TT Virus outbreak among workers in wastewater treatment plants

ABSTRACT

The role of TT virus [TTV] as a human pathogen and the mode of transmission are unclear. To determine the prevalence of TTV infection and possible fecal-oral route of transmission, 24 wastewater samples from wastewater treatment plants was collected. Fecal samples were obtained from 60 workers in twaste water treatment plants and 15 healthy persons; all fecal samples were from persons non-transfused blood or blood products. TTV in tested samples were detected by nested PCR, using the NG primer sets. DNA sequences were analyzed from PCR products in both directions. TTV-DNA in water samples was 12.5% [3/24]. While, the overall prevalence of TTV in fecal excretion were 11.66% [7/60], and 6.6% [1/15] in workers and control group; respectively. A total of 100 bp PCR fragments were sequenced and compared to sequences derived from the corresponding TTV genome region deposited in GenBank. Present sequencing was most closely related to TTV-like mini virus, complete genome [Accession NC 002195], at nucleotide number 955 to 1021, suggesting related environmental sources of TTV infection. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that present strain might be sub-strain or mutation from the parent gene of TTV-like mini virus. The present of TTV in wastewater workers may be due to the interaction with contaminated environment and increased susceptibility to infectious agents