title: Environmental Surveillance of Polioviruses in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in Support to the Activities of Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
abstract: Wild polioviruses still remain endemic in three countries (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria) and re-emergency of wild polio has been reported in previously polio-free countries. Environmental surveillance has been used as a supplementary tool in monitoring the circulation of wild poliovirus (PVs) and/or vaccine-derived PVs even in the absence of acute flaccid paralysis cases. This study aimed to monitor the presence of polioviruses in wastewater samples collected at one wastewater treatment plant located in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From December 2011 to June 2012 and from September to December 2012, 31 samples were collected and processed. RD and L20B cell cultures were able to isolate PVs and non-polio enteroviruses in 27/31 samples. Polioviruses were isolated in eight samples (type 1 Sabin = 1, type 2 Sabin = 5, and type 3 Sabin = 2). Vaccine-derived polioviruses were not detected nor evidence of recombination with other PVs or non-polio enterovirus serotypes were observed among the isolates. The Sabin-related serotypes 2 and 3 presented nucleotide substitutions in positions associated with the neurovirulent phenotype at the 5'-UTR. Changes in important Amino acid residues at VP1 were also observed in the serotypes 2 and 3. Environmental surveillance has been used successfully in monitoring the circulation of PVs and non-polio enteroviruses and it is of crucial importance in the final stages of the WHO global polio eradication initiative. Our results show the continuous circulation of Sabin-like PVs and non-polio enteroviruses in the analyzed area during the study period.
authors.affiliation: Enterovirus Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 21040-360, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joseane Simone
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Pereira
authors.affiliation: Enterovirus Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 21040-360, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lidiane Rodrigues
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Enterovirus Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 21040-360, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Meireles Nunes
authors.affiliation: Enterovirus Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 21040-360, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Souza Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Enterovirus Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 21040-360, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliane Veiga
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Enterovirus Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 21040-360, Brazil. edson@ioc.fiocruz.br.
authors.forename: Edson Elias
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Environmental surveillance; Polio eradication; Poliomyelitis; Poliovirus