Monitoring of Adenoviruses in Water and Wastewater through Applications of PCR Based Methods

Adenoviruses are important water borne pathogens. This viral candidate imposes major public health concerns with clinical manifestations including gastroenteritis, eye infections, and respiratory infections. Adenoviruses are found to be prevalent in rivers, pool waters, drinking water, and coastal waters. Adenoviruses are listed as contamination candidates for drinking water because of their survival characteristics during water treatment technologies. Therefore, it is important to monitor raw and treated water routinely for the presence of adenoviruses. PCR based molecular methods are considered most suitable for monitoring adenoviruses in environmental samples. Choosing the correct type of PCR depends on specific methods of approach and the type of viral assay. The present review summarizes the process of monitoring adenoviruses in water and wastewater through different PCR methods and their recent advancements. The review also covers a brief overview of PCR inhibitors.