First description of Protoparvovirus in surface water and human Adenovirus in green leafy vegetable, Environmental Education Center - Southern Brazil

Abstract This study analyses the presence of coliforms, Mastadenovirus (AdV) and Canine protoparvovirus (CPV) in an Environmental Education Center (EEC), which includes a city kennel in Southern Brazil, in October 2017 and February 2018. In both collections were analyzed surface water at AdV (human and canine species), CPV, total (TC) and fecal coliforms (FC) presence; lettuce at AdV; and dogs stool at canine AdV (CAV) and CPV. In total, 67 samples were analyzed: 33 dog stool samples; 10 points of surface water and 24 fractions (root, stem and leaves) originated of eight lettuce. Coliforms and viral analyses were performed by Colilert and PCR assays, respectively. Amplicon was sequenced, and species/types of virus were characterized. TC and FC were detected in all surface water in at least one of the collections. Occurrence of viruses was of the 34.3% (23/67) in all samples. HAdV-C was observed in 13% [2/23] (water sample); HAdV-E in 8,7% (2/23) – water and lettuce; CAV-1 in 13% (3/23) – two stool samples and one water sample; and CPV-2a in 56.5% (13/23) – dog stools. Raccoon CPV-like and AdV (not characterized) were detected in one surface water sample and one dog stool sample, respectively. As far as we know, this is the first molecular characterization of the presence of one wildlife animal Protoparvovirus in water and AdV in lettuce reported in Brazil. Detection of HAdV-E in lettuce confirmed the role of vegetables as a potential vehicle of human food-borne viral diseases. Nonetheless, more studies are needed about Raccoon CPV-like to elucidate the potential transmission and threat of this virus in wildlife and interspecies (wild and domestic).