Food and Environmental Virology最新文献

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.

The atypical arrival of Sargassum spp. along the Mexican Caribbean coast has raised environmental and public health concerns. This study assessed the occurrence of enteric viruses—Human adenovirus (HAdV), Norovirus genogroups I and II (NoV GI, GII), Aichi virus (AiV)—and the viral indicator Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in seawater during Sargassum tides (2020–2021) and in Sargassum-free conditions (2022). Seawater samples (15 L) were collected seasonally and processed using ultrafiltration and adsorption-elution methods, followed by nucleic acid extraction and quantification via qPCR/RT-qPCR. Enterococci were detected in all samples collected during Sargassum tides, where 87% (7/8) of the samples met recreational water quality standards (< 200 MPN/100 mL). NoV GI and GII were detected in all Sargassum-associated samples (10²–10³ and 10¹–10³ genome copies/L, respectively), while HAdV and AiV were found in 50% of samples (10¹–10² GC/L). In contrast, in Sargassum-free seawater, HAdV and NoV GII were detected in 66% of the samples (10² to 10⁴ GC/L, respectively), NoV GI was detected only in 33% of the samples (10² GC/L), and AiV was not detected. PMMoV was consistently present, with higher concentrations during Sargassum tides (10²–10⁴GC/L) compared to Sargassum-free periods (up to 10² GC/L). A significant difference was observed in the viral concentration profile detected in Sargassum tides compared to Sargassum-free seawater. These findings suggest that Sargassum tides may influence the occurrence and concentration of fecal-associated viruses in coastal waters. The detection of enteric virus genomes in recreational seawater highlights potential public health risks and underscores the need for integrated coastal monitoring strategies in regions affected by macroalgal influxes.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) represents a valuable tool for assessing viral circulation at the community level. Human bocavirus (HBoV), a member of the Parvoviridae family with four genotypes (HBoV1–4), has been detected in respiratory and enteric samples, although its environmental epidemiology remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate the presence and diversity of HBoV in wastewater samples from Córdoba, Argentina, during 2020–2021. A total of 84 raw sewage samples collected at the city’s wastewater treatment plant were analyzed by nested PCR and sequencing of the VP1/VP2 and NP1 regions. HBoV DNA was detected in 44% of samples, with higher circulation in 2020 (69.7%) compared to 2021 (27.4%), and a seasonal trend peaking in winter and spring. Phylogenetic analyses revealed 15 sequences clustering with HBoV2 and 11 with HBoV3, while three HBoV1-positive samples were confirmed by NP1 sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first report of HBoV detection in environmental samples from Argentina, documenting the co-circulation of three genotypes (HBoV1–3) in a single urban setting. These findings underscore the usefulness of WBE for monitoring bocavirus diversity and circulation in the community.

Enteroviruses (EVs), including those linked with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), are commonly transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Considering the underreporting of HFMD-associated EVs and Nepal’s significant burden of enteric disease, wastewater surveillance presents a vital tool for monitoring community-level viral transmission. Through this study, we intended to detect EVs, including EVA serotypes that are often associated with HFMD, in wastewater to support public health surveillance. Raw influent wastewater samples (n = 25) collected previously during April–October 2022 from a wastewater treatment plant in Kathmandu, Nepal, were tested for the presence of EVs and four serotypes of EV type A (EVA), namely EVA71, Coxsackievirus A types 6 (CVA6), 10 (CVA10), and 16 (CVA16), by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In all samples, EVs were detected with concentrations of 7.4 ± 0.4 log₁₀ copies/L. In addition, EVA71 was detected in 64% (16/25) of the samples, with concentrations of 5.3 ± 0.5 log₁₀ copies/L, suggesting frequent detection with more prominent peaks around the pre-monsoon (75%, April and May) and monsoon seasons (71%, June–September). CVA6, CVA10, and CVA16 were not detected in any of the tested samples. The present findings demonstrated the high prevalence of EVs in wastewater in Kathmandu. This study is the first to indicate the presence of EVA71 in the wastewater of Nepal. The co-detection of EVs and EVA71, along with respiratory viruses (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, influenza A virus, and respiratory syncytial virus) and hepatitis virus, detected in our previous studies, was also explored in the present study. Except for respiratory syncytial virus, all tested viruses were more frequently co-detected in 36% (9/25) of the samples, especially during the monsoon (43%, 6/14) and pre-monsoon (38%, 3/8) seasons. The co-detection of multiple viruses underscores the necessity for integrated viral surveillance and calls for further investigation into the clinical implications of co-infections.

This study assessed the presence and concentration of crAssphage, pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and human mastadenovirus (HAdV) as potential indicators of human fecal contamination in different aquatic matrices. A total of 75 stream and seawater samples were collected between 2020 and 2021 across four watersheds displaying varying urbanization degrees in Brazil. Viral particles were concentrated employing the adsorption-elution method followed by ultrafiltration and quantified by qPCR/RT-qPCR. The findings indicate that crAssphage was the most frequently detected (65.33%), followed by PMMoV (45.33%) and HAdV (44.00%). CrAssphage also exhibited the highest viral loads in stream water (median of 6.49 log₁₀ GC L⁻¹), reflecting a strong association with domestic sewage. Comparatively, PMMoV showed similar detection rates in both matrices, whereas HAdV exhibited higher detection rates in stream water. Higher crAssphage and PMMoV concentrations were observed in watersheds located in higher population density areas when compared to lower density areas. No viruses were detected upstream of the urbanized regions, confirming the specificity of the selected viral indicators. In this sense, crAssphage and HAdV are more suitable for monitoring stream water bodies affected by human activities, while PMMoV is suited for both matrices. The findings suggest that the three viruses emerged as promising indicators for tracking human fecal contamination in aquatic matrices with different characteristics.

The presence of multiple viral genotypes of rotavirus A (RAV) and norovirus (NV) circulating among human population and environment is of particular concern to global public health. Hence, the viral prevalence and genetic diversity presented in influent wastewater from Bangkok wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was investigated. A total of 89 influent wastewater samples were collected by composite sampling from 10 Bangkok WWTPs between January and May 2023. The wastewater samples were concentrated and extracted for the total nucleic acid. Purified total viral RNA was subjected for cDNA synthesis, conventional PCR for detecting RAV, NV GI and GII, and DNA sequencing. The detection rate of RAV, NV GI and GII was 13.5% (12/89), 94.4% (84/89) and 89.9% (80/89), respectively. Co-detection was observed accounting 74.2% (66/89) and 13.5% (12/89) for NV GI + GII and NV GI + GII + RAV, respectively. A total of 76 viral sequences including 11 RAV, 33 NV GI, and 32 NV GII, were obtained and phylogenetically analyzed for viral genotyping. All RAV belonged to genotype G3 (100.0%). The 33 NV GI were identified in four distinct genotypes comprising GI.5 (72.7%), GI.3 (9.1%), GI.4 (9.1%), and GI.6 (9.1%). For NV GII, the genotype GII.17 was the most prevalent, accounting 87.5% followed by GII.2 (6.25%), GII.3 (3.13%), and GII.9 (3.13%). This study demonstrated the presence of RAV and multiple genotypes of NV GI and GII contaminating and co-circulating in community wastewater during COVID-19 situation in Bangkok. Viral dynamics between human population and environment raised potentially concerns for epidemiological patterns, affecting human health and safety.