconomic and sanitary conditions have not improved, the virus persists with high endemicity and the access to the vaccine should be re-evaluated by local governments. In countries where access to clean water, better sanitary conditions and HAV immunisation programs have been implemented, the number of cases among young adults seems to be increasing, alerting health authorities.

Global investigation of the presence of adenovirus in different types of water resources: a systematic review

Waterborne viruses such as adenoviruses cause major health problems in the world. Human adenoviruses are the second leading cause of childhood gastroenteritis worldwide. In recent years, the presence of the virus in aquatic resources has been shown in several studies. In this paper, the global presence of adenovirus in different types of water resources are reviewed through studying several surveys conducted in different countries worldwide. We designed one search study to collect the maximum number of related articles to this subject in international databases search engine via relevant keywords. After reviewing the articles, the most relevant ones were selected, and after classification and extracting the required information, they were reported in the tables presented in this study. In general, it was found that the highest rate of the presence of adenoviruses has been reported in sewage water, inlet, and outlet of the treatment plant while the lowest rate of the presence of adenovirus in the dam water. These findings demonstrate that treatment plant system has weakness in removing the adenovirus and are strongly recommended for treatment plants to use new and better protocols to remove this virus. In addition, appropriate diagnostic methods that combines molecular biological technique with infectivity assay should be implemented for detection of adenoviruses in water resources.

Assessment of Gastroenteric Viruses in Marketed Bivalve Mollusks in the Tourist Cities of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2022

This study investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of gastroenteric viruses in mussels and oysters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. One hundred and thirty-four marketed bivalve samples were obtained between January and December 2022. The viral analysis was performed according to ISO/TS 15216, and the screening revealed the detection of norovirus GII/GI (40.3%), sapovirus (SaV; 12.7%), human mastadenovirus (7.5%), and rotavirus A (RVA; 5.9%). In total, 44.8% (60) of shellfish samples tested positive for one or more viruses, 46.7% (28/60) of the positive samples tested positive for a single viral agent, 26.7% (16) tested positive for two viral agents, 8.3% (5) for three viral agents, and 13.3% (8) for four viral agents. Additionally, three mussel samples were contaminated with the five investigated viruses (5%, 3/60). Norovirus GII showed the highest mean viral load (3.4 × 105 GC/g), followed by SaV (1.4 × 104 GC/g), RVA (1.1 × 104 GC/g), human mastadenovirus (3.9 × 103 GC/g), and norovirus GI (6.7 × 102 GC/g). Molecular characterization revealed that the recovered norovirus strains belonged to genotypes GII.2, GII.6, GII.9, GII.17, and GII.27; SaV belonged to genotypes GI.1 and GIV.1; RVA to genotypes G6, G8, P[8]-III, and human mastadenovirus to types F40 and F41. The GII.27 norovirus characterized in this study is the only strain of this genotype reported in Brazil. This study highlights the dissemination and diversity of gastroenteric viruses present in commercialized bivalves in a touristic area, indicating the potential risk to human health and the contribution of bivalves in the propagation of emerging pathogens.

Occurrence of Hepatitis A Virus in Water Matrices: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hepatitis A is a common form of viral hepatitis. It is usually transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food and water. This systematic review was carried out to summarise the overall prevalence of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) in different water matrices: untreated and treated wastewater, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, and others (e.g., irrigation water and floodwater). The literature search was performed in four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Global Index Medicus, and Excerpta Medica Database. Heterogeneity (I2) was assessed using the χ2 test on the Cochran Q statistic and H parameters. A total of 200 prevalence data from 144 articles were included in this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of HAV in water matrices was 16.7% (95% CI: 13.4−20.3). The prevalence for individual matrix was as follows: 31.4% (95% CI: 23.0−40.4) untreated wastewater, 18.0% (95% CI: 9.5−28.2) treated wastewater, 15.0% (95% CI: 10.1−20.5) surface water, 2.3% (95% CI: 0.1−6.0) in groundwater, 0.3% (95% CI: 0.0−1.7) in drinking water, and 8.5% (95% CI: 3.1−15.6) in other matrices. The prevalence was higher in low-income economies (29.0%). Africa and Eastern Mediterranean were the regions with higher HAV prevalence values. This study showed a high heterogeneity (I2 > 75%) with a significant publication bias (p value Egger test < 0.001). The results of this review suggest that water matrices could be an important route of HAV transmission even in industrialized countries, despite the lower prevalence compared to less industrialized countries, and the availability of advanced water management systems. More effective water/wastewater treatment strategies are needed in developing countries to limit the environmental circulation of HAV.

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Enteric Viruses in Bivalve Mollusks Collected in Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Viral bivalve contamination is a recognized food safety hazard. Therefore, this study investigated the detection rates, seasonality, quantification, and genetic diversity of enteric viruses in bivalve samples (mussels and oysters). We collected 97 shellfish samples between March 2018 and February 2020. The screening of samples by qPCR or RT-qPCR revealed the detection of norovirus (42.3%), rotavirus A (RVA; 16.5%), human adenovirus (HAdV; 24.7%), and human bocavirus (HBoV; 13.4%). There was no detection of hepatitis A virus. In total, 58.8% of shellfish samples tested positive for one or more viruses, with 42.1% of positive samples contaminated with two or more viruses. Norovirus showed the highest median viral load (3.3 × 10⁶ GC/g), followed by HAdV (median of 3.5 × 10⁴ GC/g), RVA (median of 1.5 × 10³ GC/g), and HBoV (median of 1.3 × 10³ GC/g). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that norovirus strains belonged to genotype GII.12[P16], RVA to genotype I2, HAdV to types -C2, -C5, and -F40, and HBoV to genotypes -1 and -2. Our results demonstrate the viral contamination of bivalves, emphasizing the need for virological monitoring programs to ensure the quality and safety of shellfish for human consumption and as a valuable surveillance tool to monitor emerging viruses and novel variants.

Global public health implications of human exposure to viral contaminated water

Enteric viruses are common waterborne pathogens found in environmental water bodies contaminated with either raw or partially treated sewage discharge. Examples of these viruses include adenovirus, rotavirus, noroviruses, and other caliciviruses and enteroviruses like coxsackievirus and polioviruses. They have been linked with gastroenteritis, while some enteric viruses have also been implicated in more severe infections such as encephalitis, meningitis, hepatitis (hepatitis A and E viruses), cancer (polyomavirus), and myocarditis (enteroviruses). Therefore, this review presents information on the occurrence of enteric viruses of public health importance, diseases associated with human exposure to enteric viruses, assessment of their presence in contaminated water, and their removal in water and wastewater sources. In order to prevent illnesses associated with human exposure to viral contaminated water, we suggest the regular viral monitoring of treated wastewater before discharging it into the environment. Furthermore, we highlight the need for more research to focus on the development of more holistic disinfection methods that will inactivate waterborne viruses in municipal wastewater discharges, as this is highly needed to curtail the public health effects of human exposure to contaminated water. Moreover, such a method must be devoid of disinfection by-products that have mutagenic and carcinogenic potential.

Sources, fates and treatment strategies of typical viruses in urban sewage collection/treatment systems: A review

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) throughout the world has severely threatened the global economy and public health. Due to receiving severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from a wide variety of sources (e.g., households, hospitals, slaughterhouses), urban sewage treatment systems are regarded as an important path for the transmission of waterborne viruses. This review presents a quantitative profile of the concentration distribution of typical viruses within wastewater collection systems and evaluates the influence of different characteristics of sewer systems on virus species and concentration. Then, the efficiencies and mechanisms of virus removal in the units of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are summarized and compared, among which the inactivation efficiencies of typical viruses by typical disinfection approaches under varied operational conditions are elucidated. Subsequently, the occurrence and removal of viruses in treated effluent reuse and desalination, as well as that in sewage sludge treatment, are discussed. Potential dissemination of viruses is emphasized by occurrence via aerosolization from toilets, the collection system and WWTP aeration, which might have a vital role in the transmission and spread of viruses. Finally, the frequency and concentration of viruses in reclaimed water, the probability of infection are also reviewed for discussing the potential health risks.

Evaluation of a virus concentration method based on ultrafiltration and wet foam elution for studying viruses from large-volume water samples

Assessing the presence of viruses in large-volume samples involves cumbersome methods that require specialized training and laboratory equipment. In this study, a large volume concentration (LVC) method, based on dead-end ultrafiltration (DEUF) and Wet Foam Elution™ technology, was evaluated in different type of waters and different microorganisms. Its recovery efficiency was evaluated through different techniques (infectivity assays and molecular detection) by spiking different viral surrogates (bacteriophages PhiX174 and MS2 and Coxsackie virus B5 (CVB5) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Furthermore, the application of a secondary concentration step was evaluated and compared with skimmed milk flocculation. Viruses present in river water, seawater and groundwater samples were concentrated by applying LVC method and a centrifugal ultrafiltration device (CeUF), as a secondary concentration step and quantified with specific qPCR Human adenoviruses (HAdV) and noroviruses (NoVs). MS2 was used as process control, obtaining a mean viral recovery of 22.0 ± 12.47%. The presence of other viruses was also characterized by applying two different next-generation sequencing approaches. LVC coupled to a secondary concentration step based on CeUF allowed to detect naturally occurring viruses such as HAdV and NoVs in different water matrices. Using HAdV as a human fecal indicator, the highest viral pollution was found in river water samples (100% of positive samples), followed by seawater (83.33%) and groundwater samples (66.67%). The LVC method has also proven to be useful as a virus concentration method in the filed since HAdV and NoVs were detected in the river water and groundwater samples concentrated in the field. All in all, LVC method presents high concentration factor and a low limit of detection and provides viral concentrates useful for subsequent molecular analysis such as PCR and massive sequencing.

Fast screening of enteropathogens in marine water samples

This study aimed to fast screen the microbiological contamination of recreational waters using a TaqMan Array Card (TAC), a multiplexed platform designed for the simultaneous detection of 35 enteropathogens. Surface and deep marine water samples were concentrated by skimmed milk flocculation and processed for nucleic acid extraction protocol using QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit. Twelve microorganisms and parasites, including bacteria (n = 6), protozoa (4), and viruses (2), were detected in 85.7% (24/28) of samples. Campylobacter (82.1%), Cryptosporidium (39.3%), and adenovirus (14.3%) were the most detected pathogens. Neither fungi nor helminths were detected. A spatial pollution profile of microbiological contamination was observed in the area. Methodologies for simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens, such as TAC, can assist decision-makers by providing a quick assessment of the microbiological water quality in areas used for recreational purposes, which in many cases are in accordance with the bacteriological indicators.

Prevalence, distribution and environmental effects on faecal indicator bacteria and pathogens of concern in commercial shellfish production areas in a subtropical region of a developing country (Santa Catarina, Brazil)

This paper reviews recent literature on the abundance and distribution of faecal indicator bacteria and pathogens in shellfish production areas in the state of Santa Catarina, on the subtropical coast of Brazil. This state supplies > 95% of the national production of shellfish. Microbiological monitoring data were mapped using GIS and the results compared with those from other countries. Coastal human population is the main predictive parameter for faecal bacteria in the production areas. Temporal variations of the bacteria can also be predicted by solar radiation and rainfall. The prevalence of pathogens such as hepatitis A virus, human norovirus, Salmonella spp. and Vibrio spp. does not differ substantially from that in developed countries. The information reported here can be used to inform development of microbiological risk profiles for shellfish production areas.

Detection and molecular characterization of enteric adenovirus in treated wastewater in the Brazilian Federal District

Human enteric viruses, such as enteric adenoviruses (HAdV), are known to be involved with gastrointestinal disorders, especially acute gastroenteritis. Several studies have used HAdV as an indicator of water quality, since they are considered highly stable and widely distributed viruses in water matrices. The aim of this study was to detect and genotype HAdVs in water matrices impacted by discharges of treated effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Wastewater treatment plants from the sanitary system of the Brazilian Federal District were assessed in 2018 and 2019. Samples were collected upstream and downstream from discharge points for each WWTP. Viral concentration based on adsorption-elution and conventional PCR was used for molecular detection, and positive samples were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. Pluviosity data for the period in which the samples were collected were obtained. Our results demonstrated the presence of HAdVs in 27.2% (61/224) of the samples. The positivity was significantly higher in downstream samples compared to upstream. Moreover, the HAdV positivity was higher in downstream samples collected from receiving water bodies impacted by secondary-level WWTPs in comparison with those impacted by tertiary-level WWTPs. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the presence of genotypes 40 and 41, with prevalence of HAdV genotype 41. Despite the predominance of HAdV-41, an increasing frequency of the HAdV-40 was associated with higher pluviosity. In conclusion, this study is the first documentation in the Brazilian Federal District dealing with the prevalence and diversity of HAdVs in several WWTP, along with their correlation with rainfall index.

Detection and evaluation of rotavirus surveillance methods as viral indicator in the aquatic environments

Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) have been introduced as the most important causative agents of acute gastroenteritis in the young children. One of every 260 children born globally will die due to rotavirus (RV) before 5 years old. The RV is widely known as a viral indicator for health (fecal contamination) because this pathogen has a high treatment resistance nature, which has been listed as a relevant waterborne pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, monitoring of environmental is important, and RV is one of the best-known indicators for monitoring. It has been proved that common standards for microbiological water quality do not guarantee the absence of viruses. On the other hand, in order to recover and determine RV quantity within water, standard methods are scarce. Therefore, dependable prediction of RV quantities in water sample is crucial to be able to improve supervision efficiency of the treatment procedure, precise quantitative evaluation of the microbial risks as well as microbiological water safety. Hence, this study aimed to introduce approaches to detecting and controlling RV in environmental waters, and discussed the challenges faced to enable a clear perception on the ubiquity of the RV within different types of water across the world.

Microbiological assessment of an urban lagoon system in the coastal zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This study aims to assess microbiological contamination using a molecular tool for detection of multiple enteropathogens in a coastal ecosystem area in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ten litres of superficial water samples were obtained during the spring ebb tide from sampling sites along the Jacarepaguá watershed. Samples were concentrated using skimmed milk flocculation method for TaqMan array card (TAC), designed to identify 35 enteric pathogens simultaneously, and single TaqMan qPCR analysis for detecting human adenovirus (HAdV) and JC human polyomavirus (JCPyV) as faecal indicator viruses (FIV). TAC results identified 17 enteric pathogens including 4/5 viral species investigated, 8/15 bacteria, 4/6 protozoa and 1/7 helminths. Escherichia coli concentration was also measured as faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) using Colilert Quanti-Tray System with positivity in all samples studied. HAdV and JCPyV qPCR were detected in 8 and 4 samples, respectively, with concentration ranging from 8 × 10² to 2 × 10⁶ genome copies/L. Partial nucleotide sequencing demonstrated the occurrence of species HAdV A, C, D, and F, present in faeces of individuals with enteric and non-enteric infections, and JCPyV type 3 (Af2), prevalent in a high genetically mixed population like the Brazilian. The diversity of enteropathogens detected by TAC emphasizes the utility of this methodology for quick assessment of microbiological contamination of the aquatic ecosystems, speeding up mitigation actions where the risk of the exposed population is detected, as well as pointing out the infrastructure gaps in areas where accelerated urban growth is observed.

Contamination sources of the enteric virus in recreational marine water shift in a seasonal pattern

Human enteric virus occurrence in bathing beaches poses a potential health risk to swimmers. They may come from several sources, but the understanding of the seasonal contribution of contamination sources to virus occurrence is still lacking. Here, the surveillance of human enteric viruses at the First Bathing Beach in Qingdao was performed January-December 2018. The occurrence of Enteric viruses, assayed with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), was analyzed at temporal and spatial levels to determine the viral contamination sources. The results showed that only Astroviruses (AstVs) and Adenoviruses (HAdVs) were found in the swimming area. Their occurrence correlated significantly with the sewage-polluted area, but HAdVs were only found in autumn and AstVs in spring. Meanwhile, enteric viruses in the swimming area showed significantly higher levels than the surrounding area, particularly AstVs in summer with the swimmer crowd. All these data imply that sewage discharge and swimmers co-contribute to the viral occurrence in a seasonal pattern, with the former being more focused in warm seasons (spring and autumn) and the latter in hot seasons (summer). These results indicate that sewage discharge and crowd swimmers, as unsafe swimming conditions, should be avoided to improve public health at the bathing beaches.

Beach Tourism in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic: Critical Issues, Knowledge Gaps and Research Opportunities

The strict quarantine measures employed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic have led the global tourism industry to a complete halt, disrupting the livelihoods of millions. The economic importance of beach tourism for many destinations has led many governments to reopen tourist beaches, as soon as the number of infection cases decreased. The objective of this paper is to provide a scientific basis for understanding the key issues for beach tourism management in these circumstances. These issues include risk perception, environmental considerations directly related to beaches and COVID-19, and management strategies designed to limit the risk of contagion on the beach. The contribution of this paper lies in its interdisciplinary approach to delivering the findings from the latest studies, highly relevant for beach tourism, in psychology, health science, and environmental science (often in preprint and in press format). Particular attention was given to identifying the knowledge gaps evident in the areas of COVID-19 risk perception, with the drivers explaining the risk-taking behavior and the protective strategies employed by beachgoers. Gaps were also found in areas such as the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in bathing waters and the sand, the potential of contaminated sand being a viable route of transmission, and the impact of the use of chemical disinfectants on the marine environment and on bathers. The paper identifies research prospects in these areas, additionally pointing out other questions such as new carrying capacity methods, the opportunity given by COVID-19 in estimation of the impacts of visitation and beach-litter.

Viral indicators for tracking domestic wastewater contamination in the aquatic environment

Waterborne enteric viruses are an emerging cause of disease outbreaks and represent a major threat to global public health. Enteric viruses may originate from human wastewater and can undergo rapid transport through aquatic environments with minimal decay. Surveillance and source apportionment of enteric viruses in environmental waters is therefore essential for accurate risk management. However, individual monitoring of the >100 enteric viral strains that have been identified as aquatic contaminants is unfeasible. Instead, viral indicators are often used for quantitative assessments of wastewater contamination, viral decay and transport in water. An ideal indicator for tracking wastewater contamination should be (i) easy to detect and quantify, (ii) source-specific, (iii) resistant to wastewater treatment processes, and (iv) persistent in the aquatic environment, with similar behaviour to viral pathogens. Here, we conducted a comprehensive review of 127 peer-reviewed publications, to critically evaluate the effectiveness of several viral indicators of wastewater pollution, including common enteric viruses (mastadenoviruses, polyomaviruses, and Aichi viruses), the pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), and gut-associated bacteriophages (Type II/III FRNA phages and phages infecting human Bacteroides species, including crAssphage). Our analysis suggests that overall, human mastadenoviruses have the greatest potential to indicate contamination by domestic wastewater due to their easy detection, culturability, and high prevalence in wastewater and in the polluted environment. Aichi virus, crAssphage and PMMoV are also widely detected in wastewater and in the environment, and may be used as molecular markers for human-derived contamination. We conclude that viral indicators are suitable for the long-term monitoring of viral contamination in freshwater and marine environments and that these should be implemented within monitoring programmes to provide a holistic assessment of microbiological water quality and wastewater-based epidemiology, improve current risk management strategies and protect global human health.

Environmental and Adaptive Changes Necessitate a Paradigm Shift for Indicators of Fecal Contamination

Changes in the occurrence, distribution, and seasonal variation of waterborne pathogens due to global climate change may increase the risk of human exposure to these microorganisms, thus heightening the need for more reliable surveillance systems. Routine monitoring of drinking water supplies and recreational waters is performed using fecal indicator microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli , Enterococcus spp., and coliphages. However, the presence and numbers of these indicators, especially E. coli and Enterococcus spp., do not correlate well with those of other pathogens, especially enteric viruses, which are a major cause of waterborne outbreaks associated with contaminated water and food, and recreational use of lakes, ponds, rivers, and estuarine waters. For that reason, there is a growing need for a surveillance system that can detect and quantify viral pathogens directly in water sources to reduce transmission of pathogens associated with fecal transmission. In this review, we present an updated overview of relevant waterborne enteric viruses that we believe should be more commonly screened to better evaluate water quality and to determine the safety of water use and reuse and of epidemiological data on viral outbreaks. We also discuss current methodologies that are available to detect and quantify these viruses in water resources. Finally, we highlight challenges associated with virus monitoring. The information presented in this review is intended to aid in the assessment of human health risks due to contact with water sources, especially since current environmental and adaptive changes may be creating the need for a paradigm shift for indicators of fecal contamination.

Quantitative PCR Detection of Enteric Viruses in Wastewater and Environmental Water Sources by the Lisbon Municipality: A Case Study

Current regulations and legislation require critical revision to determine safety for alternative water sources and water reuse as part of the solution to global water crisis. In order to fulfill those demands, Lisbon municipality decided to start water reuse as part of a sustainable hydric resources management, and there was a need to confirm safety and safeguard for public health for its use in this context. For this purpose, a study was designed that included a total of 88 samples collected from drinking, superficial, underground water, and wastewater at three different treatment stages. Quantitative Polimerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detection (qPCR) of enteric viruses Norovirus (NoV) genogroups I (GI) and II (GII) and Hepatitis A (HepA) was performed, and also FIB (E. coli, enterococci and fecal coliforms) concentrations were assessed. HepA virus was only detected in one untreated influent sample, whereas NoV GI/ NoV GI were detected in untreated wastewater (100/100%), secondary treated effluent (47/73%), and tertiary treated effluent (33/20%). Our study proposes that NoV GI and GII should be further studied to provide the support that they may be suitable indicators for water quality monitoring targeting wastewater treatment efficiency, regardless of the level of treatment.

Household-based biodigesters promote reduction of enteric virus and bacteria in vulnerable and poverty rural area

The present study evaluated the river water quality improvement by implementation of household-based biodigesters in vulnerability and poverty rural area, in Minas Gerais State-Brazil. For that, 78 household-based biodigesters were installed for domestic wastewater treatment. Wastewater was collected before and after treatment and the physicochemical parameters and pathogens removal (human adenovirus (HAdV), hepatitis A (HAV) virus, Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli) were evaluated; Additionally, river water was sampled before and after the household-based biodigesters implementation, to verify the contamination reduction and the positive impact of domestic wastewater treatment on waterborne pathogen reduction, considering HAdV, HAV, Salmonella sp. and E. coli quantification. The applicability in real-scale of decentralized treatment systems using household-based biodigesters promoted reduction of 90, 99, 99.99 and 99.999% from HAV, Salmonella sp., E. coli and HAdV from domestic wastewater, respectively; The river water quality improvement before the wastewater treatment application was highlight in the present study, considering that the reduction of waterborne pathogens in this water in 90, 99.99 and 99.999% of E. coli, HAV and HAdV, respectively (Salmonella sp. was not detected in river water). In general, this is an important study for encouraging the decentralized sanitation in vulnerable and poverty area, as well in rural sites, considering the positive impact of this implementation on public health.

Human mastadenovirus in water, sediment, sea surface microlayer, and bivalve mollusk from southern Brazilian beaches

Anthropogenic contamination of beaches in the south of Brazil was assessed by detection of Escherichia coli, human mastadenovirus species C (HAdV-C) and F (HAdV-F) and hepatitis E virus (HEV). Sampling was carried out in October (2016), and in January, April and July (2017). Water, sediment, sea surface microlayer (SML), bivalves, and air sentinel samples were evaluated. Quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) was used to estimate the probability of swimmer infection. HAdV-C was present in 26% of the samples, for both qPCR and viral isolation. The highest rates of detection in genomic copies (GC) were in water (2.42E+10 GC/L), SML (2.08E+10 GC/L), sediment (3.82E+08 GC/g) and bivalves (3.91E+07 GC/g). QMRA estimated daily and annual risks with a maximum value (9.99E-01) in almost all of the samples. Viable HAdV-C was often detected in the SML, pointing that this is a source of infection for people bathing in these waters.

Study on JV Virus in Patients with Colon Cancer Type Adenocarcinoma

Introduction:

Colorectal cancer is the most repetitious malignancies with high mortality worldwide. JC virus (JCV) is ubiquitous Polyomavirus, with seroprevalence rates ranging from 70% to 90% in adult population. Recently the role of JCV have been reported in many malignant tumors worldwide. The association of JCV was reported in patients with colon and rectum cancers. Thus this study was conducted to evaluate the association of JCV DNA in patients with colon cancer type Adenocarcinoma.

Material and Methods:

A total of 120 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks samples were collected including 20/40(50%) males, 20/40(50%) females patients with Colorectal Cancer(CRC), and 80 (50% males, 50% females) patients with benign tumor as a control. DNA was extracted for all the samples. Nested PCR was carried out for detection of Vp1/T-Ag junction genome in JCV genome by Nested-PCR assay. Randomly, PCR products of 6 samples were sequenced to analysis the partial JCV DNA. The phylogeny tree was constructed to determine homology identity with other JCV.

Results:

4/40(10%) samples of test group and 10/80 (12.5%) of control samples were positive for JCV DNA (P= 0.69). Out of 4 samples positive for JC DNA, 3(7.5%) were males and 1(2.4%) female (P=0.29). The frequency of JCV DNA in age group> 50 years was 4/32(10%), while in age group <50 years was 0/8 (0%) (p= 0.29).

Conclusion:

prevalence of JCV DNA was among 10% patients with CRC and 12.5% benign tumors (p=0.69). The distribution of JCV DNA was among 7.5% male and 2.5% female (p= 0.29). The frequency of JCV DNA was among 10% cases of age group >50 years and 0% of age group <50 years (P= 0.29). The subsequent T-Ag protein expression might explain the increased risk of colorectal cancer and requires further investigation.