This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rodríguez-Díaz, J.
Right arrow Articles by Betancourt, W. Q.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rodríguez-Díaz, J.
Right arrow Articles by Betancourt, W. Q.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Rodríguez-Díaz, J.
Right arrow Articles by Betancourt, W. Q.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2009, p. 387-394, Vol. 75, No. 2
0099-2240/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02045-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Detection and Characterization of Waterborne Gastroenteritis Viruses in Urban Sewage and Sewage-Polluted River Waters in Caracas, Venezuela {triangledown}

J. Rodríguez-Díaz,1 L. Querales,2 L. Caraballo,2 E. Vizzi,1 F. Liprandi,1 H. Takiff,2 and W. Q. Betancourt2*

Laboratorio de Biología de Virus,1 Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela 1020A2

Received 3 September 2008/ Accepted 14 November 2008

The detection and molecular characterization of pathogenic human viruses in urban sewage have been used extensively to derive information on circulating viruses in given populations throughout the world. In this study, a similar approach was applied to provide an overview of the epidemiology of waterborne gastroenteritis viruses circulating in urban areas of Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela in South America. Dry season sampling was conducted in sewers and in a major river severely polluted with urban sewage discharges. Nested PCR was used for detection of human adenoviruses (HAds), while reverse transcription plus nested or seminested PCR was used for detection of enteroviruses (HuEVs), rotaviruses (HRVs), noroviruses (HuNoVs), and astroviruses (HAstVs). HRVs were fully characterized with genotype-specific primers for VP4 (genotype P), VP7 (genotype G), and the rotavirus nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4). HuNoVs and HAstVs were characterized by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The detection rates of all viruses were ≥50%, and all sampling events were positive for at least one of the pathogenic viruses studied. The predominant HRV types found were G1, P[8], P[4], and NSP4A and -B. Genogroup II of HuNoVs and HAstV type 8 were frequently detected in sewage and sewage-polluted river waters. This study reveals relevant epidemiological data on the distribution and persistence of human pathogenic viruses in sewage-polluted waters and addresses the potential health risks associated with transmission of these viruses through water-related environmental routes.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Apdo. 20632, Caracas, Venezuela 1020A. Phone: 58-212-504-1781. Fax: 58-212-504-1382. E-mail: wbetanco{at}ivic.ve

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 21 November 2008.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2009, p. 387-394, Vol. 75, No. 2
0099-2240/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02045-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»