Virological analysis of water quality: a review of the methodologies of concentration and viral detection

Abstract

Many pathogenic viruses are excreted in human feces and urine, and water is one possible vehicle of transmission, representing a risk for public health. In some countries, these pathogens are already embedded in routine environmental monitoring. However, there is no consensus yet on the choice of an indicator viral agent, and about choosing a method to diagnose them, which often generate confusion and disagreement among the researchers themselves. The objective of this study was to conduct an updated review of the main methods that comprise the virological analysis (concentration and detection) of water. Despite the differences, we observe that the method of virus concentration is mainly based on the methods of microfiltration in polarized membrane, ultrafiltration and ultracentrifugation, with variations according to the type of water sample. Regarding the methods of detection, these are based mainly on the use of PCR and its variations.