Alejandra Zamora-Figueroa, Rita E Rosales, Rixio Fernández, Viviana Ramírez, Marjorie Bastardo, Alba Farías, Esmeralda Vizzi
Virology 2024 JanGastrointestinal viruses (GIV) are an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. Their epidemiological impact in Venezuela during the COVID-19 pandemic remains unclear. GIV can also be detected in domestic sewage. Ninety-one wastewater samples from urban areas of Caracas collected over 12 months and concentrated by polyethylene-glycol-precipitation, were analyzed by multiplex reverse-transcription-PCR for rotavirus/calicivirus/astrovirus and enterovirus/klassevirus/cosavirus, and monoplex-PCR for adenovirus and Aichi virus. The overall frequency of virus detection was 46.2%, fluctuating over months, and peaking in the rainy season. Adenoviruses circulated throughout the year, especially type F41, and predominated (52.7%) over caliciviruses (29.1%) that peaked in the rainy months, rotaviruses (9.1%), cosaviruses (5.5%), astroviruses and enteroviruses (1.8%). Aichi-virus and klassevirus were absent. Rotavirus G9/G12, and P[4]/P[8]/P[14] predominated. The occurrence of GIV in wastewater reflects transmission within the population of Caracas and the persistence of a potential public health risk that needs to be adequately monitored. Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Alejandra Zamora-Figueroa, Rita E Rosales, Rixio Fernández, Viviana Ramírez, Marjorie Bastardo, Alba Farías, Esmeralda Vizzi. Detection and diversity of gastrointestinal viruses in wastewater from Caracas, Venezuela, 2021-2022. Virology. 2024 Jan;589:109913
PMID: 37924728
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