Detection of small round structured viruses in artificially contaminated water using filter adsorption and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

The small round structured viruses (SRSV) are common causes of gastroenteri tis worldwide. Fecally contaminated water is an important vehicle for trans mission, but detection of SRSV in environmental samples has been hampered b y the lack of sensitive detection methods. The present work describes the d etection of SRSV in artificially contaminated deionized water and raw drink ing water. SRSV-containing fecal extracts were added to water and Virus was recovered by filter adsorption-elution, followed by flocculation. RNA was extracted and SRSV were detected by the use of reverse transcription polyme rase chain reaction. The sensitivity of the method corresponded to a positi ve SRSV detection in 500 mi deionized water with an estimated concentration of 0.5-5 virus particles per mi. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.