Enteric viruses as contaminants and bioindicators in environmental samples

Abstract

Gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and other diseases can be caused by enteric viruses transmitted by fecal-oral route. Human adenoviruses (HAdV), rotavirus A and C (RVA and RVC, respectively), hepatitis A and E virus (HAV and HEV, respectively), human astroviruses (HAstV), human noroviruses (HuNV) and enteroviruses (EV) are, among the enteric viruses, the most frequently detected in environment samples. These viruses are usually introduced into aquatic environments by human, industrial, or agricultural activities and are widely distributed all over the world. They have the common characteristics to be structurally stable and can also absorb to solid particles and biofilms, thereby protecting themselves from inactivating factors. This revision aimed to present and discuss: i) most relevant enteric viruses for human and animal health; ii) enteric viruses as contaminants and bioindicators in environmental samples; iii) molecular and cell culture methods for enteric virus detection; iv) use of enteric viruses for microbial risk assessment. Impacts of enteric viruses on environment and the potential use as bioindicators of the sanitary security, such as presence and infectivity studies were discussed as development of new tools for disinfection, monitoring, risk modeling and management, among other studies.