Quantitative analysis of human enteric adenoviruses in aquatic environments

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine human adenoviruses (HuAdVs) in aquatic environments by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods AND Results: In order to describe the ratio of enteric serotypes to the total HuAdVs, the primer set specific for the enteric serotypes 40 and 41 was used in parallel with the universal primer set for all 51 serotypes of HuAdVs. The enteric serotypes of HuAdVs were detected at the concentration of 7.3-1500 PCR-detection units (PDU) per ml in raw sewage (n = 17), 0.00060-4.1 PDU ml(-1) in secondary-treated sewage before chlorination (n = 17), 0.0018-7.0 PDU ml(-1) in river water (n = 36), and 0.032-6.1 PDU ml(-1) in seawater (n = 18). The concentration of HuAdVs, determined by the universal primer set, was equivalent to that of enteric serotypes in almost all the samples tested. Conclusion: Enteric serotypes were predominant among all serotypes of HuAdVs in the aquatic environments. Significance and the Impact of the Study: The abundance of enteric serotypes of HuAdVs should be more emphasized than other serotypes in order to assess the risk of their infection via water.