title: Teschoviruses as indicators of porcine fecal contamination of surface water.
abstract: Teschoviruses specifically infect pigs and are shed in pig feces. Hence, their presence in water should indicate contamination with pig fecal residues. To assess this hypothesis, we have developed a real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) method that allows the quantitative detection of pig teschovirus (PTV) RNA. The method is able to detect 92 fg of PTV RNA per ml of sample. Using this method, we have detected the presence of PTV RNA in water and fecal samples from all pig farms examined (n = 5). Feces from other animal species (cattle, sheep, and goats) were negative in this test. To compare the PTV RNA detection method with conventional chemical determinations currently in use for evaluation of water contamination, we analyzed water samples collected downstream from a pig slurry spillage site. We have found a positive correlation within both types of determinations. The sensitivity of the PTV detection assay was similar to that achieved by unspecific organic matter determination and superior to all other conventional chemical analyses performed. Furthermore, the new method is highly specific, revealing the porcine origin of the contamination, a feature that is lacking in currently available methods for the assessment of water contamination.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Clavero
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pro
authors.forename: Gregoria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carbonell
authors.forename: José Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Tarazona
authors.forename: Neftalí
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roblas
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000821:virology*; D010849:Picornaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000821:virology; D014876:Water Pollution
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral