Food and Environmental Virology最新文献

H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) continues to spread globally, causing several high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in poultry and significant economic losses. Biosecurity measures that prevent the introduction of HPAIV represent a top priority for controlling HPAI outbreaks on poultry farms. Although these measures are crucial for minimizing HPAI introduction, outbreaks of viral infection on poultry farms persist, underscoring the importance of continuously improving biosecurity protocols. Therefore, safe and effective microbicide disinfectants could play an essential role in reducing viral spread by inactivating viral particles on surfaces and in the air. This study assessed the efficacy of gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) against H5 HPAIV under both gaseous ClO₂ inactivation setting and in vivo conditions. In the gaseous ClO₂ inactivation setting, only low virus titers were recovered (< 0.5–1.5 log₁₀ TCID₅₀/mL) when H5 HPAIV aerosols were exposed to gaseous ClO₂ (0.05 ppmv, 0.14 mg/m³) for 5 min, corresponding to an approximately 2.0–3.0 log₁₀ reduction. Furthermore, in vivo, all chicks exposed to aerosolized H5 HPAIV, which were treated with 0.1 ppmv gaseous ClO_2, survived for 14 days post-challenge, demonstrating complete protection against the virus. The minimum effective concentration of gaseous ClO₂ was 0.01 ppmv for 5 min of inactivation in the inactivation setting, and 0.05 ppmv for 5 min in vivo, indicating that relatively low concentrations are sufficient for effective viral inactivation. Therefore, gaseous ClO₂ was effective at inactivating aerosolized H5 HPAIV and has potential for use as a disinfectant to prevent HPAIV introduction into poultry. (245/250) words.

Norovirus is a leading etiological agent of foodborne illnesses globally, with fresh produce serving as a significant vector for its transmission to humans. This study investigated the internalization potential of norovirus from contaminated irrigation water, focusing on the temporal distribution, persistence, and removability of murine norovirus (MNV) in hydroponically grown green onions. Our results demonstrated that MNV rapidly internalized into the root tissues of green onions within 1 h of exposure, subsequently translocating through the vascular system to the stems and leaves. Viral loads consistently peaked in the roots and persisted for at least 21 days post-inoculation. A single water exchange procedure resulted in a gradual decrease in viral load within plant tissues, although viral genomes remained detectable for up to 21 days. Repeated water exchanges effectively cleared the virus from leaves and stems but failed to eradicate it entirely from the roots. Immunofluorescence analysis localized the virus predominantly within the vascular tissues, specifically the xylem and phloem vessels, and most notably on the rough, porous surfaces of root hairs, where viral particles persisted despite rigorous washing protocols. Collectively, these findings unequivocally demonstrate that MNV can rapidly internalize and establish a sustained, long-term presence within green onion plants, particularly concentrated in the root tissues. This underscores the imperativeness of stringent pre-harvest preventive strategies to mitigate the risk of viral contamination in hydroponic cultivation systems.

Contaminants of emergent concern (CECs), such as pharmaceuticals and microplastics, are increasingly found in aquatic environments, yet their interactions with viral pathogens remain underexplored. This study evaluated the effects of antibiotics, antidepressants, microfibers, and nanoplastics on human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV-5) replication in A549 cells. A series of in vitro assays simulating distinct exposure scenarios across the viral replication cycle was conducted. Results showed that individual pre- or post-infection exposure to CECs did not significantly impact HAdV-5 replication. However, co-incubation of CECs with viral particles at physiological temperature (37 °C) led to a significant increase in viral replication up to 1.5 log₁₀ compared to viral control, highlighting temperature-dependent interactions. No enhancement was observed at room temperature. The findings suggest that CECs can modulate viral infectivity through direct physicochemical interactions, particularly under conditions resembling those of wastewater environments. This study provides new insights into the potential risks posed by the co-occurrence of viruses and CECs in aquatic ecosystems.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries were experiencing rising levels of acute food insecurity due to many factors, for instance, natural disasters, extreme weather and climate events and socioeconomic conditions. Subsequently, COVID-19 led to substantial and pervasive increases in global food insecurity, impacting vulnerable households worldwide. Owing to these facts, the first empirical study intends to investigate the empirical relationship between COVID-19, environmental pollution, and food shortage. We employ rolling window multiple correlation analysis on worldwide daily data of COVID-19 cases, carbon emissions, and food shortage news index from 22nd January 2020 to 29th November 2021. The results reveal a significant correlation between bivariate and multivariate cases over time. In bivariate cases, we find asymmetric but insignificant correlations between COVID-19 vs. food security and food security vs. CO₂ emissions, except for a significant interconnection between COVID-19 vs. CO₂ emissions at different periods. In the trivariate case, CO₂ emissions and COVID-19 significantly and positively correlated to the food shortage index. This study provides policymakers with critical insights into the global food scarcity crisis driven by COVID-19 and climate change.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a useful tool for early detection of multiple pathogens and an effective method for identifying circulating pathogens in a community. To assess the presence of rotaviruses (RVs), Noroviruses (NoVs) and Enteroviruses (EVs) in wastewater, a one-year study was conducted in the city of Zahedan, Iran. A total of 24 untreated wastewater samples were collected from two collection sites between April 2023 and March 2024. These samples were subjected to virus concentration using a biphasic separation system by the polyethylene-glycol (PEG) precipitation method, followed by genome extraction and one-step TaqMan real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) for RV, NoV genogroup I (NoV GI), NoV genogroup II (NoV GII) and EV. Nucleic acid from the positive samples were used for type identification by nested and semi-nested PCR, Sanger sequencing and BLASTn-NCBI analysis. The results indicated that out of the 24 samples tested, 22 samples (91.66%) for RV, 18 samples (75%) for NoV GI, 24 samples (100%) for NoV GII, and 20 samples (83.33%) for EV were positive. The identified types of RVs included: genotype G1 (6 samples) and genotype G9 (1 sample) based on the VP7 region and genotype P[8] (11 samples) based on the VP4 region. For NoV GII, the genotypes identified were P7 (2 samples), P16 (1 sample), and P17 (5 samples). Additionally, the enterovirus types identified included Echovirus 14 (2 samples), Coxsackievirus A5 (1 sample), and Coxsackievirus A22 (1 sample). This study concludes that enteric viruses are highly prevalent in Zahedan and circulate throughout the year, exhibiting significant genotypic diversity.

The environmental resilience of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) enhances its potential for indirect transmission and complicates control efforts. This study evaluated the persistence of PRRSV on polypropylene (PP) and stainless steel (SS). A PRRSV suspension (> 6 log TCID50) was inoculated onto PP and SS coupons (2.2 cm × 2.2 cm) coated with organic soil and allowed to dry for 15 min. Samples were then incubated at 4 °C and 25 °C under 40–45% and 65% relative humidity (RH). Virus recovery and titration were performed on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 post-inoculation using PRRSV-permissive MARC-145 cells in 96-well tissue culture plates. The experiment was conducted in triplicate. At 4 °C/45% RH and 4 °C/65% RH, infectious PRRSV was recovered from both surfaces through day 7, at > 3.6 and 2.9 log TCID50, respectively. At 4 °C/45% RH, a significant reduction was observed by day 3 on PP and by day 1 on SS (P < 0.05), while at 4 °C/65% RH, titers remained stable through day 3 before declining. At 25 °C/40% RH, infectious virus was detectable until day 3 on PP and day 1 on SS, with significantly lower titers thereafter. At 25 °C/65% RH, no infectious virus was detected after day 0 on either surface. These results highlight the persistence of PRRSV under cooler, low-RH conditions and underscore the need for targeted controls to limit viral survival in swine production and feed handling environments.