Poliomyelitis and Other Enteric Viruses in Sewage

Abstract

Samples of sewage from 2 areas in New York State were examined for viruses in parallel tests in newborn mice and tissue cultures. Poliomyelitis and Coxsackie viruses were frequently isolated during summer and fall from both untreated and treated sewage. No correlation was noted between poliomyelitis viruses in sewage, reported paralytic cases, and socioeconomic status of the community. Number and types of agents isolated differed according to method of isolation used. Coxsackie A viruses were isolated in mice only, poliomyelitis viruses in tissue culture only, and Coxsackie B viruses in both tissue culture and mice. Coxsackie B isolations were made as frequently in mice as in tissue cultures and they were isolated more frequently in monkey kidney tissue than in HeLa cell cultures. Many mixtures of types were encountered and a few agents were unidentified.