[Detection of enteric viruses in wastewater of Monastir region by RT-PCR method].

Background: Wastewater frequently has been contaminated by enteric viruses, which can cause gastroenteritis, hepatitis, and other viral diseases. Since current water treatments do not ensure their complete removal and they become contaminants of the water environment.

Aim: In order to monitor and assess the prevalence and the seasonal incidence of enteric viruses contaminating wastewater, a total of 93 samples were collected from the stations of Sayada-Lamta-Bouhjar and El Frina.

Methods: The purpose of this study is to establish a rapid, sensitive and specific RT-PCR method using highly conserved primers to detect enteric viruses (caliciviruses, enteroviruses and hepatitis A viruses) circulating in the area of Monastir, during the period from October 2005 to July 2006.

Results: Our study shows that the caliciviruses were detected in 67.56% of the wastewater samples and present an essentially winter distribution with a specific peak in spring. The enteroviruses were detected in 35.13% of the samples tested and present a regular circulation during the year with a predominance in the summer and early fall. Finally, the presence of hepatitis A viruses was noted especially in winter in 10.81% of the wastewater samples.

Conclusion: We notice that current wastewater treatment methods are sometimes not efficient to eliminate enteric viruses.