title: Global occurrence of Torque teno virus in water systems.
abstract: Bacterial indicator organisms are used globally to assess the microbiological safety of waters. However, waterborne viral outbreaks have occurred in drinking water systems despite negative bacterial results. Using viral markers may therefore provide more accurate health risk assessment data. In this study, fecal, wastewater, stormwater, surface water (fresh and salt), groundwater, and drinking water samples were analyzed for the presence or concentration of traditional indicators, innovative indicators and viral markers. Samples were obtained in the United States, Italy, and Australia and results compared to those reported for studies conducted in Asia and South America as well. Indicators included total coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci, male-specific coliphages, somatic coliphages and microviradae. Viral markers included adenovirus, polyomavirus, and a potential new surrogate, Torque teno virus (TTV). TTV was more frequently found in wastewaters (38-100%) and waters influenced by waste discharges (25%) than in surface waters used as drinking water sources (5%). TTV was also specific to human rather than animal feces. While TTV numbers were strongly correlated to other viral markers in wastewaters, suggesting its utility as a fecal contamination marker, data limitations and TTV presence in treated drinking waters demonstrates that additional research is needed on this potential viral indicator.
authors: Department of Civil Engineering, Wentworth Institute of Technology, 550 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Charest
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, USA E-mail: jplummer@wpi.edu.
authors: J D
authors: JD
authors: Plummer
authors: Department of Soil Science and Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, 2601 Agricultural Drive, Madison, WI 53718, USA.
authors: S C
authors: SC
authors: Long
authors: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Carducci
authors: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Verani
authors: CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, Queensland 4102, Australia.
authors: J P S
authors: JP
authors: Sidhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D003090:Coliphages / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D062486:Public Health Surveillance; D022783:Torque teno virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014481:United States; D062065:Wastewater / Q000821:virology; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D062065:Wastewater