Journal List > J Bacteriol Virol > v.48(3) > 1101858

Choi, Yun, Shim, Kim, Park, Do, Jeong, and Jang: Environmental Transmission of Noroviruses and Study of Fecal Microorgnisms as Viral Indicators in the Suyeong River in Busan, Korea

Abstract

In order to investigate the occurrence of norovirus in rivers and beaches, a total of 81 samples were tested at seven sites of Oncheon stream, Suyeong river and Gwanganri beach in Busan from January to November, 2017. To improve the detection of norovirus from sea water, we applied the inorganic cation-coated filter method which showed 48.8% ± 12.2% (n=3) and 27.4% ± 6.0% (n=3) recovery yields from river water and sea water inoculated with Norovirus, respectively. Norovirus was detected in a total of four samples (4.9%), which all were GII genotype. Norovirus GII was detected in three samples at two waste water treatment plants (WWTP) outlet and one sample at about 500 meter downstream from WWTP in both the winter and spring seasons. We also monitored fecal indicator organisms, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterococcus and coliphages [somatic coliphages (SC), male-specific coliphages (MSC)] to analyze the potential transmission of enteritis causative agent in dry and wet days. Bacterial influences were found at the site of the WWTP effluents in the dry days and spread further to the costal beach in the wet days. But no viral influences were found in the river downstream in both dry and wet days.

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Figure 1.
Location of the sample collection sites. Location of the sites in which water samples were collected was indicated as S1~S7. S, site.
jbv-48-81f1.tif
Figure 2.
Seasonal variation in the distribution of microorganism indicators at all study sites. E. coli, Escherichia coli; SC, Somatic coliphage; MSC, Male-specific coliphage. Error bars indicate standard deviation and E. coli (a) and SC (b) are showed significant difference between summer and winter according to t-test (p<0.05).
jbv-48-81f2.tif
Figure 3.
Comparison of fecal bacteria and coliphages in dry days and wet days by sample location. It showed significant difference between Dry days and Wet days according to t-test (p<0.05).
jbv-48-81f3.tif
Figure 4.
Variability of microorganism indicator in dry days and wet days at study area. The color shows the changes of concentration level of the indicator microorganism. Concentration units are shown above each color bars.
jbv-48-81f4.tif
Table 1.
Characteristics of host cells of coliphages
Coliphage strain Host bacteria strain Antibiotics
Somatic coliphage (X174) E. coli Famp [Escherichia coli Famp] Ampicilin/streptomycin sulfate (1.5 mg/ml)
Male-specific coliphage (MS2) E. coli C [Escherichia coli C] Nalidixic acid (10 mg/ml)
Table 2.
The sequences of oligonucleotides used for the detection of norovirus
Genogroup Primer Primer sequence (5′-3′) Position Product size (bp) Reference
Norovirus GI GI-F1M CTGCCCGAATTYGTAAATGATGAT 5342 314 23
GI-R1M CCAACCCARCCATTRTACATYTG 5671
GI-F2 ATGATGATGGCGTCTAAGGACGC 5357
Norovirus GII GII-F1M GGGAGGGCGATCGCAATCT 5058 313
GII-R1M CCRCCIGCATRICCRTTRTACAT 5401
GII-F3 TTGTGAATGAAGATGGCGTCGART 5088
Table 3.
Recovery of Norovirus from natural seawater and stream water spiked with Norovirus GII
Sample Initial concentration (total 300 mL water) viral copies/ml Recovered concentration (total 1 mL concentrate) viral copies/ml Recovery ratea (%±SD)
Seawaterb 6.9 × 104 1.9 ± 0.4 × 104 27.4 ± 6.0
Stream waterb 6.9 × 104 3.4 ± 0.8 × 104 48.8 ± 11.2

a Recovery rate (%) = (Recovered viral concentration × vol / Spiked viral concentration × vol) × 100

b Seawater and stream water were sampled from S7 and S1

Table 4.
Parameter characteristics of norovirus (NoV) GII positive samples
Sampling site time Temp (℃) pH DO (mg/l) Salinity (PSU) Tubidity (NTU) NoV (copies/ 100 ml) E. coli (MPN/ 100 ml) Enterococcus (MPN/ 100 ml) Coliphage (PFU/100 ml)
SC MSC
S4 Feb 17 12.8 8.1 6.8 0.62 1.62 6.8×106 4.1×103 1.4×103 3.5×102 2.4×101
S6 Feb 17 10.5 7.2 12.5 18.60 2.53 1.1×104 1.5×103 6.3×102 1.2×102 1.4×101
S5 Mar 17 20.4 6.8 8.7 0.92 1.53 5.7×103 7.3×103 8.0×102 6.9×103 5.8×101
S5 Nov 17 16.7 7.2 8.7 1.11 2.02 7.9×103 3.0×104 1.4×104 9.1×103 1.6×101

Temp, Temperature; DO, Dissolved oxygen; PSU, Practical salinity unit; NTU, Nephelometric turbidity unit; NoV, norovirus; E. coli, Escherichia coli; MPN, most probable number; PFU, plaque forming unit; SC, Somatic coliphage; MSC, Male-specifc (F+) coliphage; S, Site

Table 5.
Seasonal characteristics in physiochemical factors and waterborne microbial indicators
Season N Temp. (℃) pH DO (mg/l) Salinity (PSU) Turbidity (NTU) E. coli (MPN/ 100 ml) Enterococcus (MPN/ 100 ml) Coliphage (PFU/100 ml)
SC MSC
Spring 31 16.5 7.2 8.0 11.63 3.17 2.0×103 4.2×103 1.2×103 4.0×101
(Dry days)a (19) 16.9 7.2 7.8 11.68 2.40 5.8×103 1.0×103 4.8×102 1.0×101
(Wet days)b (12) 15.8 7.3 8.4 11.56 4.40 4.2×104 9.3×103 2.3×103 7.5×101
Summer (Wet days)c 14 23.7 7.2 6.6 13.88 2.75 3.0×104 4.2×103 1.4×103 2.5×101
Autumn (Dry days) 21 18.1 7.3 7.6 14.12 2.30 8.2×103 3.3×103 2.1×103 9.0×100
Winter (Dry days) 15 9.5 7.4 10.9 14.07 2.07 2.8×103 2.1×103 1.2×102 9.0×100
Total 81 16.9 7.3 8.2 13.10 2.7 1.6×104 3.6×103 1.3×103 2.2×101

Temp, Temperature; DO, Dissolved oxygen; PSU, Practical salinity unit; NTU, Nephelometric turbidity unit; E. coli, Escherichia coli; SC, Somatic coliphage; MSC, Male-specifc (F+) coliphage; MPN, most probable number; PFU, plaque forming unit; N, number of samples; Spring months: March, April, and May; Summer months: June, July, and August; Autumn months: September, October, and November; Winter months: December, January, and February.

a Days with no rain at least for 3 days

b Spring wet days; after a day with 9.5 mm and 20.0 mm of rain

c Summer wet days; after a day with 3.0 mm and 10.0 mm of rain It showed no significant difference with season (p>0.05) according to ANOVA analysis. t-test result indicated significant difference between Dry days and Wet days (p<0.05).

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