Abstract:
Over a 2-year period, from January 2009 to December 2010, water samples were collected from
three rivers (Klip, Rietspruit and Suikerbosrand) in the Vaal River System, South Africa. Enteric viruses
were recovered by a glass wool adsorption–elution method and concentrated using polyethylene
glycol/sodium chloride precipitation. Sapoviruses (SaVs) were detected using published sapovirus
(SaV)-specific primers and Taqman probes in a two-step real-time reverse transcription-polymerase
chain reaction assay. Based on sequence analysis of the 50-end of the capsid gene, SaVs were
genotyped. In 2009, SaVs were detected in 39% (15/38) of samples from the Klip river, 83% (5/6) from
the Rietspruit and 14% (1/7) of samples from the Suikerbosrand river. In 2010, SaVs were detected
in 54% (14/26) of Klip river samples, 92% (11/12) from the Rietspruit and 20% (2/10) of samples from
the Suikerbosrand river. SaV strains identified in the water samples were characterised into several
GI and GII genotypes. The presence of SaVs in these rivers indicates human faecal contamination
which may pose a potential health risk to persons exposed to these water sources during domestic
or recreational activities.
