ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Existence and Removal of Rotaviruses Group A
and Cryptosporidium Species in a Wastewater
Treatment Plant
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1
Environmental Virology Lab, Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
2
Environmental Parasitology Lab, Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
Submission date: 2018-07-24
Final revision date: 2018-09-13
Acceptance date: 2018-09-24
Online publication date: 2019-08-01
Publication date: 2019-09-17
Corresponding author
Mahmoud Gad
National Research Centre, 33 El Buhouth St., 12622 Dokki, Egypt
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(6):4331-4339
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ABSTRACT
Rotavirus group A (RV-A) and Cryptosporidium spp. are recognized as important pathogens
causing gastroenteritis, even with very low doses in all age groups and representing a public health
risk. Seventy-two wastewater samples were collected and concentrated for detecting Cryptosporidium
spp. and RV-A. PCR was performed for identification of genus Cryptosporidium using generic primers
and species specific primers for Cryptosporidium parvum / Cryptosporidium hominis. Multiplex seminested
RT-PCR was performed to identify the genotypes P and G of RV-A. Our findings showed that
the rotavirus genome was detected in 29 (40.3%) out of 72 analyzed wastewater samples. Rotavirus
rates in raw wastewater samples were higher (47.2%) than those detected in treated wastewater (33.3%).
Cryptosporidium was found in 33.3% of 72 tested wastewater samples. All Cryptosporidium-positivesamples
were related to Cryptosporidium parvum. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in
influents and effluents reached 41.7% and 25%, respectively. The removal rates of rotavirus and
Cryptosporidium parvum in the examined WWTP were 29.4% and 40%, respectively. The largest
percentage of positive rotavirus in raw wastewater samples was detected in winter (77.8%), followed
by 66.7% in autumn. Three P types and two G types of RV-A strains were identified in wastewater
samples. The most prevalent types of RV-A strains in raw and treated sewage samples were G1 and P[8]
genotypes. In conclusion, wastewater treatment processes, including a trickling filter, were not sufficient
to eliminate several RV-A strains and Cryptosporidium parvum, leading to the potential release of these
pathogens from domestic sewage into water sources.