Zirconium hydroxide effectively immobilizes and concentrates human enteric viruses.
BACKGROUND
Detection of human enteric viruses in foods and environmental samples requires concentration of viruses from complex matrices before application of molecular or cultural methods. Previous studies have described the use of zirconium hydroxide to concentrate bacteria from clinical, environmental, and food samples.


OBJECTIVE
Our study describes the application of zirconium hydroxide to concentrate human enteric viruses.


METHODS
Poliovirus type 1, hepatitis A virus (HAV) strain HM-175, and Norwalk virus (NV) were used as models. Virus recovery was evaluated both as loss to discarded supernatants and as recovery in the precipitated pellets.


RESULTS
Poliovirus type 1, based on the plaque assay recoveries, ranged from 16 to 59% with minimal loss to the supernatant (1-5%). For both HAV and NV, RT-PCR amplicons of appropriate sizes were detected and confirmed in the pellet fraction with no visible amplicons from the supernatant.


CONCLUSIONS
This rapid and inexpensive method shows promise as an alternative means to concentrate enteric viruses.
D'Souza
D H
DH
Department of Food Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7624, USA. ddsouza@unity.ncsu.edu
Jaykus
L-A
LA
D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009663:Norwalk virus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014776:Virus Cultivation / Q000379:methods*; D015040:Zirconium / Q000494:pharmacology*
D006878:Hydroxides; C470523:zirconium hydroxide; D015040:Zirconium