Relationships between human adenoviruses and faecal indicator organisms in European recreational waters.
Human adenoviruses (HAdV) may be implicated in some disease outbreaks associated with recreational water exposures, typically in swimming pools. Modern molecular methods can be used to detect HAdV in environmental water samples. During the EU FP6 Project VIROBATHE a database of over 290 HAdV analyses with corresponding faecal indicator organism (FIO) determinations was gathered and used to explore statistical associations between HAdV and FIO results. The FIOs measured were Escherichia coli, intestinal enterococci and somatic coliphage. Statistically significant trends of increasing proportions of HAdV-positive results in categories of increasing FIO concentration were found in freshwater but not seawater samples. The analysis of these trends in freshwater samples was refined, the trends remaining statistically significant when using categories of 0.5 log(10) intervals of FIO concentration. Logistic regression models were then developed to predict the probability of a HAdV-positive outcome from FIO concentration. Potential applications of these models to predict the probability of HAdV-positive outcomes from routine FIO determinations used to describe recreational water quality exposures and to classify recreational water quality are discussed.
Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Llandinam Building, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3DB, UK. mark@crehwyer.demon.co.uk
Mark D
MD
Wyer
A Peter
AP
Wyn-Jones
David
D
Kay
Ho-Kong Christopher
HK
Au-Yeung
Rosina
R
Gironés
Juan
J
López-Pila
Ana Maria
AM
de Roda Husman
Saskia
S
Rutjes
Oliver
O
Schneider
D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D003090:Coliphages / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005060:Europe; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D011998:Recreation; D012623:Seawater / Q000821:virology*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D060753:Water Quality