RISK OF ROTAVIRUS INFECTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSUMPTION OF RAW VEGETABLES

PREZ V,; MARTINEZ L,; MASSACHESSI G,; GIORDANO M; RÉ VE,; BARRIL P,; PAVAN J, ; NATES SV,

Salta

Simposio; III SIMPOSIO LATINOAMERICANO DE VIROLOGIA AMBIENTAL. SALTA, ARGENTINA; 2016

Universidad Salta

An environmental survey was conducted during June-Dec 2012 in Córdoba city, Argentina to assess rotavirus (RV) frequency and G-types diversity simultaneously present in sewage samples collected from the local wastewater treatment plant (n=7), irrigation water from Suquía river (n=12) and raw vegetables from an urban farm located in close proximity to Suquía riverside (n=19). In addition the probability of risk of RV infection (QMRA) by consumption of raw vegetables irrigated with the river water was estimated. Samples were concentrated and assayed by RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. RV frequency and proportional distribution of G-types detected in sewage samples was 100%; G1 15.5%; G2 27%; G3 23%; G4 15.5%, G9 19% in the Suquía river was 75%; G1 9%; G2 14%; G3 27%; G4 14%; G8 9%, G9 27%; and in vegetables was 5.26%; G3 100%. Daily median risk of RV infection associated with individual consumption of 150g of raw vegetables was 0.49. The results suggest that irrigation water from the Suquía river is a possible source of RV contamination in raw vegetables produce in urban farm as well as sewage discharges could be one of the possible sources of viral contamination in the river water. These vegetables may act as a potential source of food-borne rotavirus transmission.