TABLE 2.

Numbers of RNA copies and numbers of infectious particles per liter in raw sewage and treated effluent samples positive for astrovirus genogroup B^a

Sample location, date	No. of RNA copies/liter of raw sewageb	CC-RT-PCR U/liter of raw sewagec	No. of RNA copies/liter of treated effluent	CC-RT-PCR U/liter of treated effluent
Balaks, Nov. 1998	3.8 × 105	3.3 × 103	9.9 × 104	3.3 × 102
Balaks, Jan. 1999	8.7 × 106	3.3 × 103	1.1 × 105	3.3 × 102
Balaks, May 1999	8.7 × 105	3.3 × 102	6.2 × 105	3.3 × 101
El-Berka, Nov. 1998	1.1 × 105	3.3 × 103	1.1 × 103	<3.3 × 100
El-Berka, July 1999	1.1 × 104	<3.3 × 100	NQ	<3.3 × 100
El-Berka, Aug. 1999	1.1 × 104	<3.3 × 100	NQ	<3.3 × 100
El-Berka, Sept. 1999	1.1 × 105	3.3 × 102	NQ	<3.3 × 100
Zenin, Nov. 1998	9.9 × 105	3.3 × 103	1.1 × 103	<3.3 × 100
Zenin, Dec. 1998	5.4 × 106	3.3 × 105	NQ	<3.3 × 100
Zenin, Jan. 1999	6.2 × 105	3.3 × 102	1.1 × 104	<3.3 × 100
Zenin, Feb. 1999	3.7 × 105	3.3 × 102	1.1 × 104	<3.3 × 100
Zenin, Apr. 1999	1.1 × 105	3.3 × 101	NQ	<3.3 × 100
Zenin, May 1999	1.1 × 105	3.3 × 101	NQ	<3.3 × 100
Zenin, June 1999	1.1 × 104	<3.3 × 100	NQ	<3.3 × 100
Zenin, July 1999	1.1 × 104	<3.3 × 100	NQ	<3.3 × 100
Zenin, Oct. 1999	1.1 × 105	3.3 × 102	1.1 × 103	<3.3 × 100

^aReported values were determined by taking into consideration that 3-liter samples were concentrated to a final volume of 1 ml (3,000× concentration factor). NQ, nonquantifiable; the sample was positive only after Southern blot hybridization of the RT-PCR product.

^bThe actual numbers of HAstV genogroup B copies in samples that also contained HAstV genogroup A were obtained by subtracting the number of genome copies estimated with primers A1/A2 (Table 1) from the numbers of genome copies estimated with primers A1, A1bis, and A2 internal.

^cThe reciprocal endpoint dilution detected by CC-RT-PCR.