Development of a novel method for simultaneous concentration of viruses and protozoa from a single water sample

A novel method, electronegative membrane-vortex (EMV) method, was developed for simultaneous concentration of viruses and protozoa from a single water sample. Viruses and protozoa in a water sample were mixed with a cation solution and adsorbed on an electronegative membrane. Concentrated virus and protozoa samples were obtained as supernatant and pellet fractions, respectively, by vigorous vortex mixing of the membrane and centrifugation of the eluted material. The highest recovery efficiencies of model microbes from river water and tap water by this EMV method were obtained using a mixed cellulose ester membrane with a pore size of 0.45 μm (Millipore) as the electronegative membrane and MgCl2 as the cation solution. The recovery was 27.7–86.5% for poliovirus, 25.7–68.3% for coliphage Qβ, 28.0–60.0% for Cryptosporidium oocysts, and 35.0–53.0% for Giardia cysts. The EMV method detected successfully indigenous viruses and protozoa in wastewater and river water samples from the Kofu basin, Japan, showing an overall positive rate of 100% (43/43) for human adenovirus, 79% (34/43) for norovirus GI, 65% (28/43) for norovirus GII, 23% (10/43) for Cryptosporidium oocysts, and 60% (26/43) for Giardia cysts. By direct DNA sequencing, a total of four genotypes (AI, AII, B, and G) of Giardia intestinalis were identified in the water samples, indicating that the river water was contaminated with feces from various mammals, including humans.

► A method was developed to concentrate simultaneously viruses and protozoa from water.
► Recovery tests were performed using poliovirus, coliphage Qβ, Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
► The combined use of an HA electronegative membrane and MgCl2 was the most optimal.
► Indigenous viruses and protozoa were detected in wastewater and river water in Japan.