Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs
Open Access

Abstract

Workers from wastewater treatment centers (WTC) present numerous diseases often related to viruses such as cold, flu and intestinal infections. Literature presents studies related to bacteria found in wastewater, bacteria coming from air samples in WTCs and also viruses in wastewater. However, only a few studies have addressed viral communities that are present in aerosols of WTCs. A recent study showed that 2.27x106 genome equivalents/m3 of air can be measured in some WTCs, but what about other specific viruses that can cause diseases in workers? To which potentially human pathogens workers are exposed every day in those environments? Our study aims to sample the air of WTCs with different samplers to describe the viral community in aerosols and, ultimately, to find out which pathogens are aerosolized from wastewater and can endanger workers’ health. Eleven viruses have been selected based on their presence or their potential presence in wastewater and will be quantified using real-time PCR with specific probes and primers. A metagenomic study will also be performed on highly concentrated samples in order to have a better idea of the viral communities found in the air of WTCs. Samples of air will be taken during summer and winter to determine the effect of water temperature on the kind of viruses aerosolized. Preliminary data will be presented.

Biography

Evelyne Brisebois obtained her BSc in Microbiology in 2014 at Laval University, Quebec city. During this period, she accomplished a research project of 15 weeks in Pre Caroline Duchaine’s laboratory. She is now enrolled in a Master degree program in Microbiology within the same team, more precisely in Aerovirology. She started her project in May 2014 and projects to finish in May 2016. She received a two-year scholarship from the IRSST based on her academic grades on and the originality of her Master’s project.

Email: evelyne.brisebois@criucpq.ulaval.ca