Effect of Detection Methods on Risk Estimates of Exposure to Biosolids‐Associated Human Enteric Viruses

This study illustrates the effect of virus detection methods on estimates of risks of infection of biosolids‐associated viruses for occupational workers and residential population during a hypothetical exposure of biosolids. Five gastroenteritis‐associated human enteric viruses—enteroviruses (echovirus‐12, enteroviruse types 68–71), adenoviruses, rotaviruses, and noroviruses genotype‐I—were considered to represent human enteric viruses for risk estimation purposes. Ingested viral doses were calculated using literature‐reported total infectious virus concentrations (based on BGM and A549 cell lines) and genome copies (GCs) in Michigan dewatered and class B biosolids. Cell‐line‐based infectivity parameters (i.e., ratio of total infectious virus concentration to GCs) were developed for different viruses in biosolids to use GCs for calculating ingested viral dose, addressing the issue of integration of molecular methods with biosolids‐based virus risk assessment. Use of virus concentrations from molecular methods (with and without using cell‐line‐based infectivity parameter) resulted in higher risk estimates than culture methods, indicating the effect of the virus detection method on risk estimates. Further, use of virus concentrations from A549 cell lines resulted in higher risk estimates compared to those from BGM cell lines, suggesting the need for a proper choice of cell lines in determining infectious viral dose. The Monte Carlo uncertainty analyses of estimates for risk of infection due to enteroviruses showed that enteroviruses concentration was the most important parameter influencing risk estimates, indicating the need for reducing associated uncertainty. More work is required to develop cell‐line‐based infectivity parameters for different virus concentration levels and sample matrix types using a cut‐off‐based approach.