Environmental hepatitis E virus detection supported by serological evidence in the northwest of Argentina

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emergent cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. Water contamination is a possible source of viral infection. In South America, particularly in Argentina, little is known about environmental HEV circulation, including recreational water. The aim of this work was to provide evidence of current environmental and human circulation of HEV in northern Argentina. Methods: Molecular detection of HEV in water samples from the Arias-Arenales River in the city of Salta by nested polymerase chain reaction (ORF2 region) and anti-HEV immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM detection in the general population by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was carried out. Results: HEV RNA was detected in 1.6% (3/189) of the environmental samples. All sequences belonged to HEV genotype 3 and were very similar to those previously detected in the country. The prevalence of IgG anti-HEV was 9% (13/143) and three samples were positive for specific IgM. Circulation of HEV in the northwest of Argentina was demonstrated for the first time, showing viral presence in environmental samples and infections in people who attended health care centres for routine control. These findings show that recreational waters are a possible source of virus and highlight the need to carry out HEV detection when a case of hepatitis occurs.Fil: Pisano, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Lugo, Belen Catalina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Poma, Hugo Ramiro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Cristobal, Hector Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Raskovsky, Viviana. Hospital Señor del Milagro; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Wassaf, Maribel Graciela. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Rajal, Verónica Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

Preparación de reactivos para uso analítico

El objetivo de este manual es aportar los procedimientos detallados para la preparación de aquellos reactivos de mayor aplicación en las prácticas analíticas habituales a diferentes concentraciones. Consta de cinco partes principales: la primera describe la preparación de reactivos generales de uso corriente; la segunda, incluye la preparación de reactivos especiales; la tercera, muestra la preparación de iones a diferentes concentraciones para ser utilizados como testigo en diversas identificaciones; la cuarta se refiere a los patrones utilizados para prácticas cuantitativas, como por ejemplo, estandarizaciones titulaciones o aplicaciones de uso instrumental y relata la preparación de soluciones de indicadores para distintas titulaciones; y por último, la quinta explica la preparación de distintas soluciones de limpieza aplicables para el material de laboratorio.Fil: Welter, Adriana Beatriz. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Vázquez, Ana María. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Nores Indart, Elena Isabel. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Grumelli, Yanina Alejandra. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Wassaf, Maribel Graciela. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Tavera Busso, Iván. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentin

Hepatitis E virus infection in patients on dialysis and in solid organ transplant recipients in Argentina: exploring associated risk factors

Infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) leads to acute hepatitis infection in immunocompetent hosts. HEV genotype 3 can present with high frequency and lead to chronic infection in individuals with a compromised immune system. The risk factors related to increased seroprevalence or chronicity in this population are not entirely understood. Moreover, most studies addressing risk factors for HEV in non-endemic areas come from developed areas such as North America and Europe. In this study we evaluated seroprevalence, chronicity and risk factors for HEV in 120 transplant recipients and 88 patients on dialysis in Argentina. We found a significantly higher seroprevalence of HEV IgG in those undergoing dialysis compared with healthy controls (10.2% and 4.3% respectively, p = 0.03). No difference in HEV seroprevalence was observed between healthy controls and transplant recipients (5.8%). We found no association between previously identified risk factors for HEV, such as pork consumption or use of tacrolimus, and HEV seroprevalence. In univariate and multivariate analyses, consumption of fish was associated with higher seroprevalence of HEV (OR = 9.33; 95% CI: 2.07–42.2; p = 0.04). None of the samples showed HEV RNA amplification, indicating that chronicity does not seem to be an issue in these cohorts. Our results show increased seroprevalence of HEV in individuals undergoing dialysis but not in transplant recipients. We also found that fish consumption can be a potential risk factor for acquiring HEV.Fil: Pisano, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Balderramo, Domingo. Hospital Privado Centro Médico de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Wassaf, Maribel Graciela. LACE Laboratories; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; ArgentinaFil: Lotto, Martín Miguel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; ArgentinaFil: Carlino, Yanina. Hospital Privado Centro Médico de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Debes, José D.. University of Minnesota; Estados Unido

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus in Córdoba, Argentina

The analysis of the genomes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) identifies phylogenetic variants calledgenotypes, which may lead to distinct biological and clinical behaviors.Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the current molecular epidemiology and genetic diversityof HBV in Córdoba, Argentina. Study design: A total of 52 HBV samples, 40 from HBV mono-infected and 12 from human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV)-HBV co-infected patients, were sequenced in the S gene and in the basal corepromoter-precore (BCP-pC) region.Results: Presence of subgenotypes F1b (35%) and F4 (17.5%), subgenotype A2 (37.5%), C (5.0%) (subgeno-type could not be defined) and D (5.0%) (subgenotype D2, and the other could not be defined) wereobserved among mono-infected patients. The co-infected individuals displayed a different genotypedistribution: sub-genotype A2 was the most common (75.0%), followed by subgenotype F1b (25.0%).Conclusions: These results showed two epidemiologic scenarios: the mono-infected population may rep-resent the ethnic composition of the current human population of Córdoba, where the Amerindian(genotype F) and European origins (subgenotype A2) account for the 90% of the samples; for the co-infected patients, the high prevalence of subgenotype A2 resemble previous analyses from Buenos Aires.In addition, mutations in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), polymerase and BCP-pC regions wereidentified, mainly in chronic or co-infected patients.Fil: Gallego, Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; ArgentinaFil: Pisano, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Caeiro, Luciana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Wassaf, Maribel Graciela. Lace Laboratorios S.a.; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Balangero, Marcos Cesar. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; ArgentinaFil: Campos, Rodolfo Hector. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentin

Hepatitis E virus in South America: the current scenario

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most frequent causes of acute viral hepatitis of enteric transmission worldwide. In South America the overall epidemiology has been little studied, and the burden of the disease remains largely unknown.A research of all scientific articles about HEV circulation in South America until November 2017 was carried out. Human seroprevalences of HEV varied according to the studied population: blood donors presented prevalence rates ranging from 1.8 to 9.8%, while reports from HIV -infected individuals, transplant recipients and patients on hemodialysis showed higher prevalence rates. Only two cases of chronic hepatitis in solid-organ transplant patients from Argentina and Brazil have been described. Detection of HEV in the swine population is widely prevalent in the region.Anti-HEV antibodies have also been detected in other animal species; among them, antibody detection was recently documented in wild boars from Uruguay. Although scarce, studies focused on environmental and food HEV detection have shown viral presence in these kind of samples, highlighting possible transmission sources ofHEV in the continent . HEV genotype 3 was the most frequently detected in the region, with HEV genotype 1 detected only in Venezuela and Uruguay. HEV is widely distributed throughout South America, producing sporadic cases of acutehepatitis, but as a possible agent of chronic hepatitis. Finding the virus in humans, animals, environmental samples and food, show that it can be transmitted through many sources, alerting local governments and health systems to improve diagnosis and for the implementation of preventive measures.Fil: Pisano, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Wassaf, Maribel Graciela. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Mirazo Villar, Santiago. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Fantilli, Anabella Clara. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Arbiza Rodonz, Juan Ramón. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Debes, José. University of Minnesota; Estados UnidosFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

Hepatitis E virus in blood donors from Argentina: A possible source of viral infection?

Background: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes acute hepatitis, which can progress to chronicity in immunosuppressed patients. It is transmitted mainly by the fecal-oral or zoonotic routes, but there is current evidence that it can be transmitted by blood transfusions. The objective of the study was to investigate HEV infections in blood donors in Argentina, within the framework of a hemovigilance program. Methods: A total of 547 samples from Argentinean blood donors, collected in 2016, 2019 and 2020 was studied for IgG and IgM anti-HEV by ELISA (Diapro) and RNA HEV by RT-real time PCR and RT-Nested-PCR. Results: The prevalence of IgG anti-HEV was 3.47% (19/547). No significant differences were registered according to the year studied, sex or age. The presence of RNA HEV was observed in 0.18% (1/547) of the donors studied without serological evidence of infection. Conclusions: This is the first molecular detection in blood donors from Argentina, showing a molecular prevalence within the range described for RNA-HEV in blood donors from other non-endemic countries, in which immunocompetent RNA-HEV positive donors without serological evidence of infection were identified. The presence of viraemic donors could imply transfusion transmission, which deserves further attention and study.Fil: Pisano, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Blanco, Sebastian. Fundación Banco Central de Sangre; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; ArgentinaFil: Di Cola Bucciarelli, Guadalupe. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Fantilli, Anabella Clara. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Wassaf, Maribel Graciela. Lace Laboratorios; ArgentinaFil: Carrizo, Luis H.. Fundación Banco Central de Sangre; ArgentinaFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; ArgentinaFil: Gallego, Sandra Veronica. Fundación Banco Central de Sangre; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

First detection of hepatitis E virus in Central Argentina: Environmental and serological survey

Background: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emergent causative agent of acute hepatitis worldwide, transmitted by fecal-oral route. In Argentina it is considered rare, so differential laboratory testing is not routinely performed. Besides, in Argentina's central area epidemiological and molecular characteristics of HEV are still unknown. Objectives: Provide evidence of local circulation of HEV by molecular detection on environmental samples and by serological survey in healthy adult population of Córdoba city, Argentina. Study design: Environmental surveillance was conducted in river and sewage samples collected between 2007 and 2009–2011. Viral detection was performed by RT-Nested PCR of ORF-1 and ORF-2 partial regions. Anti-HEV IgG was determined by EIA in 433 serum samples collected between 2009 and 2010. Results: HEV was detected in 6.3% of raw sewage samples and in 3.2% of riverine samples. Nucleotide sequencing analyses revealed that all isolates belonged to genotype 3, subtypes a, b and c. The prevalence of IgG anti-HEV was 4.4%. Seroprevalence increased with the age of the individuals (OR: 3.50; 95% CI 1.39–8.87; p = 0.0065) and, although the prevalence was higher in low income population, no statistical relation was found between anti-HEV and socioeconomic level. Conclusions: The environmental findings added to serological results, demonstrate that HEV circulates in central Argentina. Contamination of water with HEV could represent a route of transmission for local populations, which have a high number of susceptible individuals. This fact alerts local health care systems in order to include detection of HEV in the diagnostic algorithm of viral hepatitis.Fil: Martinez Wassaf, Maribel Graciela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina. Laboratorio LACE; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pisano, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Barril, Patricia Angelica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Elbarcha, Osvaldo C.. Laboratorio LACE; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Pinto, Marcelo A.. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Oliveira, Jaqueline Mendes de. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: DiGiusto, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”; ArgentinaFil: Nates, Silvia Viviana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”; ArgentinaFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Universidad Catolica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Phylogeography and evolutionary history of hepatitis E virus genotype 3 in Argentina

BACKGROUND: Few studies about the evolutionary history of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) have been conducted. The aim of our work was to investigate and make inferences about the origin and routes of dispersion of HEV-3 in Argentina. METHODS: Phylogenetic, coalescent and phylogeographic analyses were performed using a 322-bp ORF2 genomic fragment of all HEV-3 sequences with known date and place of isolation published at GenBank until May 2018 (n=926), including 16 Argentinian sequences (isolated from pigs, water and humans). RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed two clades within HEV-3: abchij and efg. All Argentinian samples were grouped intermingled within clade 3abchij. The coalescent analysis showed that the most recent common ancestor for the clade 3abchij would have existed around the year 1967 (95% highest posterior density (HPD): 1963-1970). The estimated substitution rate was 1.01×10-2 (95%HPD: 9.3×10-3-1.09×10-2) substitutions/site/y, comparable with the rate previously described. The phylogeographic approach revealed a correspondence between phylogeny and place of origin for Argentinian samples, suggesting many HEV introductions in the country, probably from Europe and Japan. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first evolutionary inference of HEV-3 that includes Argentinian strains, showing the circulation of many HEV-3 subtypes, obtained from different sources and places, with recent diversification processes. ACCESSION NUMBERS: [KX812460], [KX812461], [KX812462], [KX812465], [KX812466], [KX812467], [KX812468], [KX812469].Fil: Pisano, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Culasso, Andrés Carlos Alberto. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Altabert, Nancy. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación.Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán"; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Wassaf, Maribel Graciela. LACE Laboratorios. Virología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Nates, Silvia Viviana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; ArgentinaFil: González, Jorge Enrique. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación.Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán"; ArgentinaFil: Contigiani de Minio, Marta Silvia. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación.Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán"; ArgentinaFil: Campos, Rodolfo Hector. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentin

Searching variables to assess recreational water quality: the presence of infectious human enterovirus and its correlation with the main variables of water pollution by multivariate statistical approach in Córdoba, Argentina

Surface waters are used by local populations for different purposes, such as recreational activities, water source for human and animal consumption, and irrigation among others, which lead to the need for management strategies on water health and associated risks. During this study, we investigated physicochemical parameters, fecal coliform bacteria, and infectious human enterovirus detection to determine the water quality in different beaches (categorized as an urban area, non-urban areas, and an intermediate position) from San Roque Dam, in Argentina. Multivariate techniques were applied. Principal component analysis allowed identification of subgroup of variables responsible for the water quality. A cluster analysis and multivariate analysis of variance showed the urban beach as the highest pollution area. The following variables (measured at the urban beach) would be enough to describe the quality of the aquatic body: nitrites, fecal coliforms, total phosphorous, and infectious human enterovirus. The infectious human enterovirus was an independent variable detected in 69.1% of the samples showing a steady frequency of detection during the whole period studied and could identify human fecal contaminations as a source of water pollution. The selected variables would contribute to water quality regarding the risk for human health using San Roque dam waters for recreational propose.Fil: Aguirre, Belquis Pamela. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Masachessi, Gisela. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Ferreyra, Leonardo Jesús. Universidad Nacional de La Rioja; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Biganzoli, Patricia. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Grumelli, Yanina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Diaz Panero, Mariángeles. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Wassaf, Maribel Graciela. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Pisano, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Welter, Adriana Beatriz. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Mangeaud, Arnaldo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Nates, Silvia Viviana. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Pavan, Jorge Victorio. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología; Argentin

Enteric Viruses in Surface Waters from Argentina: Molecular and Viable-Virus Detection

Water resources contaminated with wastewater are an important source for the dissemination of enteric viruses with an impact on the health of the population. The aim of the study was to assess the viral contamination of freshwater from a dam in Argentina by using infectious enterovirus detection, viral RNA amplification, and a genetic characterization of five enteric viruses associated with diarrhea and hepatitis. Enterovirus infectivity (iEV) was evaluated by cell culture and direct immunofluorescence. The detection of the viral genome of rotavirus (RV), human astrovirus (HAstV), norovirus (NoV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV) was performed by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). A total of 48 water samples from 4 monitoring points on the body of the dam from January to December 2012 and 66 water samples from 3 tourist beaches on the edge of the dam from October 2013 to October 2015 were collected monthly. During the first period, the overall viral frequency detection was 52.1% for group A RV, 50% for HAstV, 60.4% for NoV, 22.9% for HAV, 2.1% for HEV, and 64.6% for iEV. The overall frequency detection for the second sampling was 18.2% for RV and HAstV, 31.8% for NoV, 7.57% for HEV, and 66.7% for iEV. There was no detection of HAV during this period. The genotypes and genogroups detected through the study correlated with the most common genomic variants associated with human gastrointestinal and hepatitis illnesses. The results obtained could alert the health systems and environmental sanitation to make decisions for viral control and prevention in our environment.Fil: Masachessi, Gisela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella"; ArgentinaFil: Pisano, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella"; ArgentinaFil: Prez, Verónica Emilse. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella"; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, L.C.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella"; ArgentinaFil: Michelena, J. F.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella"; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Wassaf, Maribel Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Giordano, Miguel Oscar. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella"; ArgentinaFil: Isa, Maria Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella"; ArgentinaFil: Pavan, Jorge Victorio. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella"; ArgentinaFil: Welter, Adriana Beatriz. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Nates, Silvia Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella"; ArgentinaFil: Ré, Viviana Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella"; Argentin