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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2008, p. 2583-2587, Vol. 74, No. 9
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00626-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Comparison of BGM and PLC/PRC/5 Cell Lines for Total Culturable Viral Assay of Treated Sewage{triangledown}

Roberto A. Rodríguez, Patricia M. Gundy, and Charles P. Gerba*

Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210038, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0038

Received 19 March 2007/ Accepted 26 February 2008

The objective of this study was to compare PLC/PRF/5 and BGM cell lines for use in a total culturable viral assay (TCVA) of treated sewage effluents. Samples were collected before and after chlorination from an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant and from the effluent of a high-rate enhanced flocculation system, followed by UV light disinfection. Cell monolayers were observed for cytopathic effect (CPE) after two passages of 14 days each. Monolayers exhibiting viral CPE were tested for the presence of adenoviruses and enteroviruses by PCR or reverse transcription-PCR. Eight percent of the samples exhibited CPE on BGM cells, and 57% showed CPE on PLC/PRF/5 cells. Only enteroviruses were detected on the BGM cells, while 30% and 52% of the samples were positive for enteroviruses and adenoviruses, respectively, on the PLC/PRF/5 cells. Thirty percent of the samples were positive for both adenoviruses and enteroviruses in chlorinated activated sludge effluent. Thirty percent of the samples were positive for adenoviruses in the UV treatment effluent, but no enteroviruses were detected. In conclusion, the PLC/PRF/5 cells were more susceptible than BGM cells to viruses found in treated sewage. The use of BGM cells for TCVA may underestimate viral concentration in sewage effluent samples. The PLC/PRF/5 cells were more susceptible to adenoviruses, which is important in the evaluation of UV disinfection systems because adenoviruses are highly resistant to UV inactivation.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210038, Tucson, AZ 85721-0038. Phone: (520) 621-6906. Fax: (520) 621-6163. E-mail: gerba{at}ag.arizona.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 7 March 2008.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2008, p. 2583-2587, Vol. 74, No. 9
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00626-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Rodriguez, R. A., Pepper, I. L., Gerba, C. P. (2009). Application of PCR-Based Methods To Assess the Infectivity of Enteric Viruses in Environmental Samples. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 297-307 [Full Text]  


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