Genomic fragment detection and infectivity evaluation of rotaviruses isolated from wastewater used for irrigation in western Bogotá, D. C.

Abstract

Introduction: Enteric viruses significantly impact morbidity, mortality, and healthcare. Transmission through wastewater is favoured in highly contaminated areas due to inadequate treatment.

Objective: To determine the number of rotaviruses and their infectious capacity from wastewater samples used for irrigation in the western part of Bogotá.

Materials and methods: Concentrations of group A rotavirus were monitored in wastewater using molecular methods. The infectivity of rotaviruses was evaluated in a mouse intestinal villi model. We assessed the feasibility of applying this approach for environmental health surveillance in Colombia, considering findings reported by other authors.

Results: The research focused on the La Ramada irrigation network in the western part of Bogotá, specifically the Canal San José. We analysed eighteen wastewater samples using qRT-PCR and detected group A rotavirus in twelve of them. The positive samples contained infectious rotavirus, as confirmed through the mouse villi model.

Conclusion: This study shows that contamination by group A rotavirus is frequent in wastewaters from the Canal San José in the La Ramada irrigation network in the western part of Bogotá and reveals high concentrations of rotavirus. The results suggest that villi from mouse intestines serve as a reliable model for isolating rotavirus from wastewaters. These findings provide a new approach for environmental health surveillance in Colombia, based on molecular epidemiology for waters highly contaminated with human enteric viruses.