Mengovirus as Process Control Virus in the Monitoring of Genomic RNA and Infectivity of Enteric Viruses in Water Matrices

The present study, developed in the scope of a survey to monitor enteric viruses in natural surface water and drinking water sources, addressed the suitability of mengovirus to assess viral recovery rates at two steps of the water sampling process. In a pilot campaign comprising two samples from each type of water source, when mengovirus was added after the filtration/primary concentration step, the recovery rates of viral RNA were higher than 18% and identical for both water matrices. In a one-year sampling campaign, where mengovirus was present along the whole sample processing (addition in the filtration/primary concentration step), significantly different recovery rates were observed between water matrices: usually higher than 1% in drinking water and under 1% in surface water. The results suggest the first stage of the water sampling process and the type of water matrix are the most influential factors for viral RNA recovery. This study also addressed and evidenced mengovirus replication and titration in Vero E6 cultures and showed infectious mengovirus to be recovered from samples of both types of water matrix. These results anticipate a more comprehensive applicability of mengovirus as a process control virus in the monitoring of viruses in water, extended to viral infectivity.