Enteric viruses have been associated with many outbreaks of waterborne nonbacterial gastroenteritis and are a public health concern. The objective of this project is to evaluate series of procedures to concentrate viruses by adsorption to and elution from various charged membranes for various types of water. To ensure the best possible evaluation for detection of viruses in different kinds of water type samples, the hospital wastewater, raw, treated, and adjusted pHs and electrolyte treated water samples were provided. These concentration procedures were combined with various PCR methods in order to detect enteroviruses in environmental water samples. The relative recovery efficiencies of enterovirus were also evaluated by Real-Time PCR. The optimum procedures designed for enteroviruses detection of the environmental water samples were done in this study. The nucleic acid analyzing method for enteroviruses includes the following steps: RNA extraction, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and analysis of the PCR-products. The contents of environmental inhibitors after virus concentration are suspected to have some inhibitory effect on viruses PCR detection. It should be considered while detecting enteric viruses in environmental samples. Environmental water samples were taken from thirteen prescreened locations around the island. A total of twenty water samples were obtained during 2 months. Results revealed that four out of seven raw water samples and five out of seven treated water samples from surface water treatment plants were detected positive for enteroviruses. One out of three ground water samples and two out of three small units water samples were detected positive for enteroviruses. It is advised that the Taiwan EPA keeps investigating this related research, so as to scientifically estimate the long-term potential health risk.

Enteroviruses,Drinking water,Groundwater