title: Detection of Enteroviruses in Influent and Effluent Flow Samples from Wastewater Treatment Plants in Italy.
abstract: This study evaluated the presence and seasonal distribution of polio and other enteroviruses in four wastewater treatment plants in three cities in Italy, using different treatment systems. Detection of enteroviruses was carried out by virus isolation in cell cultures after concentration of water samples collected at both inlet and outlet of the treatment plants, following the methods described in the WHO guidelines. Viral serotypes isolated before and after water treatment were compared. Forty-eight non-polio enteroviruses were isolated from 312 samples collected at the inlet of the four wastewater treatment plants, 35 of which were Coxsackievirus type B (72.9 %) and 13 Echovirus (27.1 %). After treatment, 2 CVB3, 1 CVB5, and 1 Echo 6 were isolated. CVB3 and Echo 6 serotypes were also detected in samples collected at the inlet of the TP, in the same month and year. The high rate of detection of infectious enteroviruses in inlet sewage samples (30.1 %) indicates wide diffusion of these viruses in the populations linked to the collectors. The incomplete removal of infectious viruses following sewage treatment highlights possible risks for public health relate to treated waters discharge into the environment.
authors.affiliation: CRIVIB, National Centre for Immunobiologicals Research and Evaluation, Viral Vaccines Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Battistone
authors.affiliation: CRIVIB, National Centre for Immunobiologicals Research and Evaluation, Viral Vaccines Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buttinelli
authors.affiliation: CRIVIB, National Centre for Immunobiologicals Research and Evaluation, Viral Vaccines Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonomo
authors.affiliation: CRIVIB, National Centre for Immunobiologicals Research and Evaluation, Viral Vaccines Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.affiliation: CRIVIB, National Centre for Immunobiologicals Research and Evaluation, Viral Vaccines Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.affiliation: A.M.A.P. S.p.A. "Impianto di depurazione Acqua dei Corsari", Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mercurio
authors.affiliation: A.M.A.P. S.p.A. "Impianto di depurazione Acqua dei Corsari", Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cicala
authors.affiliation: Comprensorio Sanitario di Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.affiliation: Comprensorio Sanitario di Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Adelheid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Foppa
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Triassi
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pennino
authors.affiliation: CRIVIB, National Centre for Immunobiologicals Research and Evaluation, Viral Vaccines Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy. lucia.fiore@iss.it.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fiore
mesh_terms: D004770:Enterovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007558:Italy; D010802:Phylogeny; D012722:Sewage / Q000821:virology; D062065:Wastewater / Q000821:virology*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Enterovirus; Environmental surveillance; Sewage; Wastewater treatment plant; Water quality indicators