Key result
A cut-off value of 200 enterovirus genome copies per litre determined by real-time RT-PCR significantly correlated with viral infectivity in wastewater samples (P=0.044).
p-value: p=0.044
A cut-off of 200 enterovirus genome copy numbers per liter by real-time RT-PCR correlates with infectivity and could be used for environmental monitoring of wastewater.
May inform wastewater surveillance thresholds; leaves open prospective validation before routine adoption.
AIMS: Classic virological tests are time consuming and labour-intensive; real-time RT-PCR has proven to be a fast method to detect and quantify enterovirus genomes in clinical and environmental samples. This method is unable to discriminate between infective and noninfective enterovirus particles; few clinical studies have compared real-time RT-PCR and viral culture. We wondered if the enterovirus genome quantification could be correlated to the infectivity. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used the statistical approach to verify our hypotheses to correlate data, obtained by the standard method (most probable number of cytopathic units-MPNCU) and molecular test (real-time RT-PCR), on wastewater treatment plant samples. Chi-squared test was used, considering several cut-off values ('50'-'100'-'200' genome copy numbers), to determine statistical significance in comparison of the two methods. Chi-square value was not significant when cut-off of 50 (P = 0.103) and 100 (P = 0.178) was assumed but was significant with cut-off of 200 (P = 0.044). CONCLUSION: This limit, 200 genome copy, could be used as cut-off value to indicate enterovirus survival in environmental monitoring. SIGNIFICANT AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: To introduce a fast procedure that is able to compensate for disadvantages of cell culture method for viral environmental analyses.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Donia et al. (2009) conducted a letter in Enterovirus contamination in wastewater (n=83). Real-time RT-PCR enterovirus genome quantification vs. Cell culture (MPNCU) was evaluated on Statistical correlation between enterovirus genome copy numbers and infectivity at a cut-off of 200 copies/L (p=0.044). A cut-off value of 200 enterovirus genome copies per litre determined by real-time RT-PCR significantly correlated with viral infectivity in wastewater samples (P=0.044).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: