Soil inactivation of DNA viruses in septic seepage.
OBJECTIVE
To generate field-relevant inactivation data for incorporation into models to predict the likelihood of viral contamination of surface waters by septic seepage.


RESULTS
Inactivation rates were determined for PRD1 bacteriophage and Adenovirus 2 in two catchment soils under a range of temperature, moisture and biotic status regimes. Inactivation rates presented for both viruses were significantly different at different temperatures and in different soil types (alpha = 0.05). Soil moisture generally did not significantly affect virus inactivation rate. Biotic status significantly affected inactivation rates of PRD1 in the loam soil but not the clay-loam soil. Adenovirus 2 was inactivated more rapidly in the loam soil than PRD1 bacteriophage.


CONCLUSIONS
Virus inactivation rates incorporated into models should be appropriate for the climate/catchment in question with particular regard to soil type and temperature. Given that PRD1 is similar in size to adenoviruses, yet more conservative with regard to inactivation in soil, it may be a useful surrogate in studies of Adenovirus fate and transport.


CONCLUSIONS
A better understanding of the factors that govern virus fate and transport in catchments would facilitate the design of barrier measures to prevent viral contamination of surface waters by septic seepage.
Davies
C M
CM
Centre for Water and Waste Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. c.davies@unsw.edu.au
Logan
M R
MR
Rothwell
V J
VJ
Krogh
M
M
Ferguson
C M
CM
Charles
K
K
Deere
D A
DA
Ashbolt
N J
NJ
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000502:physiology; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D025622:Bacteriophage PRD1 / Q000502:physiology; D000077215:Clay; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D006813:Humidity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013696:Temperature; D038301:Virus Inactivation; D014871:Water Microbiology; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000077215:Clay