[Phylogenetic analysis indicates human origin of rotavirus and hepatitis A virus strains found in the drinking water of western Colombia].

INTRODUCTION

Quibdó, the capital of Chocó Province, is one of the poorest cities in Colombia. Enteric viruses such as rotavirus and hepatitis A virus was found to occur commonly in city drinking water and indicated poor water quality and high risk of becoming infected. The source of these viruses was unknown, but humans and cattle were suspect sources.

OBJECTIVE

City water was assessed to determine source and persistence of diarrhea and hepatitis among the human populations in the environs of Quibdó.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Four thousand liters of water were collected, filtered by tangential ultrafiltration and centrifuged in Centriprep Ultracel YM-50 tubes. Sixty samples of untreated and 20 of treated water were probed by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Six samples were positive for rotavirus and 2 for hepatitis A virus in both, treated and non treated water. DNA sequence analysis identified the presence of human G2 rotavirus and human hepatitis A virus.

CONCLUSION

The evidence indicated a high level of contamination with pathogenic viruses in consumable water sources in Quibdó, Colombia.