RESUMO
The aim of this study was to compare two nucleic acid extraction methods for the recovery of enteric viruses from activated sludge. Test samples were inoculated with human adenovirus (AdV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), poliovirus (PV) and rotavirus (RV) and were then processed by an adsorption-elution-precipitation method. Two extraction methods were used: an organic solvent-based method and a silica method. The organic-based method was able to recoup 20 percent of the AdV, 90 percent of the RV and 100 percent of both the PV and HAV from seeded samples. The silica method was able to recoup 1.8 percent of the AdV and 90 percent of the RV. These results indicate that the organic-based method is more suitable for detecting viruses in sewage sludge.