[Enterovirus circulation in the waste waters of the Lorraine region. Evaluation of a survey 1976-1981].

A survey of the presence of viruses in wastewater has been conducted during 6 years in 19 treatment plants of the lorraine area. The results presented in this paper show the presence of numerous viral species in the 1938 samples analyzed from 1976 to 1981 and large variations of the annual positivity rate linked to the circulation of enteric viruses in the population. By direct inoculation to cell cultures the search of virus is positive in only 15% of the samples. On the other hand a previous concentration step allows to obtain an increase of positive samples. Taking into account the important aptitudes of polio and non poliovirus to survive in water, the survey of wastewater could be a good indicator of their presence in the population. The isolation of non vaccinal polioviruses confirm the need of the continuation of the vaccination program, but perhaps also a reevaluation of the rule of the living oral vaccine because of the presence of so called "intermediary strains".