LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON OCCURRENCE OF ADENOVIRUSES AND HEPATITIS A VIRUS IN RAW DOMESTIC SEWAGE IN THE CITY OF LIMEIRA, SÃO PAULO

The aim of this study was to verify the presence and annual distribution of adenoviruses and hepatitis A virus in domestic sewage in the city of Limeira, São Paulo. Fifty samples with a volume of 8 liters each were collected weekly from December 2004 to December 2005. The viruses were concentrated by filtration through positively charged ZP60S filter membranes, followed by ultracentrifugation. Human adenoviruses (HAdV) were detected by PCR followed by nested-PCR and screening for species F was done by restriction of the PCR product with TaqI endonuclease. Virus infectivity assays were performed by inoculation of concentrates onto HEp-2 cell monolayers. RT-PCR was used for the detection of hepatitis A virus. HAdV were detected in all samples, and 64 % of samples were positive for infectious virus. Species F was present in 82 % of the samples. Hepatitis A virus was detected in 48 % of the samples. These results demonstrate that HAdV and HAV were present in the domestic sewage of Limeira throughout the period of study, demonstrating the importance of an adequate treatment before the disposal in the environment. Key-words: adenoviruses, human adenovirus F, hepatitis A virus, sewage treatment