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.     

Cost-performance analysis of nutrient removal in a full-scale oxidation ditch process based on kinetic modeling

A full-scale oxidation ditch process for treating sewage was simulated with the ASM2d model and optimized for minimal cost with acceptable performance in terms of ammonium and phosphorus removal. A unified index was introduced by integrating operational costs (aeration energy and sludge production) with effluent violations for performance evaluation. Scenario analysis showed that,in comparison with the baseline (all of the 9 aerators activated), the strategy of activating 5 aerators could save aeration energy significantly with an ammonium violation below 10%. Sludge discharge scenario analysis showed that a sludge discharge flow of 250–300 m3/day (solid retention time (SRT), 13–15 days) was appropriate for the enhancement of phosphorus removal without excessive sludge production. The proposed optimal control strategy was: activating 5 rotating disks operated with a mode of "111100100" ( "1"represents activation and "0" represents inactivation) for aeration and sludge discharge flow of 200 m3/day (SRT, 19 days). Compared with the baseline, this strategy could achieve ammonium violation below 10% and TP violation below 30% with substantial reduction of aeration energy cost (46%) and minimal increment of sludge production (< 2%). This study provides a useful approach for the optimization of process operation and control.     

太湖流域典型河流沉积物重金属污染特征及生态风险评价

武宜运河位于太湖西部贯穿大部分太湖入湖河流,其重金属污染的研究,对太湖重金属污染来源,流域管理具有重要的意义。因此,2012年8月对武宜运河全程底质调查,分析了沉积物中Cu、Zn、Pb、Ni、Cr等元素,通过地累积指数评价、相关分析、潜在生态风险评价以及相关研究对比分析,得出以下结论:1)Cu、Zn、Pb、Ni、Cr污染浓度均值为129.38,207.74,52.13,28.26,77.06 mg/kg,其中Cu、Zn、Pb、Ni、Cr均超过毒性参考值(TRV),Cu超标达800%。Zn、Pb、Cr在世界湖泊沉积物中微量金属的范围(WCTMEL)内,Cu超出144%,Ni略低于WCTMEL;2)Ni-Cr、Zn-Pb具有较好的同源性。且Cu、Zn污染较高,达到"中—强"和"强"污染级别,Pb污染级别其次,Ni、Cr污染级别较低或无污染。可以排除武宜运河携带Ni、Cr污染物进入入湖河网的可能;3)Cu为武宜运河生态风险主要贡献因子。需加强工业园区地段重金属污染控制,减少污染来源,加大武宜运河对连同入湖水系的清水补充。     

An online monitoring system for atmospheric nitrous acid (HONO) based on stripping coil and ion chromatography

A new instrument for measuring atmospheric nitrous acid(HONO) was developed,consisting of a double-wall glass stripping coil sampler coupled with ion chromatography(SC-IC).SC-IC is featured by small size(50 × 35 × 25 cm) and modular construction,including three independent parts:the sampling unit,the transfer and supporting unit,and the detection unit.High collection efficiency(> 99%) was achieved with 25 μmol/L Na2CO3 as absorption solution even in the presence of highly acidic compounds.This instrument has a detection limit of 8 pptv at 15 min time resolution,with a measurement uncertainty of 7%.Potential interferences from NOx,NO2+SO2,NO2+VOCs,HONO+O3,HNO3,peroxyacetyl nitrite(PAN) and particle nitrite were quantified in laboratory studies and were found to be insignificant under typical atmospheric conditions.Within the framework of the 3C-STAR project,inter-comparison between the SC-IC and LOPAP(long path liquid absorption photometer) was conducted at a rural site in the Pearl River Delta.Good agreement was achieved between the two instruments over three weeks.Both instruments determined a clear diurnal profile of ambient HONO concentrations from 0.1 to 2.5 ppbv.However,deviations were found for low ambient HONO concentrations(i.e.< 0.3 ppbv),which cannot be explained by previous investigated interference species.To accurately determine the HONO budget under illuminated conditions,more intercomparison of HONO measurement techniques is still needed in future studies,especially at low HONO concentrations.