F-SPECIFIC RNA BACTERIOPHAGES ARE ADEQUATE MODEL ORGANISMS FOR ENTERIC VIRUSES IN FRESH-WATER

Culturable enteroviruses were detected by applying concentration techn iques and by inoculating the concentrates on the BGM cell line. Sample s were obtained from a wide variety of environments, including raw sew age, secondary effluent, coagulated effluent, chlorinated and UV-irrad iated effluents, river water, coagulated river water, and lake water. The virus concentrations varied widely between 0.001 and 570/liter. Th e same cell line also supported growth of reoviruses, which were abund ant in winter (up to 95% of the viruses detected) and scarce in summer (less than 15%). The concentrations of three groups of model organism s in relation to virus concentrations were also studied. The concentra tions of bacteria (thermotolerant coliforms and fecal streptococci) we re significantly correlated with virus concentrations in river water a nd coagulated secondary effluent, but were relatively low in disinfect ed effluents and relatively high in surface water open to nonhuman fec al pollution. The concentrations of F-specific RNA bacteriophages (FRN A phages) were highly correlated with virus concentrations in all envi ronments studied except raw and biologically treated sewage. Numerical relationships were consistent over the whole range of environments; t he regression equations for FRNA phages on viruses in river water and lake water were statistically equivalent. These relationships support the possibility that enteric virus concentrations can be predicted fro m FRNA phage data.