Journal of Water and Health, Apr 2013|doi:10.2166/wh.2013.184
Genomic copy concentrations of selected waterborne viruses in a slum environment in Kampala, Uganda
A. Y. Katukiza, H. Temanu, J. W. Chung, J. W. A. Foppen and P. N. L. Lens
Department of Environmental Engineering and Water Technology, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. BOX 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands E-mail: a.katukiza@unesco-ihe.org; akatukiza@yahoo.com
Department of Water Science and Engineering, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. BOX 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands
Department of Environmental Resources, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. BOX 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands
The presence of viruses in a slum environment where sanitation is poor is a major concern. However, little is known of their occurrence and genomic copy concentration in the slum environment. The main objective of this study was to determine the genomic copy concentrations of human adenoviruses F and G, Rotavirus (RV), Hepatitis A virus (HAV), Hepatitis E virus (HEV) and human adenovirus species A,C,D,E, and F (HAdV-ACDEF) in Bwaise III, a typical slum in Kampala, Uganda. Forty-one samples from surface water, grey water and ground water were collected from 30 sampling locations. The virus particles were recovered by glass wool filtration with elution using beef extract. DNA and RNA viruses were detected by the real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and the reverse transcriptase-qPCR (RT-qPCR), respectively.
HAdV-F and G were detected in 70.7% of the samples with concentrations up to 2.65 × 101 genomic copies per mL (gc mL−1). RV and HAV were detected in 60.9 and 17.1% of the samples, respectively. The maximum concentration of RV was 1.87 × 102gc mL−1. In addition, 78% of the samples tested positive for the HAdV-ACDEF, but all samples tested negative for HEV. These new data are essential for quantitative microbial risk assessment, and for understanding the effects of environmental pollution in slums.
