Abid, I.; Blanco, A.; Al-Otaibi, N.; Guix, S.; Costafreda, M.I.; Pintó, R.M.; Bosch, A. Dynamic and Seasonal Distribution of Enteric Viruses in Surface and Well Water in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). Pathogens2023, 12, 1405.
Abid, I.; Blanco, A.; Al-Otaibi, N.; Guix, S.; Costafreda, M.I.; Pintó, R.M.; Bosch, A. Dynamic and Seasonal Distribution of Enteric Viruses in Surface and Well Water in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). Pathogens 2023, 12, 1405.
Abid, I.; Blanco, A.; Al-Otaibi, N.; Guix, S.; Costafreda, M.I.; Pintó, R.M.; Bosch, A. Dynamic and Seasonal Distribution of Enteric Viruses in Surface and Well Water in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). Pathogens2023, 12, 1405.
Abid, I.; Blanco, A.; Al-Otaibi, N.; Guix, S.; Costafreda, M.I.; Pintó, R.M.; Bosch, A. Dynamic and Seasonal Distribution of Enteric Viruses in Surface and Well Water in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). Pathogens 2023, 12, 1405.
Abstract
Enteric viruses are the major cause of gastroenteritis and enteric hepatitis worldwide, but in some areas like Saudi Arabia little data is known about their presence in water sources. The available information from clinical samples is not enough to figure their actual prevalence. The aim of this study was to gather information for the first time in Saudi Arabia on the presence of Norovirus (NoV) genogroup GI and GII, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in water. For this purpose, thirteen monthly samples were collected in lake Wadi Hanifa and surrounding wells from December 2014 to November 2015. Viruses were detected and quantified by Real-time RT-qPCR. Despite HEV findings were anecdotic, our results highlight interesting behaviors of the other viruses. There was a higher prevalence of noroviruses in Wadi Hanifa samples than in well water samples (46.43% vs12.5% of NoV GI; 66.67% vs8.33% of NoV GII). On the contrary, similar levels of HAV positivity were observed (40.48% in surface water vs 43.06% in well water). Also, a strong influence of flooding events on HAV and NoV GI occurrence was observed in both surface and well water samples, being NoV GII apparently not affected.
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