Author(s): Salvador, Daniel ; Caeiro, Maria ; Aguilar, Joana ; Benoliel, Maria João ; Neto, Célia
Date: 2020
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10451/43884
Origin: Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa
Subject(s): Enteric viruses; Fecal coliforms; Human health; RT-qPCR; Water
Water-related infectious diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality. Enterovirus and Hepatitis A and E viruses are, among others, representative of the enteric viruses, which are disease-causing agents mainly transmitted by the oral-fecal route, through water. The objective of this study is to search for enteric viruses by reverse transcription followed by Real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), in samples of natural surface water and in drinking water. It is also intended to evaluate the eventual association of these viruses with other fecal contamination indicators, and the efficacy of the water treatment plants in their elimination. It was confirmed the adequacy of the methodology implemented since, in the 15 samples analyzed so far, Hepatitis A virus and Enterovirus RNAs were detected in natural surface water samples, in two and three samples, respectively. Both viruses RNAs were detected in one of these samples. No viral nucleic acids were detected in drinking water samples. Fecal coliforms (microbial indicators of fecal contamination) were detected in natural water samples, but not in drinking water samples. Viral RNA and coliform detection only partially co-occurred.
