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Surface water quality in the Sinos River basin, in Southern Brazil: tracking microbiological contamination and correlation with physicochemical parameters

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Abstract

Around the world, enteric viruses are often found in surface waters. This study set out to evaluate the occurrence of adenoviruses (AdVs) in water samples, and its relation to different physical, chemical, and bacteriological parameters [total coliform (TC) and fecal coliform (FC), represented by Escherichia coli]. Monthly samples of 500 ml of raw water were collected from May 2011 to June 2013 in eight abstraction points water treatment stations along three stretches of the Sinos River Basin (SRB), in Southern Brazil and, subsequently, were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). AdVs from different species, from human (HAdV), and from other animals (CAV1–2, BAdV, PAdV, and AvAdV) were detected along the three stretches of the basin, indicating fecal contamination from different sources and proving the inefficiency of the wastewater treatment in the waters of the SRB and intensifying the strong influence of human activities that can contribute to the presence of inhibitory substances such as organic acids in surface of these waters. Statistical analyses revealed no significant correlations between the concentrations of TC and FC and the concentrations of AdVs. We observed a small, nonconstant, and unstable correlation between viruses and physicochemical parameters. These correlations were not sufficiently consistent to establish a reliable association; therefore, this study corroborates that only the viral assay itself is reliable for the diagnosis of fecal contamination by viruses in environmental samples.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Feevale University, the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Level Personnel (CAPES), and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the physical and chemical parameters were achieved by the Research Division of the regional water company, Companhia Rio-Grandense de Saneamento (CORSAN), but all internal confidentiality measures and care in carrying out the procedures seeking real results have been taken in order to prevent possible conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Health Sciences Institute, Universidade Feevale, CEP 93352-000, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil

    Andréia Dalla Vecchia, Caroline Rigotto, Rodrigo Staggemeier, Mayra Cristina Soliman, Fernanda Gil de Souza, Andreia Henzel, Carlos Augusto do Nascimento, Juliane Deise Fleck, Larissa Schemes Heinzelmann, Sabrina Esteves de Matos Almeida & Fernando Rosado Spilki

  2. Companhia Riograndense De Saneamento Department of Testing and Lab Support Laboratory – DEAL, Porto Alegre, CEP 91430001, Brazil

    Eliane Lemos Santos

  3. Environmental Quality Post-Graduate Program, Universidade Feevale, RS 239, 2755, CEP 93352-000, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil

    Daniela Muller de Quevedo

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  1. Andréia Dalla Vecchia
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  2. Caroline Rigotto
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  3. Rodrigo Staggemeier
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  4. Mayra Cristina Soliman
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  5. Fernanda Gil de Souza
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  10. Juliane Deise Fleck
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  11. Larissa Schemes Heinzelmann
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  12. Sabrina Esteves de Matos Almeida
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  13. Fernando Rosado Spilki
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Correspondence to Fernando Rosado Spilki.

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Dalla Vecchia, A., Rigotto, C., Staggemeier, R. et al. Surface water quality in the Sinos River basin, in Southern Brazil: tracking microbiological contamination and correlation with physicochemical parameters. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 9899–9911 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4175-6

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