title: Development of an integrated cell culture--real-time RT-PCR assay for detection of reovirus in biosolids.
abstract: The current method for viral detection in biosolids is a plaque assay, as specified by the EPA in the 40 CFR Part 503 rule. Development of an integrated cell culture-polymerase chain reaction (ICC-PCR) assay has allowed detection of viruses that are under-detected and undetected by the plaque assay. This study examined the efficiency of the ICC-PCR method to detect mammalian orthoreovirus, a virus typically under-detected in biosolids. Biosolid samples seeded with mammalian orthoreovirus type 1 (Lang) detected to 3 x 10(5) plaque forming units (pfu) with a plaque assay, 10(2)pfu equivalents with real-time RT-PCR and no incubation, and 10(8)pfu equivalents with real-time RT-PCR after 7 days incubation. More infectious virus was detected using ICC-real-time RT-PCR than a plaque assay. Twenty-four environmental samples from three locations around the United States did not plaque with the EPA method; however the ICC-PCR detected infectious reovirus in 13 of the samples. Raw biosolids samples accounted for 12 of the positive samples, and 1 positive was from an aerobically digested sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of New Hampshire, 46 College Road, Rm. 235, Durham, NH 03824, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Aaron B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Margolin
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D030102:Orthoreovirus, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012722:Sewage / Q000821:virology*; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage