DETECTION OF FASTIDIOUS INFECTIOUS ENTERIC VIRUSES IN WATER

A procedure based on the infection of CaCo-2 cells and molecular hybri dization with specific cDNA probes has been developed for the detectio n of infectious fastidious enteric viruses in environmental samples. C aCo-2 cells, derived from a human colon adenocarcinoma, showed an incr eased sensitivity when compared to the usual routine host cell line to laboratory strains of rotavirus 3, reovirus 3, astrovirus 1, poliovir us 1, coxsackievirus A 24, enterovirus 70, and adenovirus 5, 40, and 4 1. Using this methodology, wild-type rotaviruses, enteric adenoviruses , enteroviruses, and for the first time, astroviruses have been detect ed in freshwater samples. Direct dot-blot hybridization alone was not sufficient for virus detection from environmental samples. CaCo-2 cell s may be used as a universal in vivo amplification system for human en teric viruses, enabling the specific monitoring of infectious viral ag ents in the environment.