title: Detection and Molecular Characterization of Aichivirus 1 in Wastewater Samples from Uruguay.
abstract: Aichivirus 1 (AiV-1) is an enteric virus with 30 nm in diameter, belonging to the genus Kobuvirus in the Picornaviridae family being a causative agent of gastroenteritis in humans. The transmission is via the fecal-oral route, through person to person contact, recreation in contaminated waters, or through the consumption of contaminated food or water. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and the molecular characterization of AiV-1 in wastewater from Uruguay. Biweekly collections from March 2011 to February 2012 were performed in the cities of Bella Unión, Salto, Paysandú, and Fray Bentos, northwestern region of Uruguay. A total of 96 samples were collected; viruses were concentrated by ultracentrifugation, and AiV-1 was detected by using a nested PCR with primers directed to a conserved region (3CD junction) of the viral genome. A high frequency of AiV-1 (n = 54) was observed at all the cities analyzed mainly in the colder months of the year. AiV-1 was not evidenced as an appropriate viral fecal indicator since when compared with other previously detected enteric viruses, no correlation was observed. All 13 characterized AiV-1 belonged to the genotype B after the phylogenetic analysis performed with the sequences obtained from the first round PCR amplicon. This study demonstrates that AiV-1 is a frequently detected enteric viruses present in wastewater and excreted by infected persons in the northwestern region of Uruguay.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Regional Norte, CENUR del Noroeste, Universidad de la República, Gral. Rivera 1350, 50000, Salto, Uruguay.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burutarán
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Regional Norte, CENUR del Noroeste, Universidad de la República, Gral. Rivera 1350, 50000, Salto, Uruguay.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lizasoain
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Regional Norte, CENUR del Noroeste, Universidad de la República, Gral. Rivera 1350, 50000, Salto, Uruguay.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Regional Norte, CENUR del Noroeste, Universidad de la República, Gral. Rivera 1350, 50000, Salto, Uruguay.
authors.forename: L F L
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Tort
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Regional Norte, CENUR del Noroeste, Universidad de la República, Gral. Rivera 1350, 50000, Salto, Uruguay.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colina
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Regional Norte, CENUR del Noroeste, Universidad de la República, Gral. Rivera 1350, 50000, Salto, Uruguay. matvicmon@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Victoria
mesh_terms: D005838:Genotype; D052699:Kobuvirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012621:Seasons; D014583:Uruguay; D062065:Wastewater / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Aichivirus; Molecular characterization; Nested PCR; Seasonality; Uruguay; Wastewater