1
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Tang MHE, Bennedbaek M, Gunalan V, Qvesel AG, Thorsen TH, Larsen NB, Rasmussen LD, Krogsgaard LW, Rasmussen M, Stegger M, Alexandersen S. Variations in the persistence of 5'-end genomic and subgenomic SARS-CoV-2 RNAs in wastewater from aircraft, airports and wastewater treatment plants. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29703. [PMID: 38694057 PMCID: PMC11061675 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Wastewater sequencing has become a powerful supplement to clinical testing in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infections in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. While its applications in measuring the viral burden and main circulating lineages in the community have proved their efficacy, the variations in sequencing quality and coverage across the different regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome are not well understood. Furthermore, it is unclear how different sample origins, viral extraction and concentration methods and environmental factors impact the reads sequenced from wastewater. Using high-coverage, amplicon-based, paired-end read sequencing of viral RNA extracted from wastewater collected directly from aircraft, pooled from different aircraft and airport buildings or from regular wastewater plants, we assessed the genome coverage across the sample groups with a focus on the 5'-end region covering the leader sequence and investigated whether it was possible to detect subgenomic RNA from viral material recovered from wastewater. We identified distinct patterns in the persistence of the different genomic regions across the different types of wastewaters and the existence of chimeric reads mapping to non-amplified regions. Our findings suggest that preservation of the 5'-end of the genome and the ability to detect subgenomic RNA reads, though highly susceptible to environment and sample processing conditions, may be indicative of the quality and amount of the viral RNA present in wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Hung Eric Tang
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marc Bennedbaek
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vithiagaran Gunalan
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Amanda Gammelby Qvesel
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Theis Hass Thorsen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Lasse Dam Rasmussen
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lene Wulff Krogsgaard
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Rasmussen
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marc Stegger
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Soren Alexandersen
- Division of Diagnostic Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
- Deakin University, School of Medicine, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, Australia
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2
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Folkes M, Castro-Gutierrez V, Lundy L, Bajón-Fernández Y, Soares A, Jeffrey P, Hassard F. Campus source to sink wastewater surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES 2024; 6:100240. [PMID: 38774836 PMCID: PMC11106825 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2024.100240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) offers an aggregate, and cost-effective approach for tracking infectious disease outbreak prevalence within communities, that provides data on community health complementary to individual clinical testing. This study reports on a 16-month WBS initiative on a university campus in England, UK, assessing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sewers from large buildings, downstream sewer locations, raw wastewater, partially treated and treated effluents. Key findings include the detection of the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant in wastewater, with 70 % of confirmed campus cases correlating with positive wastewater samples. Notably, ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) levels showed a positive correlation (ρ = 0.543, p < 0.01) with virus levels at the large building scale, a relationship not observed at the sewer or wastewater treatment works (WWTW) levels due to dilution. The WWTW was compliant to wastewater standards, but the secondary treatment processes were not efficient for virus removal as SARS-CoV-2 was consistently detected in treated discharges. Tools developed through WBS can also be used to enhance traditional environmental monitoring of aquatic systems. This study provides a detailed source-to-sink evaluation, emphasizing the critical need for the widespread application and improvement of WBS. It showcases WBS utility and reinforces the ongoing challenges posed by viruses to receiving water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Folkes
- Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
| | - V.M. Castro-Gutierrez
- Center for Research on Environmental Pollution (CICA), Universidad de Costa Rica, Montes de Oca, 11501, Costa Rica
| | - L. Lundy
- Department of Natural Sciences, Middlesex University, NW4 4BT, UK
| | - Y. Bajón-Fernández
- Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
| | - A. Soares
- Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
| | - P. Jeffrey
- Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
| | - F. Hassard
- Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
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3
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Campeanu AT, Rus M, Ispas S, Herlo A, Craciun A, Ionescu C, Banariu GM, Cambrea CS, Nicolae M, Nelson-Twakor A, Dumitru IM. Prevalence and association of oral manifestations with disease severity in patients diagnosed with COVID‑19: A cross‑sectional study. MEDICINE INTERNATIONAL 2024; 4:30. [PMID: 38660127 PMCID: PMC11040283 DOI: 10.3892/mi.2024.154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Systemic disorders may exhibit early signs when conducting an oral examination. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies have been published detailing the direct impact of the virus on the oral cavity. The present study aimed to determine whether indeed there are any significant disparities in oropharyngeal manifestations between individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and a control group, and whether the virus has the ability to invade and reproduce inside oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts, resulting in the development of oral ulcerations and superficial lesions. The present study provides an overview of the symptoms that occur at an early stage of the illness, and the most commonly affected regions of the oral cavity, including the tongue, lips, palate and oropharynx are examined. In the present retrospective study, 52 patients infected with COVID-19 were recruited between April, 2021 and October, 2022. In addition, 52 individuals who tested negative for the virus were recruited as the control group. The study was conducted through a thorough examination and questionnaire provided to all participants. The results revealed that among the cohort of patients from the COVID-19 group examined (n=52), a proportion (mean, 16.15) displayed oral manifestations. Specifically, 75% of the patients in the COVID-19 group described oral cavity pain, and 69% of these patients had changes in teeth color or dental caries. In summary, in relation to the control group, the prevalence of oropharyngeal symptoms was generally lower compared to the COVID-19 group, apart from oral cavity pain (30.8%), tonsillitis (17.3%), bleeding (34.6%), teeth color changes (36.5%), recurrence (15.4%) and abscesses (7.7%). Thus, on the whole, the patients without COVID-19 had fewer oral manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana-Teodora Campeanu
- General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection, 900178 Constanta, Romania
- Department of PhD Research, Faculty of General Medicine, ‘Ovidius’ University, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Mihaela Rus
- Faculty of Law and Administrative Science, ‘Ovidius’ University, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Sorina Ispas
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of General Medicine, ‘Ovidius’ University, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Alexandra Herlo
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Aurora Craciun
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of General Medicine, ‘Ovidius’ University, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Constantin Ionescu
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of General Medicine, ‘Ovidius’ University, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Gheorghe-Mihail Banariu
- Department of PhD Research, Faculty of General Medicine, ‘Ovidius’ University, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Claudia-Simona Cambrea
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of General Medicine, ‘Ovidius’ University, 900470 Constanta, Romania
- Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital, 900178 Constanta, Romania
| | - Maria Nicolae
- Department of Pediatrics, County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Constanta, 900591 Constanta, Romania
| | - Andreea Nelson-Twakor
- Department of Internal Medicine, County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Constanta, 900591 Constanta, Romania
| | - Irina-Magdalena Dumitru
- Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital, 900178 Constanta, Romania
- Faculty of General Medicine, ‘Ovidius’ University, 900470 Constanta, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, 050044 Bucharest, Romania
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4
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Li J, Lyu C, An R, Wang D. Interaction Between SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein S1 Subunit and Oyster Heat Shock Protein 70. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2024:10.1007/s12560-024-09599-y. [PMID: 38635140 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-024-09599-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) contaminates the marine environment and is bioaccumulated in filter-feeding shellfish. Previous study shows the Pacific oyster tissues can bioaccumulate the SARS-CoV-2, and the oyster heat shock protein 70 (oHSP70) may play as the primary attachment receptor to bind SARS-CoV-2's recombinant spike protein S1 subunit (rS1). However, detailed information about the interaction between rS1 and oHSP70 is still unknown. In this study, we confirmed that the affinity of recombinant oHSP70 (roHSP70) for rS1 (KD = 20.4 nM) is comparable to the receptor-binding affinity of rACE2 for rS1 (KD = 16.7 nM) by surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based Biacore and further validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Three truncated proteins (roHSP70-N/C/M) and five mutated proteins (p.I229del, p.D457del, p.V491_K495del, p.K556I, and p.ΣroHSP70) were constructed according to the molecular docking results. All three truncated proteins have significantly lower affinity for rS1 than the full-length roHSP70, indicating that all three segments of roHSP70 are involved in binding to rS1. Further, the results of SPR and ELISA showed that all five mutant proteins had significantly lower affinity for rS1 than roHSP70, suggesting that amino acids at these sites are involved in binding to rS1. This study provides a preliminary theoretical basis for the bioaccumulation of SARS-CoV-2 in oyster tissues or using roHSP70 as the capture unit to selectively enrich virus particles for detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Li
- Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenang Lyu
- Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ran An
- Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dapeng Wang
- Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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5
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Anda B. Poliomyelitis and COVID-19: a repeated history. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2024; 22:717-720. [PMID: 38678424 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2024.327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
The measurement of the enterovirus and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in sewage water is relevant in the early detection of the introduction or disappearance of these viruses in the ecosystem. We evaluated the co-circulation of the enteroviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in 81 sewage water samples collected between September 2021 and April 2023 from different regions of north and southeast Romania, at the border with Ukraine. We used, for the molecular detection of the pathogens, the multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay produced for respiratory samples and the Respiratory 2.1 Plus panel Biofire Film array. The isolation of enteroviruses was performed on cell culture lines, in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. By molecular investigations, we detected the SARS-CoV-2 in 22 (27%) samples, and the human rhinovirus/enterovirus in 64 (79%) samples. By isolation on cell culture lines, 27 samples (33,33%) were positive for non-polio enteroviruses, and no poliovirus strains were isolated, proving the maintenance of the polio-free status in Romania. In an emergency situation, the molecular detection of the pathogens in sewage water using a PCR system integrating sample preparation, amplification, detection, and analysis in 1 h could be implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baicus Anda
- Enteric Viral Infections, Laboratory 'Cantacuzino' Medico Military National Institute of Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; Department of Microbiology III - Emergency University Hospital Bucharest, Faculty of Medicine, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050098 Bucharest, Romania E-mail:
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6
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Niu Y, Wang F, Luo D, Shu Z, Huang J, Zhang Y, Liu C, Qian H. Vertical transmission of infectious aerosols through building toilet drainage system: An experimental study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123284. [PMID: 38163630 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The building's toilet drainage system has been identified as a potential route for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during outbreaks. This study employed agar-fluorescein sodium semi-solid as trace particles to investigate the possibility of vertical transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 in drainage system. In both scenarios, where floor drains were all properly sealed or dried out, simulated faeces containing fluorescein sodium were flushed into the toilet bowl. Air sampling was conducted in each restroom, and differential pressure measurements at the floor drain locations were taken. The experimental results showed that when all floor drains were properly sealed, the differential pressure at each floor drain was 0. The fluorescein sodium-traced aerosol did not transmit through the drainage system to various floors, which significantly reduced the risk of infection for users through this route. However, when all floor drains dried out, toilet users above the neutral pressure layer (NPL) were at a high risk of virus infection. Due to the increasing maximum negative pressure at the floor drain above the NPL with ascending floor levels, users on each floor above the NPL faced an elevated infection risk in restrooms. Specifically, users on the top floor were exposed to infectious aerosols roughly 1.6 times that of the first floor above the NPL. Conversely, owing to the increasing maximum positive pressure at the floor drain below the NPL with descending floor levels, users below the NPL experienced a comparatively lower infection risk. This finding has important implications for understanding the vertical transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in residential or public building and can inform the development of effective control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Niu
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Fang Wang
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China
| | - Danting Luo
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Zhiyong Shu
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Jiayu Huang
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yongpeng Zhang
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China
| | - Cong Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Hua Qian
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
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7
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Nederlof RA, de la Garza MA, Bakker J. Perspectives on SARS-CoV-2 Cases in Zoological Institutions. Vet Sci 2024; 11:78. [PMID: 38393096 PMCID: PMC10893009 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11020078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in a zoological institution were initially reported in March 2020. Since then, at least 94 peer-reviewed cases have been reported in zoos worldwide. Among the affected animals, nonhuman primates, carnivores, and artiodactyls appear to be most susceptible to infection, with the Felidae family accounting for the largest number of reported cases. Clinical symptoms tend to be mild across taxa; although, certain species exhibit increased susceptibility to disease. A variety of diagnostic tools are available, allowing for initial diagnostics and for the monitoring of infectious risk. Whilst supportive therapy proves sufficient in most cases, monoclonal antibody therapy has emerged as a promising additional treatment option. Effective transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in some species raises concerns over potential spillover and the formation of reservoirs. The occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in a variety of animal species may contribute to the emergence of variants of concern due to altered viral evolutionary constraints. Consequently, this review emphasizes the need for effective biosecurity measures and surveillance strategies to prevent and control SARS-CoV-2 infections in zoological institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melissa A. de la Garza
- Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
| | - Jaco Bakker
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
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8
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Machkovech HM, Hahn AM, Garonzik Wang J, Grubaugh ND, Halfmann PJ, Johnson MC, Lemieux JE, O'Connor DH, Piantadosi A, Wei W, Friedrich TC. Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection: significance and implications. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024:S1473-3099(23)00815-0. [PMID: 38340735 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00815-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 causes persistent infections in a subset of individuals, which is a major clinical and public health problem that should be prioritised for further investigation for several reasons. First, persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection often goes unrecognised, and therefore might affect a substantial number of people, particularly immunocompromised individuals. Second, the formation of tissue reservoirs (including in non-respiratory tissues) might underlie the pathophysiology of the persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection and require new strategies for diagnosis and treatment. Finally, persistent SARS-CoV-2 replication, particularly in the setting of suboptimal immune responses, is a possible source of new, divergent virus variants that escape pre-existing immunity on the individual and population levels. Defining optimal diagnostic and treatment strategies for patients with persistent virus replication and monitoring viral evolution are therefore urgent medical and public health priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Machkovech
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anne M Hahn
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Nathan D Grubaugh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Peter J Halfmann
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Marc C Johnson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri-School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Jacob E Lemieux
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David H O'Connor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anne Piantadosi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Wanting Wei
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Thomas C Friedrich
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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9
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Martínez-Hernández F, Gonzalez-Arenas NR, Cervantes JAO, Villalobos G, Olivo-Diaz A, Rendon-Franco E, Maravilla P, Valdovinos MR, Muñoz-Garcia CI. Identification of SARS-CoV-2 in urban rodents from Southern Mexico City at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2024; 66:e8. [PMID: 38324874 PMCID: PMC10846537 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946202466008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently, there are some concerns about the situation and, in particular, about the future of the COVID-19 pandemic and the new emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2. Rodents are an example of synanthropic animals in urban environments that harbor important zoonoses. Although the molecular identification of SARS-CoV-2 in Rattus norvegicus from New York City had been reported, in other studies, urban wild rodents infected with this virus have not been found. This study aimed to molecularly identify the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in urban wild rodents from Mexico City, trapped along a water channel of a public park as part of a pest control program, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during the fall and winter of 2020. Up to 33 Mus musculus and 52 R. norvegicus were captured and euthanized, large intestine samples with feces from the animals were obtained. RNAs were obtained and subjected to qRT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 identification and threshold cycle (Ct) values were obtained. Four mice (12.1%) and three rats (5.8%) were positive, three rodents exhibited Ct<30. Our results on the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 in urban rats are in line with other previous reports. Thus, similar to other authors, we suggest that surveillance for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in urban wild rodents, as sentinel animals, should be maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - José Antonio Ocampo Cervantes
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas y Acuícolas de Cuemanco, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Guiehdani Villalobos
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | - Emilio Rendon-Franco
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Pablo Maravilla
- Hospital General “Dr. Manuel Gea González”, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Mirza Romero Valdovinos
- Hospital General “Dr. Manuel Gea González”, Departamento de Biología Molecular e Histocompatibilidad, Laboratorio de Patógenos Emergentes, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Claudia Irais Muñoz-Garcia
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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10
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Piewbang C, Poonsin P, Lohavicharn P, Punyathi P, Kesdangsakonwut S, Kasantikul T, Techangamsuwan S. Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs: Determination of viral loads, distributions, localizations, and pathology. Acta Trop 2024; 249:107070. [PMID: 37956819 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Instances of reverse zoonosis involving severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been documented in both controlled experiments and spontaneous cases. Although dogs are susceptible to infection, clinical significance is limited to mild or asymptomatic. Here, we investigate the fatal cases of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs in Thailand. Pathological findings of SARS-CoV-2-infected dogs reveal severe diffuse alveolar damage, pulmonary hyalinization and fibrosis, and syncytial formation, together with minor lesions in brain and kidney. Employing reverse transcription-digital PCR, substantial viral loads of SARS-CoV-2 were detected in lung, kidney, brain, trachea, tonsil, tracheobronchial lymph node, liver, and intestine, respectively. Localization of SARS-CoV-2 within various tissues was examined through immunohistochemistry (IHC), where the co-localization of the viral spike protein and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor was illustrated using double IHC. SARS-CoV-2 localization was markedly identified in the epithelial cells of the lung, trachea, intestine and kidneys, and moderately presented in the salivary gland and gall bladder, where the co-localization with the ACE2 was also evident. Neurons in the brainstem where exhibited lymphocytic perivascular cuffing were also found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 in IHC testing, despite lacking ACE2 receptor expression. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 replication within the lungs of infected dogs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, visualizing free viral particles within the cytosol or the endoplasmic reticulum of syncytial cells within the lung. This study considerably expanded on the knowledge of the pathology associated with natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs, a scenario that is relatively infrequent but occasionally leads to fatal outcome. Furthermore, these findings suggest the potential utility of dogs as a model for studying SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans, warranting further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chutchai Piewbang
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Animal Virome and Diagnostic Development Research Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Panida Poonsin
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Animal Virome and Diagnostic Development Research Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Pattiya Lohavicharn
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Animal Virome and Diagnostic Development Research Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Panitnan Punyathi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sawang Kesdangsakonwut
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Animal Virome and Diagnostic Development Research Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Tanit Kasantikul
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Somporn Techangamsuwan
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Animal Virome and Diagnostic Development Research Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
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Hui KPY, Chin AWH, Ehret J, Ng KC, Peiris M, Poon LLM, Wong KHM, Chan MCW, Hosegood I, Nicholls JM. Stability of SARS-CoV-2 on Commercial Aircraft Interior Surfaces with Implications for Effective Control Measures. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6598. [PMID: 37623181 PMCID: PMC10454724 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20166598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2022 devastated many aspects of life and the economy, with the commercial aviation industry being no exception. One of the major concerns during the pandemic was the degree to which the internal aircraft environment contributed to virus transmission between humans and, in particular, the stability of SARS-CoV-2 on contact surfaces in the aircraft cabin interior. METHOD In this study, the stability of various major strains of SARS-CoV-2 on interior aircraft surfaces was evaluated using the TCID50 assessment. RESULTS In contrast to terrestrial materials, SARS-CoV-2 was naturally less stable on common contact points in the aircraft interior, and, over a 4 h time period, there was a 90% reduction in culturable virus. Antiviral and surface coatings were extremely effective at mitigating the persistence of the virus on surfaces; however, their benefit was diminished by regular cleaning and were ineffective after 56 days of regular use and cleaning. Finally, successive strains of SARS-CoV-2 have not evolved to be more resilient to survival on aircraft surfaces. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the mitigation strategies for SARS-CoV-2 on interior aircraft surfaces are more than sufficient, and epidemiological evidence over the past three years has not found that surface spread is a major route of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenrie P. Y. Hui
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.P.Y.H.)
- Centre for Immunology & Infection, Hong Kong Science Park HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Alex W. H. Chin
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.P.Y.H.)
- Centre for Immunology & Infection, Hong Kong Science Park HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - John Ehret
- Qantas Airways Ltd., Qantas 10 Bourke Rd Mascot, Sydney, NSW 2020, Australia
| | - Ka-Chun Ng
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.P.Y.H.)
| | - Malik Peiris
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.P.Y.H.)
- Centre for Immunology & Infection, Hong Kong Science Park HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Leo L. M. Poon
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.P.Y.H.)
- Centre for Immunology & Infection, Hong Kong Science Park HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Karen H. M. Wong
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michael C. W. Chan
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China; (K.P.Y.H.)
- Centre for Immunology & Infection, Hong Kong Science Park HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ian Hosegood
- Qantas Airways Ltd., Qantas 10 Bourke Rd Mascot, Sydney, NSW 2020, Australia
| | - John M. Nicholls
- Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam HKG, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Haque R, Hossain ME, Miah M, Rahman M, Amin N, Rahman Z, Islam MS, Rahman MZ. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater of Dhaka City, Bangladesh: approach to complement public health surveillance systems. Hum Genomics 2023; 17:58. [PMID: 37420264 PMCID: PMC10326934 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-023-00505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance has been considered a powerful tool for early detection and monitoring of the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and its lineages circulating in a community. This study is aimed to investigate the complexity of SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics in Dhaka city by examining its genetic variants in wastewater. Also, the study seeks to determine a connection between the SARS-CoV-2 variations detected in clinical testing and those found in wastewater samples. RESULTS Out of 504 samples tested in RT-qPCR, 185 (36.7%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. The median log10 concentration of SARS-CoV-2 N gene copies/Liter of wastewater (gc/L) was 5.2, and the median log10 concentration of ORF1ab was 4.9. To further reveal the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2, ten samples with ORF1ab real-time RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values ranging from 28.78 to 32.13 were subjected to whole genome sequencing using nanopore technology. According to clade classification, sequences from wastewater samples were grouped into 4 clades: 20A, 20B, 21A, 21J, and the Pango lineage, B.1, B.1.1, B.1.1.25, and B.1.617.2, with coverage ranging from 94.2 to 99.8%. Of them, 70% belonged to clade 20B, followed by 10% to clade 20A, 21A, and 21J. Lineage B.1.1.25 was predominant in Bangladesh and phylogenetically related to the sequences from India, the USA, Canada, the UK, and Italy. The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was first identified in clinical samples at the beginning of May 2021. In contrast, we found that it was circulating in the community and was detected in wastewater in September 2020. CONCLUSION Environmental surveillance is useful for monitoring temporal and spatial trends of existing and emerging infectious diseases and supports evidence-based public health measures. The findings of this study supported the use of wastewater-based epidemiology and provided the baseline data for the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the wastewater environment in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehnuma Haque
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Mohammad Enayet Hossain
- One Health Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Mojnu Miah
- One Health Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Nuhu Amin
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
- Institute for Sustainable Futures, The University of Technology Sydney, 235 Jones St, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Ziaur Rahman
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Md Shariful Islam
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
- The School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mohammed Ziaur Rahman
- One Health Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
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