The impact of anthropogenic pressure on the virological quality of water from the Tiber River, Italy

Abstract

To the best of our knowledge, this study constitutes the first attempt to assess the occurrence of enteric viruses in river waters, in areas differentially influenced by anthropogenic pressure. Enteric viruses (enterovirus, norovirus, adenovirus, rotavirus, hepatitis A and E viruses, and bocavirus) were widespread in the industrial and urban areas, and were less frequently detected in the agricultural area. Interestingly, human bocavirus was the most frequently detected virus, outnumbering even adenoviruses, known to be widespread in water environments. The widespread presence of bocavirus in surface waters suggests that a potential role of water in its transmission should not be excluded.