DYNAMICS

Enterovirus population dynamics in water treatment and the environment

Enteroviruses are human viral pathogens that are found in wastewater and surface waters worldwide. There are over 80 human enterovirus serotypes that cause a range of diseases. Once excreted from the host, enteroviruses are slowly inactivated by various natural and engineered stressors, though it is not understood how these stressors affect the different serotypes. The overall objectives of this project are to measure the dynamics and decay of the human enterovirus population in Lake Geneva and assess the associated risk to human health. We study how different wastewater treatment steps and natural processes shape the composition of the enterovirus population. We then integrate our findings with hydrodynamic and risk models to estimate the health risks during recreational water use.

Collaborators: Johny Wüest, APHYS, EPFL-Eawag

Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation