title: Rotavirus seasonality in urban sewage from Argentina: effect of meteorological variables on the viral load and the genetic diversity.
abstract: In Argentina, the rotavirus disease exhibits seasonal variations, being most prevalent in the fall and winter months. To deepen the understanding of rotavirus seasonality in our community, the influence of meteorological factors on the rotavirus load and the genetic diversity in urban raw sewage from Córdoba city, Argentina were evaluated. Wastewater samples were collected monthly during a three-year study period and viral particles were concentrated by polyethylene glycol precipitation. RT-nested PCR was applied for rotavirus detection, and VP7/VP4 characterization and real-time PCR for rotavirus quantification. Both molecular techniques showed relatively similar sensitivity rates and revealed rotavirus presence in urban wastewater in cold and warm seasons, indicating its circulation in the local community all year round. However, a slight trend for rotavirus circulation was noted by real-time PCR in the fall and winter seasons, showing a significantly higher peak of rotavirus concentration at mean temperatures lower than 18°C and also higher, although not statistically different during drier weather. VP7 and VP4 gene characterization showed that G1 and P[8] genotypes were dominant, and temporal variations in genotype distribution were not observed. Rotavirus spread is complex and our results point out that weather factors alone cannot explain the seasonal quantitative pattern of the rotavirus disease. Therefore, alternative transmission routes, changes in human behavior and susceptibility, and the stability and survivability of the virus might all together contribute to the seasonality of rotavirus. The results obtained here provide evidence regarding the dynamics of rotavirus circulation and maintenance in Argentina.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: patricia_barril@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Barril
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Comparada e Ambiental, Pavilhão Hélio & Peggy Pereira, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil, 4365 Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Fumian
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Prez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masachessi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Isa
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Ferreyra
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Ré
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Comparada e Ambiental, Pavilhão Hélio & Peggy Pereira, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil, 4365 Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miagostovich
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Nates
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012621:Seasons; D012722:Sewage / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage
keywords: Environmental monitoring; Meteorological variables; Rotavirus; Seasonality; Sewage