Molecular epidemiology of Polyomaviruses in Egyptian water environment and its relationship to colorectal cancer in Egyptian patients

Abstract

Different studies have shown that human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) are prevalent in sewage and other water environments worldwide, raising the possibility of waterborne transmission. HPyVs are potentially oncogenic latent viruses related to a wide range of disease, especially in immunocompromised people. For studying the prevalence of the most common HPyVs, JC virus (JCV) and BK virus (BKV), in Egyptian water environment as a first aim, a total of seventy-two sewage and treated effluent samples were collected from Zenin wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Giza Governorate and Al gabal al asfar wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Cairo Governorate and a total of twenty-four inlet Nile water and outlet drinking water samples were collected from El-Giza water treatment plant in Giza Governorate. The results showed that the prevalence of JCV in sewage and treated effluent was 66.7% (24/36) and 36.1% (13/36) respectively, while the prevalence of BKV was 66.7% (24/36) and 33.3% (12/36) respectively. The two treatment plants showed different efficiency of viral removal; Zenin WWTP showed high efficiency of JCV and BKV removal as JCV was eliminated from 77.7% (7/9) of positive samples, while BKV was