Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, Surrogate for Coronavirus Decay Measurement in French Coastal Waters and Contribution to Coronavirus Risk Evaluation

• DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01844-23
• Publication Date: 2023-07-03T14:02:49Z
• Authors: Maud Contrant; Lionel Bigault; Mathieu Andraud; Marion Desdouits; Sophie Rocq; Françoise S. Le G...; Yannick Blanchard
• Keywords: Coronavirus; Persistence (discontinuity); Infectious dose

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in infected patients mainly displays pulmonary and oronasal tropism; however, the presence of virus has also been demonstrated stools consequently wastewater treatment plant effluents, raising question potential risk environmental contamination (such as seawater contamination) through inadequately treated spillover into surface or coastal waters even if detection viral RNA alone does not substantiate infection. Therefore, here, we decided to experimentally evaluate persistence porcine epidemic diarrhea (PEDv), considered a representative model, environment France. Coastal was collected, sterile-filtered, inoculated with PEDv before incubation for 0 4 weeks at four temperatures those measured along French coasts throughout year (4, 8, 15, 24°C). The decay rate determined using mathematical modeling used determine half-life coast accordance from 2000 2021. We observed an inverse correlation between temperature infectious viruses confirm that transmission contaminated stool during recreational practices is very limited. present work represents good model assess coronaviruses environments contributes evaluation, only SARS-CoV-2 persistence, but other coronaviruses, specifically enteric livestock. IMPORTANCE addresses marine because regularly detected plants, environment, subjected increasing anthropogenic pressure final receiver sometimes insufficiently depurated wastewater, particularly risk. problem arises possibility soil by CoV animals, especially livestock, manure application, where, impregnation runoff, these can end up seawater. Our findings are interest researchers authorities seeking monitor either tourist areas regions world where centralized systems implemented, more broadly, scientific community involved "One Health" approaches.