Evidence of the circulation of hepatitis A virus, subgenotype IA, in environmental samples from Antioquia, Colombia.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an important pathogen, typically transmitted via the faecal-oral route. The epidemiology of the infection is directly related to drinking water access and adequate disposal of sewage water.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the presence and identify the genotype of HAV in environmental samples from eight municipalities and two villages in Antioquia, northwestern Colombia.


METHODS
Three serial samplings were done between December, 2012, and April, 2014. Water samples were obtained from drinking water plants prior to treatment, as well as from the main reserve of wastewater in each municipality included in the study. Viral concentrations for the two types of sample sources were determined by filtration/tangential ultrafiltration and polyethyleneglycol plus flocculation with skimmed milk, respectively. Total ARN was subsequently obtained from each sample and the VP3-VP1 region amplified for detection of the viral genome. The genotype was determined by amplification of the VP1-2B region.


RESULTS
The HAV genome was detected in samples from drinking water plants at Puerto Berrío, Frontino and Nutibara, and in wastewater samples from the municipalities of Arboletes, Zaragoza and Venecia. HAV subgenotype IA was identified using phylogenetic analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, HAV was identified in 6.6% of the samples from drinking water plants and 13.3% of wastewater samples. This is the first report of HAV subgenotype IA circulating in environmental samples from Antioquia.
Grupo de Gastrohepatología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. pa.baez40@gmail.com.
Paula Andrea
PA
Báez
Carlos Mario
CM
Jaramillo
Lina
L
Arismendi
Julio Cesar
JC
Rendón
Fabián
F
Cortés-Mancera
Dioselina
D
Peláez
María Mercedes
MM
González
Francisco
F
Molina
María Cristina
MC
Navas
D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics
D012367:RNA, Viral
Hepatitis viruses; drinking water; genotype; phylogeny; public health; waste water