Survival of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in
soil samples spiked with respective viruses was analysed using
real-time PCR. Virus-spiked soil samples were incubated at environmental
temperature (ET) and 37C and processed weekly.
Both HAV and HEV were less stable at fluctuating ET than at
37C. Of the 403 soil samples collected in the vicinity of Mutha
river, India, 19.1% and 4.9% were found to be contaminated with
HAV and HEV, respectively.