Molecular detection of Human Adenovirus and Human Bocavirus in wastewater and drain water in the western Nile Delta of Egypt

Human Adenovirus (HAdV) and Human Bocavirus (HBoV) are frequently found in different water sources throughout the year. Due to their health impact on humans, continuous monitoring of these viruses is one of the important tools to evaluate their circulation within the society. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of HAdV and HBoV in different environmental samples collected from the western Nile Delta of Egypt. A total of 264 samples were collected from treated and untreated sewage samples (48), sewage sludge samples (24), drainage water samples (96), and drainage sediment samples (96) from December 2019 to November 2021. Molecular detection by nested PCR was performed to detect both viruses in the collected samples. The results indicated that HAdV was more prevalent than HBoV in all types of sewage samples, with the highest detection rate in untreated sewage samples. The detection rates of both viruses were relatively lower in sludge sewage samples. In drainage water and sediment samples, HAdV and HBoV were detected with similar frequencies, although the detection rates were generally lower than those observed in sewage samples. The results of this study emphasize the importance of monitoring the presence of these viruses in environmental samples with proper treatment and disposal of sewage to ensure public health and safety.