Research Article Open Access

Molecular Detection of Human Enterovirus in Raw and Treated Wastewater from a Sewage Treatment Plant in Mahdia, Tunisia

Abstract

Enterovirus infections are a frequent cause of morbidity around the world. The present study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of sewage treatment for the removal of Enterovirus from wastewater and to compare environmental strains with clinical strains detected in the same region during the same period in order to study the impact of the quality of sewage treatment on public health. A total of 96 wastewater samples collected from March 2012 to February 2013 at entry and exit points from sewage treatment plant of Mahdia, Tunisia were analyzed for EV with an RT-PCR assay. Enteroviral RNA was detected in 24 (25%) sewage samples and circulates throughout the year with predominance during autumn. The strains were identified in 12.5% samples and belong to echovirus subtype. Environmental strains detected were genetically related to those identified in patients with aseptic meningitis in the same region which suggests a correlation between water contamination and aseptic meningitis.

Ines Othman, Ichrak Slama, Jean-Luc Bailly, and Mahjoub Aouni

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