Adenoviruses

  • responsible for many recreational water outbreaks (swimming pool outbreaks)
  • Two drinking water outbreaks have been documented for adenovirus, but none for food. 
  • Of the 51 known adenovirus serotypes, one third are associated with human disease, while other infections are asymptomatic. 
    • Human diseases
      • gastroenteritis
      • respiratory infections
      • eye infections
      • acute hemorrhagic cystitis, 
      • and meningoencephalitis.
  • Children and the immunocompromised are more severely affected.
  • Detected in various waters worldwide 
    • wastewater
    • river water
    • oceans, and 
    • swimming pools 
  • Adenoviruses typically outnumber the enteroviruses, when both are detected in surface waters. 
  • 38% of 29 surface water samples were positive for infectious Ad40 and Ad41. 
  • Data are lacking regarding the occurrence of adenovirus in water in the US, particularly for groundwater and drinking water. 
  • Studies have shown, however, that adenoviruses survive longer in water than enteroviruses and hepatitis A virus 
  • There are limited data regarding the removal of adenoviruses by conventional water treatment or other physical-chemical treatment processes, but studies do suggest that adenoviruses are of equal or greater sensitivity to oxidizing disinfectants, when compared to waterborne viruses (the most resistant to ultraviolet light). 
  • Data suggest that the chlorine doses applied to control other waterborne viruses are more effective against adenovirus, resulting in a greater than 4-log10 removal of adenoviruses by conventional treatment and chlorination. 
  • More data are needed regarding effectiveness of water treatment against adenovirus and the human-virus dose-response relationship to fully understand the role of adenovirus as a waterborne public health threat.

 


Reference (Abstract) and more info

Mena KD, Gerba CP. Waterborne adenovirus. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol. 2009;198:133-67.