Frequency of HEV contamination in sewerage waters in Pakistan

Authors

  • Tahir Ahmad National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan
  • Yasir Waheed National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan
  • Sadia Tahir National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan
  • Sher Zaman Safi National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan
  • Kaneez Fatima National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan
  • Muhammad Sohail Afzal National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan
  • Zia-ur-Rehman Farooqi National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan
  • Ishtiaq Qadri National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.612

Keywords:

HEV, PCR, detection method, sewerage water

Abstract

Introduction: Enteric viruses, including Hepatitis E virus (HEV), are able to persist under environmental conditions and may cause public health problems by contaminating natural and drinking water resources. Routine procedures for monitoring viruses in water samples have not been established for the water microbiology screening panel.

Methodology: Eighty-six raw sewerage samples were collected from the different regions of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the twin cities of Pakistan. Samples were concentrated for HEV, using a polyethylene glycol-based method followed by viral RNA extraction using a commercial kit-based method. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with HEV specific primers was used for the detection of HEV.

Results: The present investigation focused on 86 raw sewerage water samples taken from different locations of drainage outlets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. After careful experimentation, 35 samples were found to be RT-PCR positive.  Nineteen (44.7%) out of 47 samples from Rawalpindi city were HEV positive while 16 (41.02%) out of 39 samples from Islamabad were HEV positive. All positive samples were found in the highly congested areas.

Conclusions: The high detection rate of HEV in this study shows that HEV circulates at a relatively high frequency in the sewerage waters in Pakistan. This study is the first report on detection of HEV from sewerage waste water from Pakistan and suggests that HEV might be a potent indicator of viral pollution in environmental specimens.

Author Biographies

Tahir Ahmad, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan

Demonstrator, NUST Center of Virology and immunology, National University of Sciences & Technology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Yasir Waheed, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan

PhD Student and research officer, NUST Center of Virology and immunology, National University of Sciences & Technology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Sadia Tahir, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan

PhD Student and Demonstrator, NUST Center of Virology and immunology, National University of Sciences & Technology, 

Sher Zaman Safi, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan

PhD Student, NUST Center of Virology and immunology, National University of Sciences & Technology,

Kaneez Fatima, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan

PhD Student and lecturer, NUST Center of Virology and immunology, National University of Sciences & Technology,

Muhammad Sohail Afzal, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan

PhD Student, NUST Center of Virology and immunology, National University of Sciences & Technology,

Zia-ur-Rehman Farooqi, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan

PhD Student, NUST Center of Virology and immunology, National University of Sciences & Technology,

Ishtiaq Qadri, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan

 Ishtiaq Qadri, (Ph.D). Professor & Director General NUST Center of Virology and immunology, National University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

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Published

2010-10-07

How to Cite

1.
Ahmad T, Waheed Y, Tahir S, Safi SZ, Fatima K, Afzal MS, Farooqi Z- ur-R, Qadri I (2010) Frequency of HEV contamination in sewerage waters in Pakistan. J Infect Dev Ctries 4:842–845. doi: 10.3855/jidc.612

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 12: December 2010

Section

Original Articles

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