Dynamic and Seasonal Distribution of Enteric Viruses in Surface and Well Water in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

• Published in: Pathogens (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 12; p. 1405
• Main Authors: Abid, Islem, Blanco, Albert, Al-Otaibi, Nawal, Guix, Susana, Costafreda, Maria I, Pintó, Rosa M, Bosch, Albert
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29.11.2023
• Subjects: Acids; Analysis; Aquatic resources; Bioremediation; Care and treatment; Contamination; Control; Developing countries; Diagnosis; Enterobacter; Enterobacteriaceae; Gastroenteritis; Genotype & phenotype; Groundwater; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; hepatitis E; Identification and classification; LDCs; norovirus; Pathogens; Polyethylene glycol; real-time RT-qPCR; Risk factors; Rivers; Seasonal distribution; Seasonal variations (Diseases); Surface water; Viruses; Water analysis; Water sampling; Water treatment; Well water; Saudi Arabia; Riyadh Saudi Arabia; hepatitis E; hepatitis A; real-time RT-qPCR; norovirus
• ISSN: 2076-0817; 2076-0817
• DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121405

Enteric viruses are the major cause of gastroenteritis and enteric hepatitis worldwide, but in some areas like Saudi Arabia, little is known about their presence in water sources. The available information from clinical samples is not enough to figure out their actual prevalence. The aim of this study was to gather information for the first time in Saudi Arabia on the presence of the 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 from Lake Wadi Hanifa and surrounding wells from December 2014 to November 2015. Viruses were detected and quantified using real-time RT-qPCR. Despite HEV findings being 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% vs. 12.5% of NoV GI; 66.67% vs. 8.33% 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, with NoV GII apparently not affected.