Preformed magnesium hydroxide precipitate for second-step concentration of enteroviruses from drinking and surface waters

Abstract

A method is described for the second-step concentration of viruses from large volumes of drinking and surface waters. Seeded viruses present in the first eluate, performed with 50 mM glycine buffer, pH 11.5, were adsorbed on a preformed magnesium hydroxide precipitate. After low-speed centrifugation they were desorbed and ajusted to pH 7 with McIlvaine citrate–phosphate buffer. In these experimental conditions 90% of the viruses present in the 300-mL first eluate were reconcentrated in a final volume of 40 mL. The recovery efficiency was independant of either virus concentration or water quality.