Epidemiology and Ecology of Emerging Viruses in Two Freshwater Lakes of the Northern Hemisphere

Abstract Changing patterns of waterborne viral diseases across the globe has been the focus of many studies in recent years. Despite the recent increase in recreational water-related diseases, studies performed in the Great Lakes region have primarily focused on the identification of fecal indicator microorganisms or select pathogenic viruses. Although these studies provide useful information in determining sources of fecal contamination of aquatic environments, they do not provide a comprehensive profile of viral species inhabiting this region. Understanding the dynamics and the diversity of total viral communities is essential in assessing the impact of these communities on water quality and the risk they pose to public health. Therefore in this chapter, we have summarized the current understanding of viral community structures of the lower Great Lakes area, particularly of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, the epidemiology and ecology of pathogens, their sources, and the public health implications of these findings. The information obtained from this review may aid in our understanding of recreational water quality and may provide useful information to water quality decision makers for the optimization of municipal sampling programs currently employed in the Great Lakes area.