Human enteric viruses in a wastewater treatment plant: evaluation of activated sludge combined with UV disinfection process reveals different removal performances for viruses with different features

This study assess the quality of wastewater through the detection and quantification of important causing gastroenteritis viruses at different stages of the wastewater treatment process in an activated‐sludge wastewater treatment plant with ultraviolet disinfection. Ten sampling events were carried out in a campaign along a period of 18 months collecting wastewater samples from the influent, after the activated sludge treatment, and after the final disinfection with UV radiation. Samples were concentrated through ultracentrifugation and analyzed using retro‐transcription, PCR and real time quantitative PCR protocols, for detection and quantification of Group A Rotavirus (RVA), Human Astrovirus (HAstV), Norovirus Genogroup II (NoV GII) and Human Adenovirus (HAdV). HAdV (100%), NoV GII (90%), RVA (70%) and HAstV (60%) were detected in influent samples with concentration from 1.4 (NoV GII) to 8.0 (RVA) log₁₀ gc lˉ¹. Activated sludge treatment reached well quality effluents with low organic material concentration, although non‐statistical significant differences were registered among influent and post activated sludge treatment samples, regarding the presence and concentration for most viruses. All post UV samples were negative for NoV GII and HAstV, although RVA and HAdV were detected in 38% and 63% of those samples, respectively, with concentration ranging from 2.2 to 5.5 and 3.1 to 3.4 log₁₀ gc lˉ¹. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Source: Letters in Applied Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research