Persistence of Poliovirus Types 2 and 3 in Waste-Impacted Sediment and Water

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the persistence of poliovirus type 2 (PV2) and type 3 (PV3) in domestic wastewater and sediment. Microcosms containing (a) domestic influent wastewater and (b) wastewater with a sediment matrix [1:1 waste biosolids and loamy sand] were seeded with between 105 and 106 plaque-forming units either PV2 or PV3, and stored for 126 days at three temperatures (4°C, room temperature (RT), and 30°C). Viable PV in the liquid of (a), and the sediment and liquid portions of (b) were sampled and plaques counted ten separate time points [0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 84 and 126 days] over 18 weeks using Buffalo-Green Monkey Kidney [BGMK] plaque assay. The time points at which >99% reduction was reached were determined. Both viable PV in the sediment portion of (b) reached >99% reduction at 30°C, RT, and 4 °C at 28, 84, and >126 days respectively. At 126 days in sediment at 4°C, the percent reduction of viable PV was 78.3% and 85.6% respectively. In the liquid portion of (b), >99% reduction of both viable PV was reached for 30°C, RT, and 4°C at 14, 42 and >126 days respectively. At 126 days in the liquid of (b) at 4 °C, the percent reduction of viable PV was 95.9% and 91.5% respectively. This study demonstrates that liquid vs sediment sample, and temperature both play roles in PV viability.