Nested-PCR and TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR assays for human adenoviruses in environmental waters.
Human adenovirus (HAdV) infections can occur throughout the year. Cases of HAdV-associated respiratory disease have been more common in the late winter, spring, and early summer. In this study, to provide viral pollution data for further epidemiological studies and governmental actions, the presence of HAdV in the aquatic environment was quantitatively surveyed in the summer. This study was conducted to compare the efficiencies of nested-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and qPCR (quantitative PCR) for detecting HAdV in environmental waters. A total of 73 water samples were collected from Puzi River in Taiwan and subjected to virus concentration methods. In the results, qPCR had much better efficiency for specifying the pathogen in river sample. HAdV41 was detected most frequently in the river water sample (10.9%). The estimated HAdV concentrations ranged between 6.75 × 10(2) and 2.04 × 10(9) genome copies/L. Significant difference was also found in heterotrophic plate counts, conductivity, water temperature, and water turbidity between presence/absence of HAdV. HAdV in the Puzi River may pose a significant health risk.
Department of Medicine, Mackay Medicine College, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC and Department of Thoracic Surgery, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Wen-Chien
WC
Huang
Department of Anesthesiology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Yi-Pen
YP
Chou
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan, ROC E-mail: bmhsu@ccu.edu.tw.
Po-Min
PM
Kao
Department of Ophthalmology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC and Department of Life Science, Institute of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan, ROC.
Tsui-Kang
TK
Hsu
Department of Anesthesiology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Hung-Chang
HC
Su
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan, ROC E-mail: bmhsu@ccu.edu.tw.
Ying-Ning
YN
Ho
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan, ROC E-mail: bmhsu@ccu.edu.tw.
Yi-Chun
YC
Yang
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan, ROC E-mail: bmhsu@ccu.edu.tw.
Bing-Mu
BM
Hsu
D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D045483:Rivers / Q000821:virology*; D013624:Taiwan; D014871:Water Microbiology