Survival of hepatitis A and E viruses in soil samples

Abstract

Survival of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in soil samples spiked with respective viruses was analysed using real-time PCR. Virus-spiked soil samples were incubated at environmental temperature (ET) and 37°C and processed weekly. Both HAV and HEV were less stable at fluctuating ET than at 37°C. Of the 403 soil samples collected in the vicinity of Mutha river, India, 19.1% and 4.9% were found to be contaminated with HAV and HEV, respectively. © 2011 The Authors. Clinical Microbiology and Infection © 2011 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.