Abstract：
Globally, rotavirus continues to be the leading etiology of severe pediatric gastroenteritis, and transmission of the disease via environmental reservoirs has become an emerging concern in developing countries. From August to October 2021, a total of 69 samples comprising 48 of raw and treated sewage, and 21 surface waters, were collected from four Durban wastewater treatment plants (DWWTP), and effluent receiving rivers, respectively. Rotaviruses recovered and identified from the samples were subjected to sequencing, genotyping, and phylogenetic analysis. Of the 65 (94.2%) rotavirus-positive samples, 33.3% were from raw sewage, 16% from activated sludge, 15.9% from final effluents, and 29.0% were from the receiving river samples. A total of 49 G and 41 P genotypes were detected in sewage while 15 G and 22 P genotypes were detected in river samples. G1 genotype predominated in sewage (24.5%) followed by G3 (22.4%), G2 (14.3%), G4 (12.2%), G12 (10.2%), G9 (8.2%), and G8 (6.1%). Similarly, G1 predominated in river water samples (33.3%) and was followed by G2, G4 (20.0% each), G3, and G12 (13.3% each). Rotavirus VP4 genotypes P[4], P[6], and P[8] accounted for 36.6%, 29.3%, and 9.8%, respectively, in sewage. Correspondingly, 45.5%, 31.8%, and 13.6% were detected in river samples. The G and P genotypes not identified by the methods used were 2.1% versus 24.3% and 0.1% versus 9.1% for sewage and river water samples, respectively. Sequence comparison studies indicated a high level of nucleotide identity in the G1, G2, G3, G4, G8 VP7, and P[4], P[6], and P[8] VP4 gene sequences between strains from the environment and those from patients in the region. This is the first environmental-based study on the G and P genotypes diversity of rotavirus in municipal wastewater and their receiving rivers in this geographical region. The high similarity between environmental and clinical rotavirus strains suggests both local circulation of the virus and potential exposure risks. In addition, it highlights the usefulness of sewage surveillance as an additional tool for an epidemiological investigation, especially in populations that include individuals with subclinical or asymptomatic infections that are precluded in case-based studies.
摘要：
全球范围内,轮状病毒仍然是严重小儿胃肠炎的主要病因，通过环境水库传播该疾病已成为发展中国家新出现的问题。从2021年8月到10月，共有69个样本，包括48个未经处理的污水，和21个地表水，从四个德班污水处理厂(DWWTP)收集，和污水接收河流，分别。对从样品中回收和鉴定的轮状病毒进行测序，基因分型，和系统发育分析。在65份(94.2%)轮状病毒阳性样本中，33.3%来自原污水，16%来自活性污泥，15.9%来自最终流出物，29.0%来自接收河流样本。在污水中检测到49个G和41个P基因型，而在河流样品中检测到15个G和22个P基因型。G1基因型在污水中占主导地位(24.5%)，其次是G3(22.4%)，G2（14.3%），G4（12.2%），G12（10.2%），G9（8.2%），和八国集团（6.1%）。同样，G1在河水样品中占主导地位（33.3％），其次是G2，G4（各20.0％），G3和G12（各13.3%）。轮状病毒VP4基因型P[4]，P[6],P[8]占36.6%，29.3%,9.8%，分别,在污水中。相应地,45.5%,31.8%,在河流样本中检出13.6%。对于污水和河水样品，未通过所用方法鉴定的G和P基因型分别为2.1％对24.3％和0.1％对9.1％，分别。序列比较研究表明G1，G2，G3，G4，G8VP7和P[4]中的核苷酸同一性很高，P[6],来自环境的菌株和来自该地区患者的菌株之间的P[8]VP4基因序列。这是该地理区域城市废水及其接收河流中轮状病毒G和P基因型多样性的首次基于环境的研究。环境和临床轮状病毒毒株之间的高度相似性表明该病毒的局部循环和潜在的暴露风险。此外,它强调了污水监测作为流行病学调查的额外工具的有用性，特别是在包括亚临床或无症状感染的人群中，这些感染在基于病例的研究中被排除。
