Virological evaluation of the multiple use system and water renovation at Alexandria poultry processing plant [APPP]

ABSTRACT

The Egyptian poultry industry has experienced substantial growth during the past five years. The expansion has led to a considerable increase in water consumption and the need for multiple recycling and reuse of processing waters in Egypt. The present study was designed to valuate the multiple use system and water renovation at Alexandria Poultry Processing Plant [APPP] through isolation and identification of viruses. 576 water samples tap water and reused chlorinated APPP water were inoculated on Vero cells, chick fibroblast cells and on the chorioallantoic membrane of 11 days old fertile hens eggs. Water samples were inoculated directly and after Talc-celite concentration. From reused water 8 specimens should cytopathic changes on vero cells, of which 2 were neutralized by polioviruses antisera and one with adenoviruses. Meanwhile 2 specimens gave cytopathic changes on chick fibroblasts and 4 specimens gave pocks on the chorioallantoic membranes. All suspected cytopathic changes and pocks tested by neutralization test for polio, Coksackie, ECHO, Herpes 1 and 2 and NDV and all proved negative. Except the 2 strains of polic from washer and scalder tanks after 6 hours use of 3 and 4 times previously used water. The adenovirus strain was isolated from the chiller tank after 6 hours use of once previously used water. No isolates could be obtained from renovated water. This study stresses the possibility of enteroviruses contamination in the recycling water process, which is a potential hazard to human health. The Talc-celito filter may partially remove viruses from water but not completely. To avoid viruses accumulation in the reuse of recycle process water, the free residual chlorine concentration entering the multiple-use system, must be adjusted to constant level during the whole operational period