A Preliminary Study of SARS-CoV-2’s Permanence and Potential Infective Capacity in Mineromedicinal Waters of Copahue, Neuquén, Argentina

María Lorena Vela, Gisela Masachessi, María Alejandra Giaveno, Maria Eugenia Roca Jalil, Gonzalo Castro, Ariana Mariela Cachi, María de los Ángeles Marinzalda, Ana Zugarramurdi and Miria Baschini
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María Lorena Vela: Health and Environment Sciences School, Comahue National University, Neuquen 8300, Argentina
Gisela Masachessi: Viral Gastroenteritis and Measles Laboratory, “Dr J. M. Vanella” Virology Institute, Health Science School, Córdoba National University, Córdoba 5000, Argentina
María Alejandra Giaveno: Engineering School, Comahue National University, Neuquen 8300, Argentina
Maria Eugenia Roca Jalil: Engineering School, Comahue National University, Neuquen 8300, Argentina
Gonzalo Castro: Central Laboratory Department, Ministry of Health of the Province of Córdoba, Córdoba 5000, Argentina
Ariana Mariela Cachi: National Institute of Aeronautical and Space Medicine, FAA, Córdoba 5000, Argentina
María de los Ángeles Marinzalda: National Institute of Aeronautical and Space Medicine, FAA, Córdoba 5000, Argentina
Ana Zugarramurdi: Neuquén Provincial Thermal Organization (E.Pro.Te.N.), Neuquen 8349, Argentina
Miria Baschini: Engineering School, Comahue National University, Neuquen 8300, Argentina

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: Copahue Thermal Center is characterized by the presence of mineromedicinal acidic waters with high temperatures, therapeutic peloids, and relevant consortia of extremophiles species, distributed in small natural pools which cannot be disinfected. The objective of this research was to investigate the survival of SARS-CoV-2 in Copahue’s waters and its remaining infective capacity. In a first assay, a decrease of more than 50% of the initially viral load compared to the initially inoculated positive sample was detected for all the water samples analyzed. After that, two of the Copahue springs, which are used as an immersion bath in closed environments without going through any disinfection treatment, was selected to determine the viral viability. VERO cell infections were performed, with no cytopathic effect detected, but a strikingly high resistance of the virus, detecting its genome by real time PCR, during the seven days of study under laboratory conditions. SARS-CoV-2 survival in acid media was reaffirmed, which is a peculiarity for a covered virus. A decrease in the detectable viral load of the positive sample was found as the infection time passed, becoming completely negative in the subsequent blind passages. More research is needed to further study the feasibility of SARS-CoV-2 in mineromedicinal waters, especially natural acidic waters that cannot disinfected, in order to expand information about the risk to populations that are exposed to them.

Keywords: Copahue; SARS-CoV-2; spring water; survival; pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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