Meta-Analysis of the Reduction of Norovirus and Male-Specific Coliphage Concentrations in Wastewater Treatment Plants.
Human norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States and Canada. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents impacting bivalve mollusk-growing areas are potential sources of NoV contamination. We have developed a meta-analysis that evaluates WWTP influent concentrations and log10 reductions of NoV genotype I (NoV GI; in numbers of genome copies per liter [gc/liter]), NoV genotype II (NoV GII; in gc/liter), and male-specific coliphage (MSC; in number of PFU per liter), a proposed viral surrogate for NoV. The meta-analysis included relevant data (2,943 measurements) reported in the scientific literature through September 2013 and previously unpublished surveillance data from the United States and Canada. Model results indicated that the mean WWTP influent concentration of NoV GII (3.9 log10 gc/liter; 95% credible interval [CI], 3.5, 4.3 log10 gc/liter) is larger than the value for NoV GI (1.5 log10 gc/liter; 95% CI, 0.4, 2.4 log10 gc/liter), with large variations occurring from one WWTP to another. For WWTPs with mechanical systems and chlorine disinfection, mean log10 reductions were -2.4 log10 gc/liter (95% CI, -3.9, -1.1 log10 gc/liter) for NoV GI, -2.7 log10 gc/liter (95% CI, -3.6, -1.9 log10 gc/liter) for NoV GII, and -2.9 log10 PFU per liter (95% CI, -3.4, -2.4 log10 PFU per liter) for MSCs. Comparable values for WWTPs with lagoon systems and chlorine disinfection were -1.4 log10 gc/liter (95% CI, -3.3, 0.5 log10 gc/liter) for NoV GI, -1.7 log10 gc/liter (95% CI, -3.1, -0.3 log10 gc/liter) for NoV GII, and -3.6 log10 PFU per liter (95% CI, -4.8, -2.4 PFU per liter) for MSCs. Within WWTPs, correlations exist between mean NoV GI and NoV GII influent concentrations and between the mean log10 reduction in NoV GII and the mean log10 reduction in MSCs.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA.
Régis
R
Pouillot
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA.
Jane M
JM
Van Doren
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA.
Jacquelina
J
Woods
Health Canada, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada.
Daniel
D
Plante
Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Mark
M
Smith
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA.
Gregory
G
Goblick
Environment Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Christopher
C
Roberts
Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Annie
A
Locas
Environment Canada, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Walter
W
Hajen
Environment Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Jeffrey
J
Stobo
Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
John
J
White
Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Jennifer
J
Holtzman
Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Enrico
E
Buenaventura
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA.
William
W
Burkhardt
Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Angela
A
Catford
Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Robyn
R
Edwards
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA.
Angelo
A
DePaola
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA Kevin.Calci@fda.hhs.gov.
Kevin R
KR
Calci
D003090:Coliphages / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004203:Disinfection; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D029322:Norovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation*
D062065:Wastewater