Prevalence and genetic diversity of waterborne pathogenic viruses in surface waters of tropical urban catchments

Abstract

To study the virological quality of surface water from highly urbanized tropical water catchment areas and to determine predominant enteric viral genotypes in surface water. A wide range of human pathogenic viruses in urban surface waters was screened by nested PCR assays after concentration by ultrafiltration. Among the 84 water samples collected, at least one virus was detected in 70 (83·3%) of these samples. Noroviruses were determined to be the most prevalent enteric viruses detected in urban surface water samples, followed by astroviruses, enteroviruses, adenoviruses and hepatitis A viruses. The molecular characterization of environmental viral isolates suggested co-circulation of multiple genotypes of both noroviruses GI and GII, astroviruses and enteroviruses in urban surface waters. Human enteric viruses with great genetic diversity were detected in surface waters, indicating the presence of human origin of faecal contamination in highly urbanized water catchment areas.