Occurrence of enteric viruses in disposable diapers from three landfills
Author
Huber, Mary Susan, 1961-Issue Date
1992Advisor
Gerba, Charles P.
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The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
Disposable diapers are a possible source of infectious enteric viruses that are disposed of in landfills. A total of 210 disposable diapers were collected from seven sites and ten depths at three landfills. Of these total, 110 diapers were processed with a 1.5% beef-extract-elution organic-flocculation-concentration method to recover viruses. The concentrated samples were assayed on BGM cell cultures for the detection of enteroviruses and with cDNA probes specific for poliovirus, hepatitis A virus and rotavirus. Enteroviruses were not detected in any sample assayed using cell culture techniques. Three samples were positive using nucleic acid probes for poliovirus. These results suggest that poliovirus RNA was present in some diapers but that the viruses were not viable after two years or longer in a landfill.Type
textThesis-Reproduction (electronic)