126
C. Wallis and J.L. Melnick
The failure to recover 100% of the virus added to the water was not due to the failure
of the virus adsorbent, but could be attributable to the elution and reconcentration
procedure. In other experiments, virus added to water as described above in quantities
sufficient to detect without concentration (1000 PFU/0.1 ml) could not be recovered in
the main effluent, indicating the virus was retained on the virus adsorbent. However, virus
elution from the fibreglass filter and reconcentration on the cellulose membrane still
yielded a final eluate of 80% recovery.
DISCUSSION
In this report we have described an apparatus which makes practical the detection of
viruses in large volumes of water. The transmission of certain viral diseases by the water
route is well known (Berg, 1967; Melnick, 1971), but consistent and quantitative
demonstration of viruses in natural waters has been delayed by the lack of adequate
methods for concentrating viruses from large samples of water.
Water recycling and reclamation is receiving increasing attention. However, virtually no
attention has been directed towards the possible presence of viruses in such recycled
water. Viruses would not be expected to be present at all times but only intermittently.
The virus concentrator lends itself to the monitoring of such water reclamation plants for
their efficiency in inactivating or removing viruses.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This investigation was supported by a grant (#16030 GBD) from the United States
Environmental Protection Agency.
REFERENCES
1. BERG, G. (ed.). "Transmission of Viruses by the Water Route", John Wiley & Sons, New York
(1967).
2. MELNICK, J.L. "Detection of virus spread by the water route". In: Proc. 13th Water Quality
Conf., Urbana, Illinois, Feb. 15-16, 1971. University of Illinois Bulletin, Vol. 69, No. 1, pp.
114-125(1971).
3. SCARPINO, P.V. "Water and Water Pollution Handbook", Dekker Inc., Vol. 2, pp. 639-751
(1971).
4. WALLIS, C. "Progress in the development of an apparatus for concentration of viruses from large
volumes of water". In: Proc. 13th Water Quality Conf., Urbana, Illinois, Feb. 15-16, 1971.
University of Illinois Bulletin, Vol. 69, No. 1, pp. 47-50 (1971).
5. WALLIS, C , HOMMA, A. & MELNICK, J.L. "Development of an apparatus for concentration of
viruses from large volumes of water". J. Amer. Water Works Assoc, in press.
6. WALLIS, C. & MELNICK, J.L. "Concentration of viruses from sewage by adsorption on Millipore
membranes". Bull. World Hlth. Org. 36:219 (1967).
7. WALLIS, C , MELNICK, J.L. & FIELDS, J.E. "Detection of viruses in large volumes of natural
waters by concentration on insoluble polyelectrolytes". Water Res. 4:787 (1970).
C. Wallis and J.L. Melnick
The failure to recover 100% of the virus added to the water was not due to the failure
of the virus adsorbent, but could be attributable to the elution and reconcentration
procedure. In other experiments, virus added to water as described above in quantities
sufficient to detect without concentration (1000 PFU/0.1 ml) could not be recovered in
the main effluent, indicating the virus was retained on the virus adsorbent. However, virus
elution from the fibreglass filter and reconcentration on the cellulose membrane still
yielded a final eluate of 80% recovery.
DISCUSSION
In this report we have described an apparatus which makes practical the detection of
viruses in large volumes of water. The transmission of certain viral diseases by the water
route is well known (Berg, 1967; Melnick, 1971), but consistent and quantitative
demonstration of viruses in natural waters has been delayed by the lack of adequate
methods for concentrating viruses from large samples of water.
Water recycling and reclamation is receiving increasing attention. However, virtually no
attention has been directed towards the possible presence of viruses in such recycled
water. Viruses would not be expected to be present at all times but only intermittently.
The virus concentrator lends itself to the monitoring of such water reclamation plants for
their efficiency in inactivating or removing viruses.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This investigation was supported by a grant (#16030 GBD) from the United States
Environmental Protection Agency.
REFERENCES
1. BERG, G. (ed.). "Transmission of Viruses by the Water Route", John Wiley & Sons, New York
(1967).
2. MELNICK, J.L. "Detection of virus spread by the water route". In: Proc. 13th Water Quality
Conf., Urbana, Illinois, Feb. 15-16, 1971. University of Illinois Bulletin, Vol. 69, No. 1, pp.
114-125(1971).
3. SCARPINO, P.V. "Water and Water Pollution Handbook", Dekker Inc., Vol. 2, pp. 639-751
(1971).
4. WALLIS, C. "Progress in the development of an apparatus for concentration of viruses from large
volumes of water". In: Proc. 13th Water Quality Conf., Urbana, Illinois, Feb. 15-16, 1971.
University of Illinois Bulletin, Vol. 69, No. 1, pp. 47-50 (1971).
5. WALLIS, C , HOMMA, A. & MELNICK, J.L. "Development of an apparatus for concentration of
viruses from large volumes of water". J. Amer. Water Works Assoc, in press.
6. WALLIS, C. & MELNICK, J.L. "Concentration of viruses from sewage by adsorption on Millipore
membranes". Bull. World Hlth. Org. 36:219 (1967).
7. WALLIS, C , MELNICK, J.L. & FIELDS, J.E. "Detection of viruses in large volumes of natural
waters by concentration on insoluble polyelectrolytes". Water Res. 4:787 (1970).