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Detection of Human Adenovirus, Rotavirus, and Enterovirus in Tap Water and Their Association with the Overall Quality of Water in Karachi, Pakistan

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Abstract

Drinking water supplies in the developing world often serve as a biosphere for various organisms. Viral gastroenteritis is a neglected area of research in Pakistan, there are no data for the prevalence of enteric viruses in drinking water of the largest city of Karachi. The present study aimed to provide a survey of the existence of enteric viruses: human adenovirus (HAdV), human enteroviruses (hEV), and genotype A rotavirus (GARV) in tap water. Using a simple PCR approach, we detected 20%, 43%, and 23% of HAdV, hEV, and GARV in tap water samples, respectively. We have also shown an overall quality deficit of tap water at the pumping station and consumer tap. We have found no sample free from bacterial contaminations. The ranges for a total number of the heterotrophic plate count and coliform were found 8.7 × 102–4.5 × 106 CFU/mL and 210 to uncountable coliforms/100 mL, respectively. Moreover, we assessed the efficiency of small-scale water treatment methods for the removal of viruses.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Fernando Rosado Spilki for his generous support in this project by providing viral DNA. Financial support from the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi, Pakistan, through an institutional fund for the Young Researcher Support Program is gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

The research was carried out with the financial support from the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi, Pakistan under the program of Young Researcher Support Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Virology, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, (PCMD) International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

    Muhammad Rashid

  2. Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) Laboratories Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

    Muhammad Naseem Khan & Nusrat Jalbani

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  1. Muhammad Rashid
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  2. Muhammad Naseem Khan
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Correspondence to Muhammad Rashid.

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Rashid, M., Khan, M.N. & Jalbani, N. Detection of Human Adenovirus, Rotavirus, and Enterovirus in Tap Water and Their Association with the Overall Quality of Water in Karachi, Pakistan. Food Environ Virol 13, 44–52 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12560-020-09448-8

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