Development of a combined immunomagnetic separation and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR assay for sensitive detection of infectious rotavirus in water samples

► A quantitative and rapid detection method for rotavirus in water samples was developed using immunomagnetic separation combined with quantitative RT-PCR (IMS-RT-qPCR). ► Compared to extracting RNA using commercial kits, the IMS increased the detection sensitivity by about one order of magnitude from clean water. ► The IMS-RT-qPCR was also successfully applied to purify and detect rotavirus seeded in 103-fold concentrated wastewater influents. ► The results of present study indicated that IMS-RT-qPCR is a rapid, sensitive and reliable tool for detecting rotaviruses in complex water environments.