Tracking enteric viruses in green vegetables from central Argentina: potential association with viral contamination of irrigation waters

PREZ, V.E.; MARTÍNEZ, L.C.; VICTORIA, M.; GIORDANO, M.O.; MASACHESSI, G.; RÉ, V.E.; PAVAN, J.V.; COLINA, R.; BARRIL, P.A.; NATES, S.V.

THE SCIENCE OF TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

ELSEVIER

Año: 2018 vol. 637 p. 665 - 665

0048-9697

onsumption of green vegetable products is commonly viewed as a potential risk factor for infection with entericviruses. The link between vegetable crops and fecally contaminated irrigation water establishes an environmentalscenario that can result in a risk to human health. The aim of this work was to analyze the enteric viral qualityin leafy green vegetables from Córdoba (Argentina) and its potential association with viral contamination of irrigationwaters. During July?December 2012, vegetables were collected from peri−urban green farms (n = 19)and its corresponding urban river irrigation waters (n = 12). Also, urban sewage samples (n = 6) were collectedto analyze the viral variants circulating in the community. Viruses were eluted and concentrated by polyethyleneglycol precipitation and then were subject to Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction to assess the genomepresence of norovirus, rotavirus and human astrovirus. The concentrates were also inoculated in HEpͨ