DETECTION OF WATERBORNE VIRUSES USING RT-PCR METHOD IN URBAN RIVER OF GUANGZHOU, CHINA

Water is one possible vector of many human pathogenic viruses that poses a risk for public health. A total of 111 water samples were collected from urban river at 10 sampling locations in Guangzhou. Four targeted viruses, including the norovirus, rotavirus, hepatitis A virus and astrovirus, were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and then confirmed using internal probe hybridization. All sampling sites (10) were contaminated by at least one kind of the four targeted viruses. In total, 42 (37.8%) out of 111 samples tested positive for the targeted viruses, of which 11 (9.9%) were norovirus, 12 (10.8%) were rotavirus, 15 (13.5%) were hepatitis A virus and 4 (3.6%) were astrovirus. Hepatitis A virus was more prevalent than the other three viruses. Most positive samples were found during the period from August to December. This is the first report regarding the presence of the norovirus, rotavirus, hepatitis A virus and astrovirus in urban river of Guangzhou, China. The presence of waterborne viruses in the urban river of Guangzhou constitutes a public health risk upon exposure. This investigation is very important for the proper management of river within densely populated residential areas.