Prevalence and fate of hepatitis a virus in water

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a major waterborne disease agent with worldwide distribution. The main transmission route of HAV is direct person‐to‐person contact. However, hepatitis A (HA) outbreaks associated with the consumption and use of fecally contaminated water were reported from many countries. Studies on the environmental behavior of HAV were feasible only after developing techniques for its cultivation and enumeration in tissue culture. This study reviews data on the extent of HAV prevalence and persistence in the environment and water. HA is highly prevalent in low socioeconomic populations as determined by seroepidemiologic studies. HAV is excreted for long periods by infected individuals, but it is also shed by healthy persons. HAV has been detected in concentrated wastewater and natural waters. However, in most cases the natural waters were monitored for the presence of HAV after the occurrence of HA outbreak. HAV persists for months at temperatures below 10°C and for at least 1 month at ambient temperature (20 to 25°C). Physical, biological, and chemical factors that influence the survival of enteric viruses — such as temperature, pH, salt concentration, microbial activity, and humidity — have similar effects on HAV. Drinking water treatment processes such as coagulation, high rate filtration, and disinfection seem to be effective in removing HAV from water.