Norovirus GII.Pe Genotype: Tracking a Foodborne Outbreak on a Cruise Ship Through Molecular Epidemiology,Brazil, 2014

Norovirus (NoV) is recognized as the most common cause of foodborne outbreaks. In 2014, an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred on a cruise ship in Brazil, and NoV became the suspected etiology. Here we present the molecular identification of the NoV strains and the use of sequence analysis to determine modes of virus transmission. Food (cream cheese, tuna salad, grilled fish, orange mousse, and vegetables soup) and clinical samples were analyzed by ELISA, conventional RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, and sequencing. Genogroup GII NoV was identified by ELISA and conventional RT-PCR in fecal samples from 5 of 12 patients tested (41.7%), and in the orange mousse food sample by conventional RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. Two fecal GII NoV samples and the orange mousse GII NoV sample were successfully genotyped as GII.Pe (ORF 1), revealed 98.0–98.8% identities among them, and shared phylogenetically distinct cluster. Establishing the source of a NoV outbreak can be a challenging task. In this report, the molecular analysis of the partial RdRp NoV gene provided a powerful tool for genotyping (GII.Pe) and tracking of outbreak-related samples. In addition, the same fast and simple extraction methods applied to clinical samples could be successfully used for complex food matrices, and have the potential to be introduced in routine laboratories for screening foods for presence of NoV.     

Use of Preservative Agents and Antibiotics for Increased Poliovirus Survival on Positively Charged Filters

Environmental surveillance of poliovirus (PV) and other non-enveloped viruses can help identify silent circulation and is necessary to certify eradication. The bag-mediated filtration system is an efficient method to filter large volumes of environmental waters at field sites for monitoring the presence of viruses. As filters may require long transit times to off-site laboratories for processing, viral inactivation or overgrowth of bacteria and fungi can interfere with virus detection and quantification (Miki and Jacquet in Aquatic Microb Ecol 51(2):195–208, 2008). To evaluate virus survival over time on ViroCap^? filters, the filters were seeded with PV type 1 (PV1) and/or MS2 and then dosed with preservatives or antibiotics prior to storage and elution. These filters were stored at various temperatures and time periods, and then eluted for PV1 and MS2 recovery quantification. Filters dosed with the preservative combination of 2% sodium benzoate and 0.2% calcium propionate had increased virus survival over time when stored at 25 °C, compared to samples stored at 25 °C with no preservatives. While elution within 24 h of filtration is recommended, if storage or shipping is required then this preservative mixture can help preserve sample integrity. Addition of an antibiotic cocktail containing cephapirin, gentamicin, and Proclin^? 300 increased recovery after storage at 4 and 25 °C, when compared to storage with no antibiotics. The antibiotic cocktail can aid sample preservation if access to appropriate antibiotics storage is available and sample cold chain is unreliable. This study demonstrated that the use of preservatives or antibiotics is a simple, cost-effective method to improve virus detection from ViroCap cartridge filters over time.     

DNA Heat Treatment for Improving qPCR Analysis of Human Adenovirus in Wastewater

PCR inhibitory substances in complex sample matrices can cause false negatives or under-estimation of target concentration. This study assessed DNA heat treatment for reducing inhibition during qPCR analysis of human adenovirus (HAdV) in wastewater samples. Inhibition was reduced by heat treating DNA, where mean HAdV concentration was increased by 0.71 log₁₀ GC/L (and up to 3.04 log₁₀ GC/L in one case), and replicate variability and false negatives were reduced. DNA heat treatment should be further investigated for improving reliability of HAdV concentration estimates in water, which can support more accurate assessment of health risks associated with viral pathogen exposure.     

Assessment and Evaluation of an Integrated Hybrid Anaerobic–Aerobic Sewage Treatment System for the Removal of Enteric Viruses

The capability of a cost-effective and a small size decentralized pilot wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to remove enteric viruses such as rotavirus, norovirus genogroup I (GGI), norovirus genogroup II (GGII), Hepatitis E virus (HEV), and adenovirus was studied. This pilot plant is an integrated hybrid anaerobic/aerobic setup which consisted of anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), biological aerated filter (BAF), and inclined plate settler (IPS). Both the UASB and BAF are packed with a non-woven polyester fabric (NWPF). Results indicated that the overall log₁₀ reductions of enteric viruses’ genome copies through the whole system were 3.1 ± 1, 3.3 ± 0.5, and 2.6 ± 0.9 log₁₀ for rotavirus, norovirus GGI, and adenovirus, respectively. Reduction efficiency for both norovirus GGII and HEV after the different treatment steps could not be calculated because there were no significant numbers of positive samples for both viruses. The overall reduction of rotavirus infectious units through the whole system was 2.2 ± 0.8 log₁₀ reduction which is very close to the overall log₁₀ reduction of adenovirus infectious units through the whole system which was 2.1 ± 0.8 log₁₀ reduction. There was no considerable difference in the removal efficiency for different rotavirus G and P types. Adenovirus 41 was the only type detected in the all positive samples. Although the pilot WWTP investigated is cost effective, has a small footprint, does not need a long distance network pipes, and easy to operate, its efficiency to remove enteric viruses is comparable with the conventional centralized WWTPs.     

废弃SCR脱硝催化剂的再生及其脱硝性能研究

对废弃脱硝催化剂处理后重新加工再生,研究了添加剂对其粉体成型和再生催化剂脱硝活性的影响,探讨了反应温度、空速、n(NH3)∶n(NO)摩尔比、氧含量、H2O和SO2对再生催化剂NH3选择性催化还原(SCR)NO的影响。结果表明:最佳再生条件是使用5%羧甲基纤维素和10%无机粘结剂辅助成型;废弃催化剂再生利用率高达90%;再生催化剂抗压强度为4.73 MPa,优于商用催化剂;空速5 000 h-1、氨氮摩尔比1、氧含量6%时,脱硝活性温度窗口为310⁴50℃,350℃时活性最高为94%;350℃时,单独通入1 000×10-6SO2或10%H2O对再生催化剂活性均有一定抑制作用,最低活性分别为70%和81%,停止通入SO2或H2O后其活性逐渐恢复;同时通入1 000×10-6SO2和10%H2O,再生催化剂活性下降至63%并于1 h内保持相对稳定,停止通入SO2和H2O 2 h后,活性逐渐恢复到73%。     

三槽氧化沟内底推位置与积泥厚度的分析研究

氧化沟工艺由于进水中含有大量的无机颗粒,无机颗粒的沉淀导致沟内积泥较厚。为了不影响正常生产,依据经验数据,依次对1号、2号氧化沟安装底推。对沟内积泥情况及影响因素进行分析比较,得出氧化沟的积泥主要由进水中密度较大的无机颗粒造成,且积泥规律与底推安装位置和运行情况相关。     

明胶厂剩余高钙污泥作为燃煤固硫剂的应用研究

明胶生产产业在废水处理工艺中产生大量剩余高钙污泥,采用该剩余污泥作为燃煤固硫剂,在高温管式电阻炉内进行燃烧实验,通过测定燃烧前和燃烧后样品中的硫含量确定该剩余污泥的固硫效果。通过单因素研究煤粉粒径、剩余污泥粒径和剩余污泥/煤样%等影响因素对固硫率的影响。在单因素试验的基础上通过正交设计法优选达到较高固硫率的实验条件。实验结果表明:影响固硫率的因素从大到小依次为燃烧温度>剩余污泥/煤样%>煤粉粒径>剩余污泥粒径。以剩余污泥作为固硫剂,固硫率最高的实验条件为:燃烧温度800℃,剩余污泥/煤样为3%,煤粉粒径60⁹0目,剩余污泥粒径9090目,剩余污泥粒径90¹20目。并且,当温度达到1150℃,煤粉粒径90120目。并且,当温度达到1150℃,煤粉粒径90¹20目,剩余污泥粒径为60120目,剩余污泥粒径为60⁹0目,污泥/煤样(质量比)为3%时,固硫率可达62.78%,说明在高温下该剩余污泥保持较高的固硫率。将明胶厂剩余污泥作为固硫剂是较为合适的再利用方法,可有效缓解当前该污泥大量堆积污染环境的状况。