1
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Lehto KM, Länsivaara A, Hyder R, Luomala O, Lipponen A, Hokajärvi AM, Heikinheimo A, Pitkänen T, Oikarinen S. Wastewater-based surveillance is an efficient monitoring tool for tracking influenza A in the community. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 257:121650. [PMID: 38692254 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121650] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Around the world, influenza A virus has caused severe pandemics, and the risk of future pandemics remains high. Currently, influenza A virus surveillance is based on the clinical diagnosis and reporting of disease cases. In this study, we apply wastewater-based surveillance to monitor the amount of the influenza A virus RNA at the population level. We report the influenza A virus RNA levels in 10 wastewater treatment plant catchment areas covering 40 % of the Finnish population. Altogether, 251 monthly composite influent wastewater samples (collected between February 2021 and February 2023) were analysed from supernatant fraction using influenza A virus specific RT-qPCR method. During the study period, an influenza A virus epidemic occurred in three waves in Finland. This study shows that the influenza A virus RNA can be detected from the supernatant fraction of 24 h composite influent wastewater samples. The influenza A virus RNA gene copy number in wastewater correlated with the number of confirmed disease cases in the Finnish National Infectious Diseases Register. The median Kendall's τ correlation strength was 0.636 (min= 0.486 and max=0.804) and it was statistically significant in all 10 WTTPs. Wastewater-based surveillance of the influenza A virus RNA is an independent from individual testing method and cost-efficiently reflects the circulation of the virus in the entire population. Thus, wastewater monitoring complements the available, but often too sparse, information from individual testing and improves health care and public health preparedness for influenza A virus pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsi-Maarit Lehto
- Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere 33520, Finland
| | - Annika Länsivaara
- Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere 33520, Finland
| | - Rafiqul Hyder
- Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere 33520, Finland
| | - Oskari Luomala
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, THL, Department of Health Security, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio 70210, Finland
| | - Anssi Lipponen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, THL, Department of Health Security, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio 70210, Finland
| | - Anna-Maria Hokajärvi
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, THL, Department of Health Security, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio 70210, Finland
| | - Annamari Heikinheimo
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, FI00014, Finland; Finnish Food Authority, Ruokavirasto, Alvar Aallon katu 5, Seinäjoki 60100, Finland
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, THL, Department of Health Security, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio 70210, Finland; Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, FI00014, Finland
| | - Sami Oikarinen
- Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere 33520, Finland.
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Tiwari A, Lehto KM, Paspaliari DK, Al-Mustapha AI, Sarekoski A, Hokajärvi AM, Länsivaara A, Hyder R, Luomala O, Lipponen A, Oikarinen S, Heikinheimo A, Pitkänen T. Developing wastewater-based surveillance schemes for multiple pathogens: The WastPan project in Finland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171401. [PMID: 38467259 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171401] [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: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater comprises multiple pathogens and offers a potential for wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) to track the prevalence of communicable diseases. The Finnish WastPan project aimed to establish wastewater-based pandemic preparedness for multiple pathogens (viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi), including antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This article outlines WastPan's experiences in this project, including the criteria for target selection, sampling locations, frequency, analysis methods, and results communication. Target selection relied on epidemiological and microbiological evidence and practical feasibility. Within the WastPan framework, wastewater samples were collected between 2021 and 2023 from 10 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) covering 40 % of Finland's population. WWTP selection was validated for reported cases of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase-producing bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) from the National Infectious Disease Register. The workflow included 24-h composite influent samples, with one fraction for culture-based analysis (bacteria and fungi) and the rest of the sample was reserved for molecular analysis (viruses, bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and parasites). The reproducibility of the monitoring workflow was assessed for SARS-CoV-2 through inter-laboratory comparisons using the N2 and N1 assays. Identical protocols were applied to same-day samples, yielding similar positivity trends in the two laboratories, but the N2 assay achieved a significantly higher detection rate (Laboratory 1: 91.5 %; Laboratory 2: 87.4 %) than the N1 assay (76.6 %) monitored only in Laboratory 2 (McNemar, p < 0.001 Lab 1, = 0.006 Lab 2). This result indicates that the selection of monitoring primers and assays may impact monitoring sensitivity in WBS. Overall, the current study recommends that the selection of sampling frequencies and population coverage of the monitoring should be based on pathogen-specific epidemiological characteristics. For example, pathogens that are stable over time may need less frequent annual sampling, while those that are occurring across regions may require reduced sample coverage. Here, WastPan successfully piloted WBS for monitoring multiple pathogens, highlighting the significance of one-litre community composite wastewater samples for assessing community health. The infrastructure established for COVID-19 WBS is valuable for monitoring various pathogens. The prioritization of the monitoring targets optimizes resource utilization. In the future legislative support in target selection, coverage determination, and sustained funding for WBS is recomended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananda Tiwari
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health Security, Kuopio and Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Kirsi-Maarit Lehto
- Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Dafni K Paspaliari
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health Security, Kuopio and Helsinki, Finland; ECDC Fellowship Programme, Public Health Microbiology path (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Solna, Sweden
| | - Ahmad I Al-Mustapha
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
| | - Anniina Sarekoski
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health Security, Kuopio and Helsinki, Finland; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Anna-Maria Hokajärvi
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health Security, Kuopio and Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Annika Länsivaara
- Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Rafiqul Hyder
- Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Oskari Luomala
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health Security, Kuopio and Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Anssi Lipponen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health Security, Kuopio and Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Sami Oikarinen
- Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Annamari Heikinheimo
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Helsinki, Finland; Finnish Food Authority, Seinäjoki, Finland.
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health Security, Kuopio and Helsinki, Finland; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Helsinki, Finland.
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3
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Su L, Lou Y, Li J, Mao H, Li J, Sun Y, Zhou B, Wu G, Huang C, Zhang Y, Chen K. Influence of storage solution, temperature, assay time and concentration on RT-qPCR nucleic acid detection for SARS-CoV-2 detection of SARS-CoV-2 by the RT-qPCR. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 707:149726. [PMID: 38493747 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149726] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Real-time reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is an important method for the early diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study investigated the effects of storage solution, temperature and detection time on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid detection by RT-qPCR. Various concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 were added to inactive and non-inactive storage solution and the viral suspensions were stored at various temperatures (room temperature, 4, -20 and -80 °C). Then, at five different detection time points, the Ct values were determined by RT-qPCR. Active and inactive storage solutions and storage temperature have a great impact on the detection of N gene of SARS-CoV-2 at different concentration corridors but have little impact on the ORF gene. The storage time has a greater impact on the N gene and ORF gene at high concentrations but has no effect on the two genes at low concentrations. In conclusion, storage temperature, storage time and storage status (inactivated, non-inactivated) have no effect on the nucleic acid detection of SARS-CoV-2 at the same concentration. For different concentrations of SARS-CoV-2, the detection of N gene is mainly affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingxuan Su
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yihan Lou
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiaxuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Haiyan Mao
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Biaofeng Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guangshang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Chen Huang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yanjun Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Keda Chen
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, P.R. China.
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4
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Zhang M, Roldan-Hernandez L, Boehm A. Persistence of human respiratory viral RNA in wastewater-settled solids. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0227223. [PMID: 38501669 PMCID: PMC11022535 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02272-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology has emerged as a valuable tool for monitoring respiratory viral diseases within communities by analyzing concentrations of viral nucleic-acids in wastewater. However, little is known about the fate of respiratory virus nucleic-acids in wastewater. Two important fate processes that may modulate their concentrations in wastewater as they move from household drains to the point of collection include sorption or partitioning to wastewater solids and degradation. This study investigated the decay kinetics of genomic nucleic-acids of seven human respiratory viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human coronavirus (HCoV)-OC43, HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, human rhinovirus (HRV), and influenza A virus (IAV), as well as pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in wastewater solids. Viruses (except for PMMoV) were spiked into wastewater solids and their concentrations were followed for 50 days at three different temperatures (4°C, 22°C, and 37°C). Viral genomic RNA decayed following first-order kinetics with decay rate constants k from 0 to 0.219 per day. Decay rate constants k were not different from 0 for all targets in solids incubated at 4°C; k values were largest at 37°C and at this temperature, k values were similar across nucleic-acid targets. Regardless of temperature, there was limited viral RNA decay, with an estimated 0% to 20% reduction, over the typical residence times of sewage in the piped systems between input and collection point (<1 day). The k values reported herein can be used directly in fate and transport models to inform the interpretation of measurements made during wastewater surveillance.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding whether or not the RNA targets quantified for wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) efforts decay during transport between drains and the point of sample collection is critical for data interpretation. Here we show limited decay of viral RNA targets typically measured for respiratory disease WBE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyang Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Laura Roldan-Hernandez
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Alexandria Boehm
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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5
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Lipponen A, Kolehmainen A, Oikarinen S, Hokajärvi AM, Lehto KM, Heikinheimo A, Halkilahti J, Juutinen A, Luomala O, Smura T, Liitsola K, Blomqvist S, Savolainen-Kopra C, Pitkänen T. Detection of SARS-COV-2 variants and their proportions in wastewater samples using next-generation sequencing in Finland. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7751. [PMID: 38565591 PMCID: PMC10987589 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58113-8] [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: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants may have different characteristics, e.g., in transmission, mortality, and the effectiveness of vaccines, indicating the importance of variant detection at the population level. Wastewater-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragments has been shown to be an effective way to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic at the population level. Wastewater is a complex sample matrix affected by environmental factors and PCR inhibitors, causing insufficient coverage in sequencing, for example. Subsequently, results where part of the genome does not have sufficient coverage are not uncommon. To identify variants and their proportions in wastewater over time, we utilized next-generation sequencing with the ARTIC Network's primer set and bioinformatics pipeline to evaluate the presence of variants in partial genome data. Based on the wastewater data from November 2021 to February 2022, the Delta variant was dominant until mid-December in Helsinki, Finland's capital, and thereafter in late December 2022 Omicron became the most common variant. At the same time, the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 outcompeted the previous Delta variant in Finland in new COVID-19 cases. The SARS-CoV-2 variant findings from wastewater are in agreement with the variant information obtained from the patient samples when visually comparing trends in the sewerage network area. This indicates that the sequencing of wastewater is an effective way to monitor temporal and spatial trends of SARS-CoV-2 variants at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anssi Lipponen
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
- Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Aleksi Kolehmainen
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sami Oikarinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Anna-Maria Hokajärvi
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kirsi-Maarit Lehto
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Annamari Heikinheimo
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Microbiology Unit, Laboratory and Research Division, Finnish Food Authority, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jani Halkilahti
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aapo Juutinen
- Infectious Disease Control and Vaccinations Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Oskari Luomala
- Infectious Disease Control and Vaccinations Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teemu Smura
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kirsi Liitsola
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Soile Blomqvist
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Carita Savolainen-Kopra
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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6
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Yao Y, Zhu Y, Nogueira R, Klawonn F, Wallner M. Optimal Selection of Sampling Points within Sewer Networks for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Applications. Methods Protoc 2024; 7:6. [PMID: 38251199 PMCID: PMC10801534 DOI: 10.3390/mps7010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has great potential to monitor community public health, especially during pandemics. However, it faces substantial hurdles in pathogen surveillance through WBE, encompassing data representativeness, spatiotemporal variability, population estimates, pathogen decay, and environmental factors. This paper aims to enhance the reliability of WBE data, especially for early outbreak detection and improved sampling strategies within sewer networks. The tool implemented in this paper combines a monitoring model and an optimization model to facilitate the optimal selection of sampling points within sewer networks. The monitoring model utilizes parameters such as feces density and average water consumption to define the detectability of the virus that needs to be monitored. This allows for standardization and simplicity in the process of moving from the analysis of wastewater samples to the identification of infection in the source area. The entropy-based model can select optimal sampling points in a sewer network to obtain the most specific information at a minimum cost. The practicality of our tool is validated using data from Hildesheim, Germany, employing SARS-CoV-2 as a pilot pathogen. It is important to note that the tool's versatility empowers its extension to monitor other pathogens in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Yao
- Institute for Information Engineering, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Salzdahlumer Str. 46/48, 38302 Wolfenbüttel, Germany;
| | - Yibo Zhu
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Herbert-Meyer-Str. 7, 29556 Suderburg, Germany; (Y.Z.); (M.W.)
| | - Regina Nogueira
- Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Waste Management, Leibniz University Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Frank Klawonn
- Biostatistics Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Markus Wallner
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Herbert-Meyer-Str. 7, 29556 Suderburg, Germany; (Y.Z.); (M.W.)
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7
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Barrantes K, Chacón-Jiménez L, Rivera-Montero L, Segura-Villalta A, Badilla-Aguilar A, Alfaro-Arrieta E, Rivera-Navarro P, Méndez-Chacón E, Santamaría-Ulloa C. Challenges detecting SARS-CoV-2 in Costa Rican domestic wastewater and river water. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 897:165393. [PMID: 37433341 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165393] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
This study presents the development of a SARS-CoV-2 detection method for domestic wastewater and river water in Costa Rica, a middle-income country in Central America. Over a three-year period (November to December 2020, July to November 2021, and June to October 2022), 80 composite wastewater samples (43 influent and 37 effluent) were collected from a Wastewater Treatment Plant (SJ-WWTP) located in San José, Costa Rica. Additionally, 36 river water samples were collected from the Torres River near the SJ-WWTP discharge site. A total of three protocols for SARS-CoV-2 viral concentration and RNA detection and quantification were analyzed. Two protocols using adsorption-elution with PEG precipitation (Protocol A and B, differing in the RNA extraction kit; n = 82) were used on wastewater samples frozen prior to concentration, while wastewater (n = 34) collected in 2022 were immediately concentrated using PEG precipitation. The percent recovery of Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) was highest using the Zymo Environ Water RNA (ZEW) kit with PEG precipitation executed on the same day as collection (mean 6.06 % ± 1.37 %). It was lowest when samples were frozen and thawed, and viruses were concentrated using adsorption-elution and PEG concentration methods using the PureLink™ Viral RNA/DNA Mini (PLV) kit (protocol A; mean 0.48 % ± 0.23 %). Pepper mild mottle virus and Bovine coronavirus were used as process controls to understand the suitability and potential impact of viral recovery on the detection/quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in influent and effluent wastewater samples collected in 2022 but not in earlier years when the method was not optimized. The burden of SARS-CoV-2 at the SJ-WWTP decreased from week 36 to week 43 of 2022, coinciding with a decline in the national COVID-19 prevalence rate. Developing comprehensive nationwide surveillance programs for wastewater-based epidemiology in low-middle-income countries involves significant technical and logistical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenia Barrantes
- Health Research Institute, University of Costa Rica, P.O. Box: 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Luz Chacón-Jiménez
- Health Research Institute, University of Costa Rica, P.O. Box: 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Luis Rivera-Montero
- Health Research Institute, University of Costa Rica, P.O. Box: 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica.
| | | | - Andrei Badilla-Aguilar
- National Water Laboratory of the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewerage, P.O.Box 1097-1200, Cartago, Costa Rica.
| | - Ernesto Alfaro-Arrieta
- National Water Laboratory of the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewerage, P.O.Box 1097-1200, Cartago, Costa Rica.
| | - Pablo Rivera-Navarro
- National Water Laboratory of the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewerage, P.O.Box 1097-1200, Cartago, Costa Rica.
| | - Ericka Méndez-Chacón
- School of Statistics, University of Costa Rica, P.O. Box 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica.
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8
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Thapar I, Langan LM, Davis H, Norman RS, Bojes HK, Brooks BW. Influence of storage conditions and multiple freeze-thaw cycles on N1 SARS-CoV-2, PMMoV, and BCoV signal. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165098. [PMID: 37392884 PMCID: PMC10307669 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165098] [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: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology/wastewater-based surveillance (WBE/WBS) continues to serve as an effective means of monitoring various diseases, including COVID-19 and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, at the population level. As the use of WBE expands, storage conditions of wastewater samples will play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy and reproducibility of results. In this study, the impacts of water concentration buffer (WCB), storage temperature, and freeze-thaw cycles on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other WBE-related gene targets were examined. Freeze-thawing of concentrated samples did not significantly affect (p > 0.05) crossing/cycle threshold (Ct) value for any of the gene targets studied (SARS-CoV-2 N1, PMMoV, and BCoV). However, use of WCB during concentration resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in Ct for all targets, and storage at -80 °C (in contrast to -20 °C) appeared preferable for wastewater storage signal stability based on decreased Ct values, although this was only significantly different (p < 0.05) for the BCoV target. Interestingly, when Ct values were converted to gene copies per influent sample, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in any of the targets examined. Stability of RNA targets in concentrated wastewater against freeze-thaw degradation supports archiving of concentrated samples for use in retrospective examination of COVID-19 trends and tracing SARS-CoV-2 variants and potentially other viruses, and provides a starting point for establishing a consistent procedure for specimen collection and storage for the WBE/WBS community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isha Thapar
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97266, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Laura M Langan
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97266, Waco, TX 76798, USA; Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97178, Waco, TX 76798, USA.
| | - Haley Davis
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97266, Waco, TX 76798, USA; Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, 5600 US-1, Fort Pierce, FL 34946, USA
| | - R Sean Norman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, South Carolina, 921 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Heidi K Bojes
- Environmental Epidemiology and Disease Registries Section, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, TX 78756, USA
| | - Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97266, Waco, TX 76798, USA; Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97178, Waco, TX 76798, USA; Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97224, Waco, TX 76798, USA
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9
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Breadner PR, Dhiyebi HA, Fattahi A, Srikanthan N, Hayat S, Aucoin MG, Boegel SJ, Bragg LM, Craig PM, Xie Y, Giesy JP, Servos MR. A comparative analysis of the partitioning behaviour of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in liquid and solid fractions of wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165095. [PMID: 37355124 PMCID: PMC10287177 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165095] [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: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
As fragments of SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be quantified and measured temporally in wastewater, surveillance of concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater has become a vital resource for tracking the spread of COVID-19 in and among communities. However, the absence of standardized methods has affected the interpretation of data for public health efforts. In particular, analyzing either the liquid or solid fraction has implications for the interpretation of how viral RNA is quantified. Characterizing how SARS-CoV-2 or its RNA fragments partition in wastewater is a central part of understanding fate and behaviour in wastewater. In this study, partitioning of SARS-CoV-2 was investigated by use of centrifugation with varied durations of spin and centrifugal force, polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation followed by centrifugation, and ultrafiltration of wastewater. Partitioning of the endogenous pepper mild mottled virus (PMMoV), used to normalize the SARS-CoV-2 signal for fecal load in trend analysis, was also examined. Additionally, two surrogates for coronavirus, human coronavirus 229E and murine hepatitis virus, were analyzed as process controls. Even though SARS-CoV-2 has an affinity for solids, the total RNA copies of SARS-CoV-2 per wastewater sample, after centrifugation (12,000 g, 1.5 h, no brake), were partitioned evenly between the liquid and solid fractions. Centrifugation at greater speeds for longer durations resulted in a shift in partitioning for all viruses toward the solid fraction except for PMMoV, which remained mostly in the liquid fraction. The surrogates more closely reflected the partitioning of SARS-CoV-2 under high centrifugation speed and duration while PMMoV did not. Interestingly, ultrafiltration devices were inconsistent in estimating RNA copies in wastewater, which can influence the interpretation of partitioning. Developing a better understanding of the fate of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and creating a foundation of best practices is the key to supporting the current pandemic response and preparing for future potential infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick R Breadner
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Hadi A Dhiyebi
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Azar Fattahi
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Nivetha Srikanthan
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Samina Hayat
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Marc G Aucoin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Scott J Boegel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Leslie M Bragg
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Paul M Craig
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Yuwei Xie
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide Environmental Assessment and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing 210042, China; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - John P Giesy
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada; Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, One Bear Place, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Mark R Servos
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
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10
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de Araújo Rolo C, Machado BAS, Dos Santos MC, Dos Santos RF, Fonseca MS, Hodel KVS, Silva JR, Nunes DDG, Dos Santos Almeida E, de Andrade JB. Long-term monitoring of COVID-19 prevalence in raw and treated wastewater in Salvador, the largest capital of the Brazilian Northeast. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15238. [PMID: 37709804 PMCID: PMC10502096 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41060-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) becomes an interesting epidemiological approach to monitoring the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 broadly and non-invasively. Herein, we employ for the first time WBE, associated or not with the PEG 8000 precipitation method, for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in samples of raw or treated wastewater from 22 municipal wastewater treatment stations (WWTPs) located in Salvador, the fourth most populous city in Brazil. Our results demonstrate the success of the application of WBE for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in both types of evaluated samples, regardless of the usage of PEG 8000 concentration procedure. Further, an increase in SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was observed in samples collected in months that presented the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases (May/2021, June/2021 and January/2022). While PEG 8000 concentration step was found to significantly increase the positivity rate in treated wastewater samples (p < 0.005), a strong positive correlation (r: 0.84; p < 0.002) between non-concentrated raw wastewater samples with the number of new cases of COVID-19 (April/2021-February/2022) was observed. In general, the present results reinforce the efficiency of WBE approach to monitoring the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in either low- or high-capacity WWTPs. The successful usage of WBE even in raw wastewater samples makes it an interesting low-cost tool for epidemiological surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina de Araújo Rolo
- SENAI CIMATEC, SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Bruna Aparecida Souza Machado
- SENAI CIMATEC, SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil
- SENAI CIMATEC, Manufacturing and Technology Integrated Campus, University Center SENAI CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Matheus Carmo Dos Santos
- SENAI CIMATEC, SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Rosângela Fernandes Dos Santos
- SENAI CIMATEC, SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Maísa Santos Fonseca
- SENAI CIMATEC, SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Katharine Valéria Saraiva Hodel
- SENAI CIMATEC, SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Rebouças Silva
- SENAI CIMATEC, SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Danielle Devequi Gomes Nunes
- SENAI CIMATEC, SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Edna Dos Santos Almeida
- SENAI CIMATEC, Manufacturing and Technology Integrated Campus, University Center SENAI CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil
| | - Jailson Bittencourt de Andrade
- SENAI CIMATEC, SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil.
- SENAI CIMATEC, Manufacturing and Technology Integrated Campus, University Center SENAI CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Brazil.
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Energia e Ambiente - CIEnAm, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, 40170-115, Brazil.
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11
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Liu Y, Kumblathan T, Joyce MA, Tyrrell DL, Tipples G, Pang X, Li XF, Le XC. Multiplex Assays Enable Simultaneous Detection and Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in Clinical and Wastewater Samples. ACS MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AU 2023; 3:258-268. [PMID: 37600458 PMCID: PMC10152402 DOI: 10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.3c00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The targeted screening and sequencing approaches for COVID-19 surveillance need to be adjusted to fit the evolving surveillance objectives which necessarily change over time. We present the development of variant screening assays that can be applied to new targets in a timely manner and enable multiplexing of targets for efficient implementation in the laboratory. By targeting the HV69/70 deletion for Alpha, K417N for Beta, K417T for Gamma, and HV69/70 deletion plus K417N for sub-variants BA.1, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5 of Omicron, we achieved simultaneous detection and differentiation of Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Omicron in a single assay. Targeting both T478K and P681R mutations enabled specific detection of the Delta variant. The multiplex assays used in combination, targeting K417N and T478K, specifically detected the Omicron sub-variant BA.2. The limits of detection for the five variants of concern were 4-16 copies of the viral RNA per reaction. Both assays achieved 100% clinical sensitivity and 100% specificity. Analyses of 377 clinical samples and 24 wastewater samples revealed the Delta variant in 100 clinical samples (nasopharyngeal and throat swab) collected in November 2021. Omicron BA.1 was detected in 79 nasopharyngeal swab samples collected in January 2022. Alpha, Beta, and Gamma variants were detected in 24 wastewater samples collected in May-June 2021 from two major cities of Alberta (Canada), and the results were consistent with the clinical cases of multiple variants reported in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanming Liu
- Division
of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory
Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Teresa Kumblathan
- Division
of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory
Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Michael A. Joyce
- Li
Ka Shing Institute of Virology, Department
of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - D. Lorne Tyrrell
- Li
Ka Shing Institute of Virology, Department
of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Graham Tipples
- Li
Ka Shing Institute of Virology, Department
of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
- Provincial
Laboratory for Public Health, Alberta Precision Laboratories, University of Alberta Hospitals, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2J2, Canada
| | - Xiaoli Pang
- Provincial
Laboratory for Public Health, Alberta Precision Laboratories, University of Alberta Hospitals, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2J2, Canada
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Xing-Fang Li
- Division
of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory
Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - X. Chris Le
- Division
of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory
Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada
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12
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Zhao L, Geng Q, Corchis-Scott R, McKay RM, Norton J, Xagoraraki I. Targeting a free viral fraction enhances the early alert potential of wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2: a methods comparison spanning the transition between delta and omicron variants in a large urban center. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1140441. [PMID: 37546328 PMCID: PMC10400354 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1140441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Wastewater surveillance has proven to be a valuable approach to monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Recognizing the benefits of wastewater surveillance as a tool to support public health in tracking SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens, numerous wastewater virus sampling and concentration methods have been tested for appropriate applications as well as their significance for actionability by public health practices. Methods Here, we present a 34-week long wastewater surveillance study that covers nearly 4 million residents of the Detroit (MI, United States) metropolitan area. Three primary concentration methods were compared with respect to recovery of SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater: Virus Adsorption-Elution (VIRADEL), polyethylene glycol precipitation (PEG), and polysulfone (PES) filtration. Wastewater viral concentrations were normalized using various parameters (flow rate, population, total suspended solids) to account for variations in flow. Three analytical approaches were implemented to compare wastewater viral concentrations across the three primary concentration methods to COVID-19 clinical data for both normalized and non-normalized data: Pearson and Spearman correlations, Dynamic Time Warping (DTW), and Time Lagged Cross Correlation (TLCC) and peak synchrony. Results It was found that VIRADEL, which captures free and suspended virus from supernatant wastewater, was a leading indicator of COVID-19 cases within the region, whereas PEG and PES filtration, which target particle-associated virus, each lagged behind the early alert potential of VIRADEL. PEG and PES methods may potentially capture previously shed and accumulated SARS-CoV-2 resuspended from sediments in the interceptors. Discussion These results indicate that the VIRADEL method can be used to enhance the early-warning potential of wastewater surveillance applications although drawbacks include the need to process large volumes of wastewater to concentrate sufficiently free and suspended virus for detection. While lagging the VIRADEL method for early-alert potential, both PEG and PES filtration can be used for routine COVID-19 wastewater monitoring since they allow a large number of samples to be processed concurrently while being more cost-effective and with rapid turn-around yielding results same day as collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Qiudi Geng
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Ryland Corchis-Scott
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Michael McKay
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
- Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States
| | - John Norton
- Great Lakes Water Authority, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Irene Xagoraraki
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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13
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Atoui A, Cordevant C, Chesnot T, Gassilloud B. SARS-CoV-2 in the environment: Contamination routes, detection methods, persistence and removal in wastewater treatment plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 881:163453. [PMID: 37059142 PMCID: PMC10091716 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The present study reviewed the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and the evaluation of virus infectivity in feces and environmental matrices. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in feces and wastewater samples, reported in several studies, has generated interest and concern regarding the possible fecal-oral route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. To date, the presence of viable SARS-CoV-2 in feces of COVID-19 infected people is not clearly confirmed although its isolation from feces of six different patients. Further, there is no documented evidence on the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, sludge and environmental water samples, although the viral genome has been detected in these matrices. Decay data revealed that SARS-CoV-2 RNA persisted longer than infectious particle in all aquatic environment, indicating that genome quantification of SARS-CoV-2 does not imply the presence of infective viral particles. In addition, this review also outlined the fate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA during the different steps in the wastewater treatment plant and focusing on the virus elimination along the sludge treatment line. Studies showed complete removal of SARS-CoV-2 during the tertiary treatment. Moreover, thermophilic sludge treatments present high efficiency in SARS-CoV-2 inactivation. Further studies are required to provide more evidence with respect to the inactivation behavior of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental matrices and to examine factors affecting SARS-CoV-2 persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Atoui
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Microbiology Unit, 40, rue Lionnois, 54 000 Nancy, France.
| | - Christophe Cordevant
- ANSES, Strategy and Programs Department, Research and Reference Division, Maisons-Alfort F-94 700, France
| | - Thierry Chesnot
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Microbiology Unit, 40, rue Lionnois, 54 000 Nancy, France
| | - Benoît Gassilloud
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, Water Microbiology Unit, 40, rue Lionnois, 54 000 Nancy, France
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14
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Ciannella S, González-Fernández C, Gomez-Pastora J. Recent progress on wastewater-based epidemiology for COVID-19 surveillance: A systematic review of analytical procedures and epidemiological modeling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:162953. [PMID: 36948304 PMCID: PMC10028212 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), whose causative agent is the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a pandemic. This virus is predominantly transmitted via respiratory droplets and shed via sputum, saliva, urine, and stool. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been able to monitor the circulation of viral pathogens in the population. This tool demands both in-lab and computational work to be meaningful for, among other purposes, the prediction of outbreaks. In this context, we present a systematic review that organizes and discusses laboratory procedures for SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantification from a wastewater matrix, along with modeling techniques applied to the development of WBE for COVID-19 surveillance. The goal of this review is to present the current panorama of WBE operational aspects as well as to identify current challenges related to it. Our review was conducted in a reproducible manner by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for systematic reviews. We identified a lack of standardization in wastewater analytical procedures. Regardless, the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) approach was the most reported technique employed to detect and quantify viral RNA in wastewater samples. As a more convenient sample matrix, we suggest the solid portion of wastewater to be considered in future investigations due to its higher viral load compared to the liquid fraction. Regarding the epidemiological modeling, the data-driven approach was consistently used for the prediction of variables associated with outbreaks. Future efforts should also be directed toward the development of rapid, more economical, portable, and accurate detection devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Ciannella
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409, TX, USA.
| | - Cristina González-Fernández
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409, TX, USA; Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros, s/n, 39005 Santander, Spain.
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15
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van Boven M, Hetebrij WA, Swart A, Nagelkerke E, van der Beek RF, Stouten S, Hoogeveen RT, Miura F, Kloosterman A, van der Drift AMR, Welling A, Lodder WJ, de Roda Husman AM. Patterns of SARS-CoV-2 circulation revealed by a nationwide sewage surveillance programme, the Netherlands, August 2020 to February 2022. Euro Surveill 2023; 28:2200700. [PMID: 37347416 PMCID: PMC10288829 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2023.28.25.2200700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundSurveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater offers a near real-time tool to track circulation of SARS-CoV-2 at a local scale. However, individual measurements of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage are noisy, inherently variable and can be left-censored.AimWe aimed to infer latent virus loads in a comprehensive sewage surveillance programme that includes all sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the Netherlands and covers 99.6% of the Dutch population.MethodsWe applied a multilevel Bayesian penalised spline model to estimate time- and STP-specific virus loads based on water flow-adjusted SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR data for one to four sewage samples per week for each of the more than 300 STPs.ResultsThe model captured the epidemic upsurges and downturns in the Netherlands, despite substantial day-to-day variation in the measurements. Estimated STP virus loads varied by more than two orders of magnitude, from ca 1012 virus particles per 100,000 persons per day in the epidemic trough in August 2020 to almost 1015 per 100,000 in many STPs in January 2022. The timing of epidemics at the local level was slightly shifted between STPs and municipalities, which resulted in less pronounced peaks and troughs at the national level.ConclusionAlthough substantial day-to-day variation is observed in virus load measurements, wastewater-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 that is performed at high sampling frequency can track long-term progression of an epidemic at a local scale in near real time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel van Boven
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter A Hetebrij
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Arno Swart
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Erwin Nagelkerke
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Rudolf Fhj van der Beek
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Sjors Stouten
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Rudolf T Hoogeveen
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Fuminari Miura
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Ehime, Japan
| | - Astrid Kloosterman
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
- Centre for Environmental Safety and Security, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Anne-Merel R van der Drift
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Anne Welling
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Willemijn J Lodder
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Ana Maria de Roda Husman
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
- Institute for Risk Assessment Science (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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16
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Zhang S, Shi J, Sharma E, Li X, Gao S, Zhou X, O'Brien J, Coin L, Liu Y, Sivakumar M, Hai F, Jiang G. In-sewer decay and partitioning of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli and implications for their wastewater surveillance. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 233:119737. [PMID: 36801582 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119737] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni and coli are two main pathogenic species inducing diarrhoeal diseases in humans, which are responsible for the loss of 33 million lives each year. Current Campylobacter infections are mainly monitored by clinical surveillance which is often limited to individuals seeking treatment, resulting in under-reporting of disease prevalence and untimely indicators of community outbreaks. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been developed and employed for the wastewater surveillance of pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Monitoring the temporal changes of pathogen concentration in wastewater allows the early detection of disease outbreaks in a community. However, studies investigating the WBE back-estimation of Campylobacter spp. are rare. Essential factors including the analytical recovery efficiency, the decay rate, the effect of in-sewer transport, and the correlation between the wastewater concentration and the infections in communities are lacking to support wastewater surveillance. This study carried out experiments to investigate the recovery of Campylobacter jejuni and coli from wastewater and the decay under different simulated sewer reactor conditions. It was found that the recovery of Campylobacter spp. from wastewater varied with their concentrations in wastewater and depended on the detection limit of quantification methods. The concentration reduction of Campylobacter. jejuni and coli in sewers followed a two-phase reduction model, and the faster concentration reduction during the first phase is mainly due to their partitioning onto sewer biofilms. The total decay of Campylobacter. jejuni and coli varied in different types of sewer reactors, i.e. rising main vs. gravity sewer. In addition, the sensitivity analysis for WBE back-estimation of Campylobacter suggested that the first-phase decay rate constant (k1) and the turning time point (t1) are determining factors and their impacts increased with the hydraulic retention time of wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxin Zhang
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia
| | - Jiahua Shi
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia
| | - Elipsha Sharma
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia
| | - Xuan Li
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Shuhong Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jake O'Brien
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lachlan Coin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Yanchen Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Muttucumaru Sivakumar
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia
| | - Faisal Hai
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia
| | - Guangming Jiang
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
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17
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Hart JJ, Jamison MN, McNair JN, Szlag DC. Frequency and degradation of SARS-CoV-2 markers N1, N2, and E in sewage. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2023; 21:514-524. [PMID: 37119151 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that is mainly spread through aerosolized droplets containing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is excreted in feces by infected individuals. Sewage surveillance has been applied widely to obtain data on the prevalence of COVID-19 in whole communities. We used SARS-CoV-2 gene targets N1, N2, and E to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 at both municipal and building levels. Frequency analysis of wastewater testing indicated that single markers detected only 85% or less of samples that were detected as positive for SARS-CoV-2 with the three markers combined, indicating the necessity of pairing markers to lower the false-negative rate. The best pair of markers in both municipal and building level monitoring was N1 and N2, which correctly identified 98% of positive samples detected with the three markers combined. The degradation rates of all three targets were assessed at two different temperatures (25 and 35 °C) as a possible explanation for observed differences between markers in frequency. Results indicated that all three RNA targets degrade at nearly the same rate, indicating that differences in degradation rate are not responsible for the observed differences in marker frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Hart
- Oakland University, Department of Chemistry, 146 Library Dr, Rochester, MI 48309, USA E-mail: ; Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute, 740 West Shoreline Dr, Muskegon, MI 49441, USA
| | - Megan N Jamison
- Oakland University, Department of Chemistry, 146 Library Dr, Rochester, MI 48309, USA E-mail: ; The Ohio State University, 281 W Lane Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - James N McNair
- Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute, 740 West Shoreline Dr, Muskegon, MI 49441, USA
| | - David C Szlag
- Oakland University, Department of Chemistry, 146 Library Dr, Rochester, MI 48309, USA E-mail:
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18
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Saingam P, Li B, Nguyen Quoc B, Jain T, Bryan A, Winkler MKH. Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 at intra-city level demonstrated high resolution in tracking COVID-19 and calibration using chemical indicators. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 866:161467. [PMID: 36626989 PMCID: PMC9825140 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology has proven to be a supportive tool to better comprehend the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the disease moves into endemic stage, the surveillance at wastewater sub-catchments such as pump station and manholes is providing a novel mechanism to examine the reemergence and to take measures that can prevent the spread. However, there is still a lack of understanding when it comes to wastewater-based epidemiology implementation at the smaller intra-city level for better granularity in data, and dilution effect of rain precipitation at pump stations. For this study, grab samples were collected from six areas of Seattle between March-October 2021. These sampling sites comprised five manholes and one pump station with population ranging from 2580 to 39,502 per manhole/pump station. The wastewater samples were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations, and we also obtained the daily COVID-19 cases (from individual clinical testing) for each corresponding sewershed, which ranged from 1 to 12 and the daily incidence varied between 3 and 64 per 100,000 of population. Rain precipitation lowered viral RNA levels and sensitivity of viral detection but wastewater total ammonia (NH4+-N) and phosphate (PO43--P) were shown as potential chemical indicators to calibrate/level out the dilution effect. These chemicals showed the potential in improving the wastewater surveillance capacity of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakit Saingam
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Bao Nguyen Quoc
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Tanisha Jain
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Andrew Bryan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Mari K H Winkler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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19
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Ahmed W, Bivins A, Stephens M, Metcalfe S, Smith WJM, Sirikanchana K, Kitajima M, Simpson SL. Occurrence of multiple respiratory viruses in wastewater in Queensland, Australia: Potential for community disease surveillance. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 864:161023. [PMID: 36539100 PMCID: PMC9759456 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The early warning and tracking of COVID-19 prevalence in the community provided by wastewater surveillance has highlighted its potential for much broader viral disease surveillance. In this proof-of-concept study, 46 wastewater samples from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Queensland, Australia, were analyzed for the presence and abundance of 13 respiratory viruses, and the results were compared with reported clinical cases. The viruses were concentrated using the adsorption-extraction (AE) method, and extracted nucleic acids were analyzed using qPCR and RT-qPCR. Among the viruses tested, bocavirus (BoV), parechovirus (PeV), rhinovirus A (RhV A) and rhinovirus B (RhV B) were detected in all wastewater samples. All the tested viruses except influenza B virus (IBV) were detected in wastewater sample from at least one WWTP. BoV was detected with the greatest concentration (4.96-7.22 log10 GC/L), followed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (4.08-6.46 log10 GC/L), RhV A (3.95-5.63 log10 GC/L), RhV B (3.74-5.61 log10 GC/L), and PeV (3.17-5.32 log10 GC/L). Influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are notifiable conditions in Queensland, allowing the gene copy (GC) concentrations to be compared with reported clinical cases. Significant correlations (ρ = 0.60, p < 0.01 for IAV and ρ = 0.53, p < 0.01 for RSV) were observed when pooled wastewater influenza A virus (IAV) and RSV log10 GC/L concentrations were compared to log10 clinical cases among the four WWTP catchments. The positive predictive value for the presence of IAV and RSV in wastewater was 97 % for both IAV and RSV clinical cases within the four WWTP catchments. The overall accuracy of wastewater analysis for predicting clinical cases of IAV and RSV was 97 and 90 %, respectively. This paper lends credibility to the application of wastewater surveillance to monitor respiratory viruses of various genomic characteristics, with potential uses for increased surveillance capabilities and as a tool in understanding the dynamics of disease circulation in the communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Environment, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, 3255 Patrick F. Taylor Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Mikayla Stephens
- CSIRO Environment, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Suzanne Metcalfe
- CSIRO Environment, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Wendy J M Smith
- CSIRO Environment, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Kwanrawee Sirikanchana
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, 54 Kampangpetch 6 Road, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
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20
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Chekkala A, Atasoy M, Williams C, Cetecioglu Z. Statistical Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Using Wastewater-Based Data of Stockholm, Sweden. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4181. [PMID: 36901194 PMCID: PMC10002411 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
An approach based on wastewater epidemiology can be used to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic by assessing the gene copy number of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. In the present study, we statistically analyzed such data from six inlets of three wastewater treatment plants, covering six regions of Stockholm, Sweden, collected over an approximate year period (week 16 of 2020 to week 22 of 2021). SARS-CoV-2 gene copy number and population-based biomarker PMMoV, as well as clinical data, such as the number of positive cases, intensive care unit numbers, and deaths, were analyzed statistically using correlations and principal component analysis (PCA). Despite the population differences, the PCA for the Stockholm dataset showed that the case numbers are well grouped across wastewater treatment plants. Furthermore, when considering the data from the whole of Stockholm, the wastewater characteristics (flow rate m3/day, PMMoV Ct value, and SARS-CoV gene copy number) were significantly correlated with the public health agency's report of SARS-CoV-2 infection rates (0.419 to 0.95, p-value < 0.01). However, while the PCA results showed that the case numbers for each wastewater treatment plant were well grouped concerning PC1 (37.3%) and PC2 (19.67%), the results from the correlation analysis for the individual wastewater treatment plants showed varied trends. SARS-CoV-2 fluctuations can be accurately predicted through statistical analyses of wastewater-based epidemiology, as demonstrated in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aashlesha Chekkala
- Department of Chemical Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Merve Atasoy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden
- UNLOCK, Wageningen University & Research and Technical University Delft, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Cecilia Williams
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Solna, Sweden
| | - Zeynep Cetecioglu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Industrial Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 11421 Stockholm, Sweden
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21
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Burnet JB, Cauchie HM, Walczak C, Goeders N, Ogorzaly L. Persistence of endogenous RNA biomarkers of SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV in raw wastewater: Impact of temperature and implications for wastewater-based epidemiology. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159401. [PMID: 36240930 PMCID: PMC9554201 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 biomarkers in wastewater should guide wastewater-based epidemiology users in selecting best RNA biomarkers for reliable detection of the virus during current and future waves of the pandemic. In the present study, the persistence of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 were assessed during one month for six different RNA biomarkers and for the pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) at three different temperatures (4, 12 and 20 °C) in one wastewater sample. All SARS-CoV-2 RNA biomarkers were consistently detected during 6 days at 4° and differences in signal persistence among RNA biomarkers were mostly observed at 20 °C with N biomarkers being globally more persistent than RdRP, E and ORF1ab ones. SARS-CoV-2 signal persistence further decreased in a temperature dependent manner. At 12 and 20 °C, RNA biomarker losses of 1-log10 occurred on average after 6 and 4 days, and led to a complete signal loss after 13 and 6 days, respectively. Besides the effect of temperature, SARS-CoV-2 RNA signals were more persistent in the particulate phase compared to the aqueous one. Finally, PMMoV RNA signal was highly persistent in both phases and significantly differed from that of SARS-CoV-2 biomarkers. We further provide a detailed overview of the latest literature on SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV decay rates in sewage matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Burnet
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Environmental Research & Innovation Department, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Henry-Michel Cauchie
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Environmental Research & Innovation Department, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Cécile Walczak
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Environmental Research & Innovation Department, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Nathalie Goeders
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Environmental Research & Innovation Department, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Leslie Ogorzaly
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Environmental Research & Innovation Department, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
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22
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Tiwari A, Adhikari S, Kaya D, Islam MA, Malla B, Sherchan SP, Al-Mustapha AI, Kumar M, Aggarwal S, Bhattacharya P, Bibby K, Halden RU, Bivins A, Haramoto E, Oikarinen S, Heikinheimo A, Pitkänen T. Monkeypox outbreak: Wastewater and environmental surveillance perspective. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159166. [PMID: 36202364 PMCID: PMC9534267 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Monkeypox disease (MPXD), a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), is an emerging zoonotic disease endemic in some countries of Central and Western Africa but seldom reported outside the affected region. Since May 2022, MPXD has been reported at least in 74 countries globally, prompting the World Health Organization to declare the MPXD outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. As of July 24, 2022; 92 % (68/74) of the countries with reported MPXD cases had no historical MPXD case reports. From the One Health perspective, the spread of MPXV in the environment poses a risk not only to humans but also to small mammals and may, ultimately, spread to potent novel host populations. Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) has been extensively utilized to monitor communicable diseases, particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It helped in monitoring infectious disease caseloads as well as specific viral variants circulating in communities. The detection of MPXV DNA in lesion materials (e.g. skin, vesicle fluid, crusts), skin rashes, and various body fluids, including respiratory and nasal secretions, saliva, urine, feces, and semen of infected individuals, supports the possibility of using WBS as an early proxy for the detection of MPXV infections. WBS of MPXV DNA can be used to monitor MPXV activity/trends in sewerage network areas even before detecting laboratory-confirmed clinical cases within a community. However, several factors affect the detection of MPXV in wastewater including, but not limited to, routes and duration time of virus shedding by infected individuals, infection rates in the relevant affected population, environmental persistence, the processes and analytical sensitivity of the used methods. Further research is needed to identify the key factors that impact the detection of MPXV biomarkers in wastewater and improve the utility of WBS of MPXV as an early warning and monitoring tool for safeguarding human health. In this review, we shortly summarize aspects of the MPXV outbreak relevant to wastewater monitoring and discuss the challenges associated with WBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananda Tiwari
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland; Department of Health Security, Expert Microbiology Research Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland.
| | - Sangeet Adhikari
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Devrim Kaya
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University (OSU), Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Md Aminul Islam
- COVID-19 Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh; Advanced Molecular Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, President Abdul Hamid Medical College, Karimganj, Kishoreganj, Bangladesh
| | - Bikash Malla
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan
| | - Samendra P Sherchan
- Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Ahmad I Al-Mustapha
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland; Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Services, Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
| | - Manish Kumar
- Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248007, India
| | - Srijan Aggarwal
- Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering and Mines, University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 755900, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Prosun Bhattacharya
- Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, LA, USA
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan
| | - Sami Oikarinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Annamari Heikinheimo
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland; Finnish Food Authority, Seinäjoki, Finland
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland; Department of Health Security, Expert Microbiology Research Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland
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23
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Rainey AL, Buschang K, O’Connor A, Love D, Wormington AM, Messcher RL, Loeb JC, Robinson SE, Ponder H, Waldo S, Williams R, Shapiro J, McAlister EB, Lauzardo M, Lednicky JA, Maurelli AT, Sabo-Attwood T, Bisesi J. Retrospective Analysis of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Residences on a Large College Campus: Relationships between Wastewater Outcomes and COVID-19 Cases across Two Semesters with Different COVID-19 Mitigation Policies. ACS ES&T WATER 2023; 3:16-29. [PMID: 37552720 PMCID: PMC9762499 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been utilized for outbreak monitoring and response efforts in university settings during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, few studies examined the impact of university policies on the effectiveness of WBE to identify cases and mitigate transmission. The objective of this study was to retrospectively assess relationships between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) wastewater outcomes and COVID-19 cases in residential buildings of a large university campus across two academic semesters (August 2020-May 2021) under different COVID-19 mitigation policies. Clinical case surveillance data of student residents were obtained from the university COVID-19 response program. We collected and processed building-level wastewater for detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-qPCR. The odds of obtaining a positive wastewater sample increased with COVID-19 clinical cases in the fall semester (OR = 1.50, P value = 0.02), with higher odds in the spring semester (OR = 2.63, P value < 0.0001). We observed linear associations between SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentrations and COVID-19 clinical cases (parameter estimate = 1.2, P value = 0.006). Our study demonstrated the effectiveness of WBE in the university setting, though it may be limited under different COVID-19 mitigation policies. As a complementary surveillance tool, WBE should be accompanied by robust administrative and clinical testing efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L. Rainey
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32610, United
States
| | - Katherine Buschang
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32610, United
States
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
| | - Amber O’Connor
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
| | - Deirdre Love
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
| | - Alexis M. Wormington
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
| | - Rebeccah L. Messcher
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32610, United
States
| | - Julia C. Loeb
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32610, United
States
| | - Sarah E. Robinson
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32610, United
States
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
| | - Hunter Ponder
- UF Health Screen, Test, and Protect,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
- Florida Department of
Health, Alachua County, Gainesville, Florida32641, United
States
| | - Sarah Waldo
- UF Health Screen, Test, and Protect,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
- Florida Department of
Health, Alachua County, Gainesville, Florida32641, United
States
| | - Roy Williams
- UF Health Screen, Test, and Protect,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
- Florida Department of
Health, Alachua County, Gainesville, Florida32641, United
States
| | - Jerne Shapiro
- UF Health Screen, Test, and Protect,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
- Florida Department of
Health, Alachua County, Gainesville, Florida32641, United
States
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public
Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, Gainesville,
Florida32611, United States
| | | | - Michael Lauzardo
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32610, United
States
- UF Health Screen, Test, and Protect,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
| | - John A. Lednicky
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32610, United
States
| | - Anthony T. Maurelli
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32610, United
States
| | - Tara Sabo-Attwood
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32610, United
States
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
| | - Joseph
H. Bisesi
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College
of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida32610, United States
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32610, United
States
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida32611,
United States
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24
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Gao Z, Li P, Lin H, Lin W, Ren Y. Biomarker selection strategies based on compound stability in wastewater-based epidemiology. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:5516-5529. [PMID: 36418835 PMCID: PMC9684832 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24268-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The specific compositions of human excreta in sewage can be used as biomarkers to indicate the disease prevalence, health status, and lifestyle of the population living in the investigated catchment. It is important for guiding and evaluating public health policies as well as promoting human health development. Among several parameters of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), the decay of biomarkers during transportation in sewer and storage plays a crucial role in the back-calculation of population consumption. In this paper, we summarized the stability data of common biomarkers in storage at different temperatures and in-sewer transportation. Among them, cardiovascular drugs and antidiabetic drugs are very stable which can be used as biomarkers; most of the illicit drugs are stable except for cocaine, heroin, and tetrahydrocannabinol which could be substituted by their metabolites as biomarkers. There are some losses for part of antibiotics and antidepressants even in frozen storage. Rapid detection of contagious viruses is a new challenge for infectious disease control. With the deeper and broader study of biomarkers, it is expected that the reliable application of the WBE will be a useful addition to epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihan Gao
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ping Li
- Datansha Branch of Guangzhou Sewage Treatment Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, 510163, China
| | - Han Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Wenting Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institution, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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25
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Li Y, Ash KT, Joyner DC, Williams DE, Alamilla I, McKay PJ, Iler C, Green BM, Kara-Murdoch F, Swift CM, Hazen TC. Decay of enveloped SARS-CoV-2 and non-enveloped PMMoV RNA in raw sewage from university dormitories. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1144026. [PMID: 37187532 PMCID: PMC10175580 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1144026] [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] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA has been frequently detected in sewage from many university dormitories to inform public health decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, a clear understanding of SARS-CoV-2 RNA persistence in site-specific raw sewage is still lacking. To investigate the SARS-CoV-2 RNA persistence, a field trial was conducted in the University of Tennessee dormitories raw sewage, similar to municipal wastewater. Methods The decay of enveloped SARS-CoV-2 RNA and non-enveloped Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) RNA was investigated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in raw sewage at 4°C and 20°C. Results Temperature, followed by the concentration level of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, was the most significant factors that influenced the first-order decay rate constants (k) of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The mean k values of SARS-CoV-2 RNA were 0.094 day-1 at 4°C and 0.261 day-1 at 20°C. At high-, medium-, and low-concentration levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, the mean k values were 0.367, 0.169, and 0.091 day-1, respectively. Furthermore, there was a statistical difference between the decay of enveloped SARS-CoV-2 and non-enveloped PMMoV RNA at different temperature conditions. Discussion The first decay rates for both temperatures were statistically comparable for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, which showed sensitivity to elevated temperatures but not for PMMoV RNA. This study provides evidence for the persistence of viral RNA in site-specific raw sewage at different temperature conditions and concentration levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - K. T. Ash
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Dominique C. Joyner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Daniel E. Williams
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - I. Alamilla
- Student Health Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - P. J. McKay
- Student Health Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - C. Iler
- Department of Facilities Services, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - B. M. Green
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - F. Kara-Murdoch
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - C. M. Swift
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Terry C. Hazen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Bredesen Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Terry C. Hazen,
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Bonanno Ferraro G, Veneri C, Mancini P, Iaconelli M, Suffredini E, Bonadonna L, Lucentini L, Bowo-Ngandji A, Kengne-Nde C, Mbaga DS, Mahamat G, Tazokong HR, Ebogo-Belobo JT, Njouom R, Kenmoe S, La Rosa G. A State-of-the-Art Scoping Review on SARS-CoV-2 in Sewage Focusing on the Potential of Wastewater Surveillance for the Monitoring of the COVID-19 Pandemic. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2022; 14:315-354. [PMID: 34727334 PMCID: PMC8561373 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-021-09498-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread throughout the world. Several studies have shown that detecting SARS-CoV-2 in untreated wastewater can be a useful tool to identify new outbreaks, establish outbreak trends, and assess the prevalence of infections. On 06 May 2021, over a year into the pandemic, we conducted a scoping review aiming to summarize research data on SARS-CoV-2 in sewage. Papers dealing with raw sewage collected at wastewater treatment plants, sewer networks, septic tanks, and sludge treatment facilities were included in this review. We also reviewed studies on sewage collected in community settings such as private or municipal hospitals, healthcare facilities, nursing homes, dormitories, campuses, airports, aircraft, and cruise ships. The literature search was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Web Science Core Collection. This comprehensive research yielded 1090 results, 66 of which met the inclusion criteria and are discussed in this review. Studies from 26 countries worldwide have investigated the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage of different origin. The percentage of positive samples in sewage ranged from 11.6 to 100%, with viral concentrations ranging from ˂LOD to 4.6 × 108 genome copies/L. This review outlines the evidence currently available on wastewater surveillance: (i) as an early warning system capable of predicting COVID-19 outbreaks days or weeks before clinical cases; (ii) as a tool capable of establishing trends in current outbreaks; (iii) estimating the prevalence of infections; and (iv) studying SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity. In conclusion, as a cost-effective, rapid, and reliable source of information on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in the population, wastewater surveillance can enhance genomic and epidemiological surveillance with independent and complementary data to inform public health decision-making during the ongoing pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bonanno Ferraro
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - P Mancini
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - M Iaconelli
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - E Suffredini
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - L Bonadonna
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - L Lucentini
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - A Bowo-Ngandji
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - C Kengne-Nde
- Research Monitoring and Planning Unit, National Aids Control Committee, Douala, Cameroon
| | - D S Mbaga
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - G Mahamat
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - H R Tazokong
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - J T Ebogo-Belobo
- Medical Research Centre, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - R Njouom
- Virology Department, Centre Pasteur of Cameroon, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - S Kenmoe
- Virology Department, Centre Pasteur of Cameroon, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - G La Rosa
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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27
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Sridhar J, Parit R, Boopalakrishnan G, Rexliene MJ, Praveen R, Viswananathan B. Importance of wastewater-based epidemiology for detecting and monitoring SARS-CoV-2. CASE STUDIES IN CHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2022; 6:100241. [PMID: 37520919 PMCID: PMC9341170 DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2022.100241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has emerged as a global challenge in terms of health and disease monitoring. COVID-19 infection is mainly spread through the SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to the development of mild to severe clinical manifestations. The virus binds to its cognate receptor ACE2 which is widely expressed among different tissues in the body. Notably, SARS-CoV-2 shedding in the fecal samples has been reported through the screening of sewage water across various countries. Wastewater screening for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 provides an alternative method to monitor infection threat, variant identification, and clinical evaluation to restrict the virus progression. Multiple cohort studies have reported the application of wastewater treatment approaches and epidemiological significance in terms of virus monitoring. Thus, the manuscript outlines consolidated and systematic information regarding the application of wastewater-based epidemiology in terms of monitoring and managing a viral disease outbreak like COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayavel Sridhar
- Department of Biotechnology (DDE), Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 625021, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Rahul Parit
- Department of Biotechnology (DDE), Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 625021, Tamilnadu, India
| | | | - M Johni Rexliene
- Department of Biotechnology (DDE), Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 625021, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Rajkumar Praveen
- Department of Biotechnology (DDE), Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 625021, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Balaji Viswananathan
- Department of Biotechnology (DDE), Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 625021, Tamilnadu, India
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28
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Tiwari A, Phan N, Tandukar S, Ashoori R, Thakali O, Mousazadesh M, Dehghani MH, Sherchan SP. Persistence and occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in water and wastewater environments: a review of the current literature. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:85658-85668. [PMID: 34652622 PMCID: PMC8518268 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16919-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
As the world continues to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging evidence indicates that respiratory transmission may not the only pathway in which the virus can be spread. This review paper aims to summarize current knowledge surrounding possible fecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2. It covers recent evidence of proliferation of SARS-CoV-2 in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as presence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in water, and suggested future directions. Research indicates that SARS-CoV-2 can actively replicate in the human gastrointestinal system and can subsequently be shed via feces. Several countries have reported SARS-CoV-2 RNA fractions in wastewater systems, and various factors such as temperature and presence of solids have been shown to affect the survival of the virus in water. The detection of RNA does not guarantee infectivity, as current methods such as RT-qPCR are not yet able to distinguish between infectious and non-infectious particles. More research is needed to determine survival time and potential infectivity, as well as to develop more accurate methods for detection and surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananda Tiwari
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, 70701, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Nati Phan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | | | - Razieh Ashoori
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ocean Thakali
- University of Yamanashi, Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 4-3-11 400-8511, Japan
| | - Milad Mousazadesh
- Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hadi Dehghani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samendra P Sherchan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.
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29
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West NW, Vasquez AA, Bahmani A, Khan MF, Hartrick J, Turner CL, Shuster W, Ram JL. Sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 molecular markers in urban community sewersheds using automated viral RNA purification and digital droplet PCR. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 847:157547. [PMID: 35872187 PMCID: PMC9303066 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a strategy to identify, locate, and manage outbreaks of COVID-19, and thereby possibly prevent surges in cases, which overwhelm local to global health care networks. The WBE process is based on assaying municipal wastewater for molecular markers of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Standard processes for purifying viral RNA from municipal wastewater are often time-consuming and require the handling of large quantities of wastewater, negatively affecting throughput, timely reporting, and safety. We demonstrate here an automated, faster system to purify viral RNA from smaller volumes of wastewater but with increased sensitivity for detection of SARS-CoV-2 markers. We document the effectiveness of this new approach by way of comparison to the PEG/NaCl/Qiagen method prescribed by the State of Michigan for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring and show its application to several Detroit sewersheds. Specifically, compared to the PEG/NaCl/Qiagen method, viral RNA purification using the PerkinElmer Chemagic™ 360 lowered handling time, decreased the amount of wastewater required by ten-fold, increased the amount of RNA isolated per μl of final elution product by approximately five-fold, and effectively removed ddPCR inhibitors from most sewershed samples. For detection of markers on the borderline of viral detectability, we found that use of the Chemagic™ 360 enabled the measurement of viral markers in a significant number of samples for which the result with the PEG/NaCl/Qiagen method was below the level of detectability. The improvement in detectability of the viral markers might be particularly important for early warning to public health authorities at the beginning of an outbreak. Applied to sewersheds in Detroit, the technique enabled more sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 markers with good correlation between wastewater signals and COVID-19 cases in the sewersheds. We also discuss advantages and disadvantages of several automated RNA purification systems, made by Promega, PerkinElmer, and ThermoFisher.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas W West
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Adrian A Vasquez
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
| | - Azadeh Bahmani
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Mohammed F Khan
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | | | | | - William Shuster
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Ram
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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30
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Hayes EK, Stoddart AK, Gagnon GA. Adsorption of SARS-CoV-2 onto granular activated carbon (GAC) in wastewater: Implications for improvements in passive sampling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 847:157548. [PMID: 35882338 PMCID: PMC9308143 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Based on recent studies, passive sampling is a promising method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater surveillance (WWS) applications. Passive sampling has many advantages over conventional sampling approaches. However, the potential benefits of passive sampling are also coupled with apparent limitations. We established a passive sampling technique for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater using electronegative filters. Though, it was evident that the adsorption capacity of the filters constrained their use. This work intends to demonstrate an optimized passive sampling technique for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater using granular activated carbon (GAC). Through bench-scale batch-adsorption studies and sewershed deployments, we established the adsorption characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and two human feacal viruses (PMMoV and CrAssphage) onto GAC. A pseudo-second-order model best-described adsorption kinetics for SARS-CoV-2 in either deionized (DI) water and SARS-CoV-2, CrAssphage, and PMMoV in wastewater. In both laboratory batch-adsorption experiments and in-situ sewershed deployments, the maximum amount of SARS-CoV-2 adsorbed by GAC occurred at ~60 h in wastewater. In wastewater, the maximum adsorption of PMMoV and CrAssphage by GAC occurred at ~60 h. In contrast, the adsorption capacity was reached in DI water seeded with SARS-CoV-2 after ~35 h. The equilibrium assay modeled the maximum adsorption quantity (qmax) in wastewater with spiked SARS-CoV-2 concentrations using a Hybrid Langmuir-Freundlich equation, a qmax of 2.5 × 109 GU/g was calculated. In paired sewershed deployments, it was found that GAC adsorbs SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater more effectively than electronegative filters. Based on the anticipated viral loading in wastewater, bi-weekly sampling intervals with deployments up to ~96 h are highly feasible without reaching adsorption capacity with GAC. GAC offers improved sensitivity and reproducibility to capture SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, promoting a scalable and convenient alternative for capturing viral pathogens in wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emalie K Hayes
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil & Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Amina K Stoddart
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil & Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Graham A Gagnon
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil & Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
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31
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Ma D, Straathof J, Liu Y, Hull NM. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater with RT-qPCR and Chip-Based RT-dPCR: Sewershed-Level Trends and Relationships to COVID-19. ACS ES&T WATER 2022; 2:2084-2093. [PMID: 37552751 PMCID: PMC9173673 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated the performance of reverse transcription quantitative PCR (uniplex and duplex RT-qPCR) and chip-based digital PCR (duplex RT-dPCR) using CDC N1 and CDC N2 assays for longitudinal monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in influent wastewater samples (n = 281) from three wastewater plants in Ohio from January 2021 to January 2022. Human fecal virus (PMMoV) and wastewater flow rate were used to normalize SARS-CoV-2 concentrations. SARS-CoV-2 measurements and COVID-19 cases were strongly correlated, but normalization effects on correlations varied between sewersheds. SARS-CoV-2 measurements by RT-qPCR were strongly correlated with 7-day moving average COVID-19 cases (average Spearman's ρ = 0.58, p < 0.05). SARS-CoV-2 was detected more frequently in samples with duplex RT-dPCR than with duplex RT-qPCR during periods of low COVID-19 cases. Duplex and uniplex RT-qPCR N1 concentrations were more strongly correlated with cases (ρ = 0.62) than N2 (ρ = 0.52). RT-dPCR correlations (average ρ = 0.21) were weaker than those of RT-qPCR (average ρ = 0.58). We also share practical experience from establishing wastewater surveillance. Per sample, RT-qPCR had a lower cost ($6 vs $18) and sample turnaround time (3-4 h vs 7-9 h) than RT-dPCR. These findings reinforce selection and use of PCR-based wastewater surveillance tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Ma
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic
Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210,
United States
| | - Judith Straathof
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic
Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210,
United States
| | - Yijing Liu
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic
Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210,
United States
| | - Natalie Marie Hull
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic
Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210,
United States
- The Sustainability Institute, The Ohio
State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United
States
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32
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Vadde KK, Al-Duroobi H, Phan DC, Jafarzadeh A, Moghadam SV, Matta A, Kapoor V. Assessment of Concentration, Recovery, and Normalization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from Two Wastewater Treatment Plants in Texas and Correlation with COVID-19 Cases in the Community. ACS ES&T WATER 2022; 2:2060-2069. [PMID: 37552728 PMCID: PMC9128005 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to conduct a correlative assessment of SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater with COVID-19 cases and a systematic evaluation of the effect of using different virus concentration methods and recovery and normalization approaches. We measured SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations at two different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the Bexar County of Texas from October 2020 to May 2021 (32 weeks) using reverse transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR). We evaluated three different adsorption-extraction (AE) based virus concentration methods (acidification, addition of MgCl2, or without any pretreatment) using bovine coronavirus (BCoV) as surrogate virus and observed that the direct AE method showed the highest mean recovery. COVID-19 cases were correlated significantly with SARS-CoV-2 N1 concentrations in Salitrillo (ρ = 0.75, p < 0.001) and Martinez II (ρ = 0.68, p < 0.001) WWTPs, but normalizing to a spiked recovery control (BCoV) or a fecal marker (HF183) reduced correlations for both treatment plants. The results generated in this 32-week monitoring study will enable researchers to prioritize the virus recovery method and subsequent correlation studies for wastewater surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Kumar Vadde
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and
Construction Management, University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Haya Al-Duroobi
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and
Construction Management, University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Duc C. Phan
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and
Construction Management, University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Arash Jafarzadeh
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and
Construction Management, University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Sina V. Moghadam
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and
Construction Management, University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Akanksha Matta
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United
States
| | - Vikram Kapoor
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and
Construction Management, University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
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33
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Roldan-Hernandez L, Graham KE, Duong D, Boehm AB. Persistence of Endogenous SARS-CoV-2 and Pepper Mild Mottle Virus RNA in Wastewater-Settled Solids. ACS ES&T WATER 2022; 2:1944-1952. [PMID: 36380769 PMCID: PMC8938836 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Limited information is available on the decay rate of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) RNA in wastewater and primary settled solids, potentially limiting an understanding of how transit or holding times within wastewater infrastructure might impact RNA measurements and their relationship to community COVID-19 infections. In this study, primary settled solids samples were collected from two wastewater treatment plants in the San Francisco Bay Area. Samples were thoroughly mixed, aliquoted into subsamples, and stored at 4, 22, and 37 °C for 10 days. The concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 (N1 and N2 targets) and PMMoV RNA were measured using an RT-ddPCR. Limited decay (<1 log10 reduction) was observed in the detection of viral RNA targets at all temperature conditions, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV RNA can be highly persistent in solids. First-order decay rate constants ranged from 0.011 to 0.098 day-1 for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and from 0.010 to 0.091 day-1 for PMMoV RNA depending on the temperature conditions. A slower decay was observed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in primary settled solids compared to previously reported decay in wastewater influent. Further research is needed to understand if solid content and wastewater characteristics might influence the persistence of viral RNA targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Roldan-Hernandez
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Stanford 94305, California, United States
| | - Katherine E. Graham
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Stanford 94305, California, United States
| | - Dorothea Duong
- Verily
Life Sciences, San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Alexandria B. Boehm
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Stanford 94305, California, United States
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A safe haven of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment: Prevalence and potential transmission risks in the effluent, sludge, and biosolids. GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS 2022; 13. [PMID: 37521134 PMCID: PMC8861126 DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2022.101373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which has caused millions of death globally is recognized to be unstable and recalcitrant in the environment, especially in the way it has been evolving to form new and highly transmissible variants. Of particular concerns are human-environment interactions and the handling and reusing the environmental materials, such as effluents, sludge, or biosolids laden with the SARS-CoV-2 without adequate treatments, thereby suggesting potential transmission and health risks. This study assesses the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in effluents, sludge, and biosolids. Further, we evaluate the environmental, ecological, and health risks of reusing these environmental materials by wastewater/sludge workers and farmers. A systematic review of literature from the Scopus database resulted in a total of 21 articles (11 for effluents, 8 for sludge, and 2 for biosolids) that met the criteria for meta-analysis, which are then subdivided into 30 meta-analyzed studies. The prevalence of SAR-CoV-2 RNA in effluent and sludge based on random-effect models are 27.51 and 1012.25, respectively, with a 95% CI between 6.14 and 48.89 for the effluent, and 104.78 and 1019.71 for the sludge. However, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the biosolids based on the fixed-effect model is 30.59, with a 95% CI between 10.10 and 51.08. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in environmental materials indicates the inefficiency in some of the treatment systems currently deployed to inactivate and remove the novel virus, which could be a potential health risk concern to vulnerable wastewater workers in particular, and the environmental and ecological issues for the population at large. This timely review portends the associated risks in handling and reusing environmental materials without proper and adequate treatments.
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Zheng X, Li S, Deng Y, Xu X, Ding J, Lau FTK, In Yau C, Poon LLM, Tun HM, Zhang T. Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater treatment plants mirrors the pandemic trend in Hong Kong. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 844:157121. [PMID: 35787900 PMCID: PMC9249664 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has emerged as a cost-effective and unbiased tool for population-level testing in the community. In the present study, we conducted a 6-month wastewater monitoring campaign from three WWTPs of different flow rates and catchment area characteristics, which serve 28 % (2.1 million people) of Hong Kong residents in total. Wastewater samples collected daily or every other day were concentrated using ultracentrifugation and the SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA in the supernatant was detected using the N1 and E primer sets. The results showed significant correlations between the virus concentration and the number of daily new cases in corresponding catchment areas of the three WWTPs when using 7-day moving average values (Kendall's tau-b value: 0.227-0.608, p < 0.001). SARS-CoV-2 virus concentration was normalized to a fecal indicator using PMMoV concentration and daily flow rates, but the normalization did not enhance the correlation. The key factors contributing to the correlation were also evaluated, including the sampling frequency, testing methods, and smoothing days. This study demonstrates the applicability of wastewater surveillance to monitor overall SARS-CoV-2 pandemic dynamics in a densely populated city like Hong Kong, and provides a large-scale longitudinal reference for the establishment of the long-term sentinel surveillance in WWTPs for WBE of pathogens which could be combined into a city-wide public health observatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiawan Zheng
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shuxian Li
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Deng
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaoqing Xu
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiahui Ding
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Frankie T K Lau
- Drainage Services Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Wanchai, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung In Yau
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Leo L M Poon
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hein M Tun
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
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Arriaga-Lorenzo P, de Jesús Maldonado-Simán E, Ramírez-Valverde R, Martínez-Hernández PA, Tirado-González DN, Saavedra-Jiménez LA. Cold chain relevance in the food safety of perishable products. FOODS AND RAW MATERIALS 2022. [DOI: 10.21603/2308-4057-2023-1-559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The food cold chain is an effective tool that allows food markets to maintain food quality and reduce losses. Poor logistics may result in foodborne disease outbreaks and greenhouse gas emissions caused by organic matter decay. The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 makes it necessary to study the chances of SARS-CoV-2 transmissions in food products.
This study reviews cold chain logistics as a handy tool for avoiding food safety risks, including COVID-19.
The cold chain of perishables and its proper management make it possible to maintain quality and safety at any stage of the food supply chain. The technology covers each link of the food chain to prevent microbial spoilage caused by temperature fluctuations and the contamination with SARS-CoV-2 associated with perishable foods. Given the lack of knowledge in this field in Latin America, the region needs new research to determine the impact of the cold chain on perishable foodstuffs.
The perishable cold chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the national and international markets require new traceability protocols to minimize the effect of COVID-19.
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37
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Mahlknecht J. Presence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in aquatic environments: A mini-review. CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH 2022; 29:100385. [PMID: 35992049 PMCID: PMC9382236 DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2022.100385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into water bodies via sewage raises public health concerns. For the assessment of public health risks, it is necessary to know the presence and persistence of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in water and wastewater. The present mini-review documents the occurrence and decay rates of viable infectious SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-2 RNA in different water matrices including wastewater, river water, groundwater, tap water, and seawater. Persistence of viable SARS-CoV-2 is mainly temperature dependent. A rapid inactivation of infectious SARS-CoV-2 is found in river water, sea water, and wastewater compared to tap water. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was found to be considerably more stable than infectious SARS-CoV-2, indicating that the environmental detection of RNA alone does not prove risk of infection. Persistence assays need to consider physicochemical and biological water composition as well as the effect of detergents, enzymes, and filtering particulate matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Mahlknecht
- Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey, 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
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38
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Mousazadeh M, Kabdaşlı I, Khademi S, Sandoval MA, Moussavi SP, Malekdar F, Gilhotra V, Hashemi M, Dehghani MH. A critical review on the existing wastewater treatment methods in the COVID-19 era: What is the potential of advanced oxidation processes in combatting viral especially SARS-CoV-2? JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING 2022; 49:103077. [PMID: 35990175 PMCID: PMC9381433 DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.103077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 epidemic has put the risk of virus contamination in water bodies on the horizon of health authorities. Hence, finding effective ways to remove the virus, especially SARS-CoV-2, from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has emerged as a hot issue in the last few years. Herein, this study first deals with the fate of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in WWTPs, then critically reviews and compares different wastewater treatment methods for combatting COVID-19 as well as to increase the water quality. This critical review sheds light the efficiency of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to inactivate virus, specially SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Although several physicochemical treatment processes (e.g. activated sludge) are commonly used to eliminate pathogens, AOPs are the most versatile and effective virus inactivation methods. For instance, TiO2 is the most known and widely studied photo-catalyst innocuously utilized to degrade pollutants as well as to photo-induce bacterial and virus disinfection due to its high chemical resistance and efficient photo-activity. When ozone is dissolved in water and wastewater, it generates a wide spectrum of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are responsible to degrade materials in virus membranes resulting in destroying the cell wall. Furthermore, electrochemical advanced oxidation processes act through direct oxidation when pathogens react at the anode surface or by indirect oxidation through oxidizing species produced in the bulk solution. Consequently, they represent a feasible choice for the inactivation of a wide range of pathogens. Nonetheless, there are some challenges with AOPs which should be addressed for application at industrial-scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Mousazadeh
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Işık Kabdaşlı
- İstanbul Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Ayazağa Campus, 34469 Maslak, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Sara Khademi
- Health, Safety, and Environment Specialist, North Drilling Company, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Miguel Angel Sandoval
- Universidad de Santiago de Chile USACH, Facultad de Química y Biología, Departamento de Química de los Materiales, Laboratorio de Electroquímica Medio Ambiental, LEQMA, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago, Chile
- Universidad de Guanajuato, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Noria Alta S/N, 36050, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - Fatemeh Malekdar
- Department of Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Production, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Vishakha Gilhotra
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Marjan Hashemi
- Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hadi Dehghani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Institute for Environmental Research, Center for Solid Waste Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Castro GB, Bernegossi AC, Sousa BJDO, De Lima E Silva MR, Silva FRD, Freitas BLS, Ogura AP, Corbi JJ. Global occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental aquatic matrices and its implications for sanitation and vulnerabilities in Brazil and developing countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:2160-2199. [PMID: 34310248 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2021.1949437] [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: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This paper includes a systematic review of the SARS-CoV-2 occurrence in environmental aquatic matrices and a critical sanitation analysis. We discussed the interconnection of sanitation services (wastewater, water supply, solid waste, and stormwater drainage) functioning as an important network for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in waters. We collected 98 studies containing data of the SARS-CoV-2 occurrence in aquatic matrices around the world, of which 40% were from developing countries. Alongside a significant number of people infected by the virus, developing countries face socioeconomic deficiencies and insufficient public investment in infrastructure. Therefore, our study focused on highlighting solutions to provide sanitation in developing countries, considering the virus control in waters by disinfection techniques and sanitary measures, including alternatives for the vulnerable communities. The need for multilateral efforts to improve the universal coverage of sanitation services demands urgent attention in a pandemic scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gleyson B Castro
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Aline C Bernegossi
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno José de O Sousa
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Fernando R Da Silva
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Luíza S Freitas
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Allan P Ogura
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
- PPG-SEA and CRHEA/SHS, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliano J Corbi
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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40
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Tamáš M, Potocarova A, Konecna B, Klucar Ľ, Mackulak T. Wastewater Sequencing-An Innovative Method for Variant Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in Populations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:9749. [PMID: 35955106 PMCID: PMC9367975 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has already affected more than 555 million people, and 6.3 million people have died. Due to its high infectivity, it is crucial to track SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks early to prevent the spread of infection. Wastewater monitoring appears to be a powerful and effective tool for managing epidemiological situations. Due to emerging mutations of SARS-CoV-2, there is a need to monitor mutations in order to control the pandemic. Since the sequencing of randomly chosen individuals is time-consuming and expensive, sequencing of wastewater plays an important role in revealing the dynamics of infection in a population. The sampling method used is a crucial factor and significantly impacts the results. Wastewater can be collected as a grab sample or as a 24 h composite sample. Another essential factor is the sample volume, as is the method of transport used. This review discusses different pretreatment procedures and RNA extraction, which may be performed using various methods, such as column-based extraction, TRIzol, or magnetic extraction. Each of the methods has its advantages and disadvantages, which are described accordingly. RT-qPCR is a procedure that confirms the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genes before sequencing. This review provides an overview of currently used methods for preparing wastewater samples, from sampling to sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Tamáš
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radinského 9, 81237 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 81372 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Alena Potocarova
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbora Konecna
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 4, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ľubos Klucar
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská Cesta 21, 84551 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Tomas Mackulak
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Radinského 9, 81237 Bratislava, Slovakia
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41
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Shelemba AA, Kazachkova EA, Kononova YV, Kazachinskaya EI, Rukavishnikov MY, Kuvshinova IN, Voevoda MI, Shestopalov AM, Chepurnov AA. Cell and Organism Technologies for Assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity in Fluid Environment. Bull Exp Biol Med 2022; 173:519-522. [PMID: 36058968 PMCID: PMC9441323 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-022-05574-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A A Shelemba
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - E A Kazachkova
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yu V Kononova
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - E I Kazachinskaya
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | | | - M I Voevoda
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - A M Shestopalov
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - A A Chepurnov
- Federal Research Center of Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.
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42
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Bayati M, Hsieh HY, Hsu SY, Li C, Rogers E, Belenchia A, Zemmer SA, Blanc T, LePage C, Klutts J, Reynolds M, Semkiw E, Johnson HY, Foley T, Wieberg CG, Wenzel J, Lyddon T, LePique M, Rushford C, Salcedo B, Young K, Graham M, Suarez R, Ford A, Lei Z, Sumner L, Mooney BP, Wei X, Greenlief CM, Johnson MC, Lin CH. Identification and quantification of bioactive compounds suppressing SARS-CoV-2 signals in wastewater-based epidemiology surveillance. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 221:118824. [PMID: 35830746 PMCID: PMC9253601 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Recent SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) surveillance have documented a positive correlation between the number of COVID-19 patients in a sewershed and the level of viral genetic material in the wastewater. Efforts have been made to use the wastewater SARS-CoV-2 viral load to predict the infected population within each sewershed using a multivariable regression approach. However, reported clear and sustained variability in SARS-CoV-2 viral load among treatment facilities receiving industrial wastewater have made clinical prediction challenging. Several classes of molecules released by regional industries and manufacturing facilities, particularly the food processing industry, can significantly suppress the SARS-CoV-2 signals in wastewater by breaking down the lipid-bilayer of the membranes. Therefore, a systematic ranking process in conjugation with metabolomic analysis was developed to identify the wastewater treatment facilities exhibiting SARS-CoV-2 suppression and identify and quantify the chemicals suppressing the SARS-COV-2 signals. By ranking the viral load per diagnosed case among the sewersheds, we successfully identified the wastewater treatment facilities in Missouri, USA that exhibit SARS-CoV-2 suppression (significantly lower than 5 × 1011 gene copies/reported case) and determined their suppression rates. Through both untargeted global chemical profiling and targeted analysis of wastewater samples, 40 compounds were identified as candidates of SARS-CoV-2 signal suppressors. Among these compounds, 14 had higher concentrations in wastewater treatment facilities that exhibited SARS-CoV-2 signal suppression compared to the unsuppressed control facilities. Stepwise regression analyses indicated that 4-nonylphenol, palmitelaidic acid, sodium oleate, and polyethylene glycol dioleate are positively correlated with SARS-CoV-2 signal suppression rates. Suppression activities were further confirmed by incubation studies, and the suppression kinetics for each bioactive compound were determined. According to the results of these experiments, bioactive molecules in wastewater can significantly reduce the stability of SARS-CoV-2 genetic marker signals. Based on the concentrations of these chemical suppressors, a correction factor could be developed to achieve more reliable and unbiased surveillance results for wastewater treatment facilities that receive wastewater from similar industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Bayati
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Hsin-Yeh Hsieh
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Shu-Yu Hsu
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Chenhui Li
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Elizabeth Rogers
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Anthony Belenchia
- Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology, Division of Community and Public Health, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Jefferson City, MO 65109, USA
| | - Sally A Zemmer
- Water Protection Program, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City, MO 65101, USA
| | - Todd Blanc
- Water Protection Program, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City, MO 65101, USA
| | - Cindy LePage
- Water Protection Program, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City, MO 65101, USA
| | - Jessica Klutts
- Water Protection Program, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City, MO 65101, USA
| | - Melissa Reynolds
- Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology, Division of Community and Public Health, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Jefferson City, MO 65109, USA
| | - Elizabeth Semkiw
- Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology, Division of Community and Public Health, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Jefferson City, MO 65109, USA
| | - Hwei-Yiing Johnson
- Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology, Division of Community and Public Health, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Jefferson City, MO 65109, USA
| | - Trevor Foley
- Missouri Department of Corrections, Jefferson City, MO 65109, USA
| | - Chris G Wieberg
- Water Protection Program, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City, MO 65101, USA
| | - Jeff Wenzel
- Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology, Division of Community and Public Health, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Jefferson City, MO 65109, USA
| | - Terri Lyddon
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, School of Medicine and the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Mary LePique
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, School of Medicine and the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Clayton Rushford
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, School of Medicine and the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Braxton Salcedo
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, School of Medicine and the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Kara Young
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, School of Medicine and the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Madalyn Graham
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, School of Medicine and the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Reinier Suarez
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, School of Medicine and the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Anarose Ford
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, School of Medicine and the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Zhentian Lei
- Metabolomics Center, Department of Biochemistry, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Lloyd Sumner
- Metabolomics Center, Department of Biochemistry, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Brian P Mooney
- Charles W. Gehrke Proteomics Center, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Xing Wei
- Charles W. Gehrke Proteomics Center, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - C Michael Greenlief
- Charles W. Gehrke Proteomics Center, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Marc C Johnson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, School of Medicine and the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Chung-Ho Lin
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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Guo Y, Li J, O'Brien J, Sivakumar M, Jiang G. Back-estimation of norovirus infections through wastewater-based epidemiology: A systematic review and parameter sensitivity. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 219:118610. [PMID: 35598472 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The amount of norovirus RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) in raw wastewater, collected from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), can provide an indication of disease prevalence within the sampled catchment. However, an accurate back-estimation might be impeded by the uncertainties from in-sewer/in-sample degradation of viral RNA, variable shedding magnitude, and difficulties in measurement within raw wastewater. The current study reviewed the published literature regarding the factors of norovirus shedding, viral RNA decay in wastewater, and the occurrence of norovirus RNA in raw wastewater based on molecular detection. Sensitivity analysis for WBE back-estimation was conducted using the reported data of the factors mentioned above considering different viral loads in wastewater samples. It was found that the back-estimation is more sensitive to analytical detection uncertainty than shedding variability for norovirus. Although seasonal temperature change can lead to variation of decay rates and may influence the sensitivity of this pathogen-specific parameter, decay rates of norovirus RNA contribute negligibly to the variance in estimating disease prevalence, based on the available data from decay experiments in bulk wastewater under different temperatures. However, the effects of in-sewer transportation on viral RNA decay and retardation by sewer biofilms on pipe surfaces are largely unknown. Given the highest uncertainty from analytical measurement by molecular methods and complexity of in-sewer processes that norovirus experienced during the transportation to WWTP, future investigations are encouraged to improve the accuracy of viral RNA detection in wastewater and delineate viral retardation/interactions with wastewater biofilms in real sewers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Guo
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Jiaying Li
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Jake O'Brien
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Muttucumaru Sivakumar
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Guangming Jiang
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
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44
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Yanaç K, Adegoke A, Wang L, Uyaguari M, Yuan Q. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA throughout wastewater treatment plants and a modeling approach to understand COVID-19 infection dynamics in Winnipeg, Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 825:153906. [PMID: 35218826 PMCID: PMC8864809 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Although numerous studies have detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater and attempted to find correlations between the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and the number of cases, no consensus has been reached on sample collection and processing, and data analysis. Moreover, the fate of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater treatment plants is another issue, specifically regarding the discharge of the virus into environmental settings and the water cycle. The current study monitored SARS-CoV-2 RNA in influent and effluent wastewater samples with three different concentration methods and sludge samples over six months (July to December 2020) to compare different virus concentration methods, assess the fate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater treatment plants, and describe the potential relationship between SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in influent and infection dynamics. Skimmed milk flocculation (SMF) resulted in 15.27 ± 3.32% recovery of an internal positive control, Armored RNA, and a high positivity rate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stored wastewater samples compared to ultrafiltration methods employing a prefiltration step to eliminate solids in fresh wastewater samples. Our results suggested that SARS-CoV-2 RNA may predominate in solids, and therefore, concentration methods focusing on both supernatant and solid fractions may result in better recovery. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in influent and primary sludge samples but not in secondary and final effluent samples, indicating a significant reduction during primary and secondary treatments. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was first detected in influent on September 30th, 2020. A decay-rate formula was applied to estimate initial concentrations of late-processed samples with SMF. A model based on shedding rate and new cases was applied to estimate SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations and the number of active shedders. Inferred sensitivity of observed and modeled concentrations to the fluctuations in new cases and test-positivity rates indicated a potential contribution of newly infected individuals to SARS-CoV-2 RNA loads in wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kadir Yanaç
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Adeola Adegoke
- Department of Statistics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Liqun Wang
- Department of Statistics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Miguel Uyaguari
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Qiuyan Yuan
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
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Tiwari A, Paakkanen J, Österblad M, Kirveskari J, Hendriksen RS, Heikinheimo A. Wastewater Surveillance Detected Carbapenemase Enzymes in Clinically Relevant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Helsinki, Finland; 2011–2012. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:887888. [PMID: 35722284 PMCID: PMC9201422 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.887888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance profiling of pathogens helps to identify the emergence of rare or new resistance threats and prioritize possible actions to be taken against them. The analysis of wastewater (WW) can reveal the circulation of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) among the catchment communities. Here, we analyzed WW influent samples to determine the prevalence of carbapenemase genes-carrying Gram-negative bacteria (Carba-GNB) in Helsinki, Finland. This study set important historical reference points from the very early stage of the carbapenemase era, during the period 2011–2012. A total of 405 bacterial isolates grown on CHROMagarKPC (n = 195) and CHROMagarESBL (n = 210) from WW influent samples were collected between October 2011 and August 2012 and were analyzed. The bacterial DNA from the isolates was extracted, and the prevalence of carbapenemases genes blaKPC, blaNDM, blaGES, blaOXA-48, blaIMP, blaIMI, and blaVIM were screened with multiplexed PCR. All carbapenemase-positive isolates were identified taxonomically to species or genus level with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The nucleic acid extraction was successful for 399 isolates, of which 59 (14.8%) were found to carry carbapenemase genes. A total of 89.8% of the carbapenemase positive isolates (53 out of 59) were obtained from CHROMagarKPC plates and only 10.2% (six out of 59) were obtained from CHROMagar ESBL plates. Among the Carba-GNB isolates, 86.4% were blaGES (51 out of 59), 10.2% were blaKPC (six out of 59), and 3.4% were blaVIM (two out of 59). The most common carba-gene, blaGES, was carried by 10 different bacterial species, including Aeromonas spp., Enterobacter spp., and Kluyvera spp.; the blaKPC gene was carried by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Kluyvera cryocescens; and the blaVIM gene was carried by Aeromonas hydrophila/caviae and Citrobacter amalonaticus. This study emphasizes that wastewater surveillance (WWS) can be an additional tool for monitoring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananda Tiwari
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
- Ananda Tiwari,
| | | | - Monica Österblad
- Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Rene S. Hendriksen
- Technical University of Denmark, National Food Institute, WHO Collaborating Center for Antimicrobial Resistance in Foodborne Pathogens and Genomics, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Annamari Heikinheimo
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Food Authority, Seinajöki, Finland
- *Correspondence: Annamari Heikinheimo,
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46
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Gudra D, Dejus S, Bartkevics V, Roga A, Kalnina I, Strods M, Rayan A, Kokina K, Zajakina A, Dumpis U, Ikkere LE, Arhipova I, Berzins G, Erglis A, Binde J, Ansonska E, Berzins A, Juhna T, Fridmanis D. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater and importance of population size assessment in smaller cities: An exploratory case study from two municipalities in Latvia. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 823:153775. [PMID: 35151738 PMCID: PMC8830921 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has regained global importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mobility of people and other factors, such as precipitation and irregular inflow of industrial wastewater, are complicating the estimation of the disease prevalence through WBE, which is crucial for proper crisis management. These estimations are particularly challenging in urban areas with moderate or low numbers of inhabitants in situations where movement restrictions are not adopted (as in the case of Latvia) because residents of smaller municipalities tend to be more mobile and less strict in following the rules and measures of disease containment. Thus, population movement can influence the outcome of WBE measurements significantly and may not reflect the actual epidemiological situation in the respective area. Here, we demonstrate that by combining the data of detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA copy number, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) analyses in wastewater and mobile call detail records it was possible to provide an accurate assessment of the COVID-19 epidemiological situation in towns that are small (COVID-19 28-day cumulative incidence r = 0.609 and 35-day cumulative incidence r = 0.89, p < 0.05) and medium-sized towns (COVID-19 21-day cumulative incidence r = 0.997, 28-day cumulative incidence r = 0.98 and 35-day cumulative incidence r = 0.997, p < 0.05). This is the first study demonstrating WBE for monitoring COVID-19 outbreaks in Latvia. We demonstrate that the application of population size estimation measurements such as total 5-HIAA and call detail record data improve the accuracy of the WBE approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dita Gudra
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites iela 1, Riga LV-1067, Latvia
| | - Sandis Dejus
- Riga Technical University, Laboratory of Water Research and Environmental Biotechnology, Kipsalas iela 6a/6b, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Vadims Bartkevics
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR, Lejupes iela 3, Riga LV-1067, Latvia.
| | - Ance Roga
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites iela 1, Riga LV-1067, Latvia
| | - Ineta Kalnina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites iela 1, Riga LV-1067, Latvia
| | - Martins Strods
- Riga Technical University, Laboratory of Water Research and Environmental Biotechnology, Kipsalas iela 6a/6b, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Anton Rayan
- Riga Technical University, Laboratory of Water Research and Environmental Biotechnology, Kipsalas iela 6a/6b, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Kristina Kokina
- Riga Technical University, Laboratory of Water Research and Environmental Biotechnology, Kipsalas iela 6a/6b, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
| | - Anna Zajakina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites iela 1, Riga LV-1067, Latvia
| | - Uga Dumpis
- University of Latvia, Aspazijas bulvaris 5, Riga LV-1050, Latvia
| | - Laura Elina Ikkere
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR, Lejupes iela 3, Riga LV-1067, Latvia
| | - Irina Arhipova
- Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Liela iela 2, Jelgava LV-3001, Latvia
| | - Gundars Berzins
- University of Latvia, Aspazijas bulvaris 5, Riga LV-1050, Latvia
| | - Aldis Erglis
- University of Latvia, Aspazijas bulvaris 5, Riga LV-1050, Latvia
| | - Juris Binde
- LLC "Latvian Mobile Telephone", Ropazu iela 6, Riga LV-1039, Latvia
| | - Evija Ansonska
- University of Latvia, Aspazijas bulvaris 5, Riga LV-1050, Latvia
| | - Aivars Berzins
- Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR, Lejupes iela 3, Riga LV-1067, Latvia
| | - Talis Juhna
- Riga Technical University, Laboratory of Water Research and Environmental Biotechnology, Kipsalas iela 6a/6b, Riga LV-1048, Latvia.
| | - Davids Fridmanis
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites iela 1, Riga LV-1067, Latvia.
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Zamhuri SA, Soon CF, Nordin AN, Ab Rahim R, Sultana N, Khan MA, Lim GP, Tee KS. A review on the contamination of SARS-CoV-2 in water bodies: Transmission route, virus recovery and recent biosensor detection techniques. SENSING AND BIO-SENSING RESEARCH 2022; 36:100482. [PMID: 35251937 PMCID: PMC8889793 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbsr.2022.100482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the water bodies has been reported, and the risk of virus transmission to human via the water route due to poor wastewater management cannot be disregarded. The main source of the virus in water bodies is the sewage network systems which connects to the surface water. Wastewater-based epidemiology has been applied as an early surveillance tool to sense SARS-CoV-2 virus in the sewage network. This review discussed possible transmission routes of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the challenges of the existing method in detecting the virus in wastewater. One significant challenge for the detection of the virus is that the high virus loading is diluted by the sheer volume of the wastewater. Hence, virus preconcentration from water samples prior to the application of virus assay is essential to accurately detect traceable virus loading. The preparation time, materials and conditions, virus type, recovery percentage, and various virus recovery techniques are comprehensively discussed in this review. The practicability of molecular methods such as Polymer-Chain-Reaction (PCR) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater will be revealed. The conventional virus detection techniques have several shortcomings and the potential of biosensors as an alternative is also considered. Biosensing techniques have also been proposed as an alternative to PCR and have reported detection limits of 10 pg/μl. This review serves to guide the reader on the future designs and development of highly sensitive, robust and, cost effective SARS-CoV-2 lab-on-a-chip biosensors for use in complex wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siti Adibah Zamhuri
- Microelectronics and Nanotechnology-Shamsuddin Research Centre, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400, Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Chin Fhong Soon
- Microelectronics and Nanotechnology-Shamsuddin Research Centre, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400, Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
- Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400, Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Anis Nurashikin Nordin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kulliyah of Engineering, International University of Islam Malaysia, 53100, Jalan Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rosminazuin Ab Rahim
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kulliyah of Engineering, International University of Islam Malaysia, 53100, Jalan Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Muhammad Arif Khan
- Microelectronics and Nanotechnology-Shamsuddin Research Centre, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400, Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Gim Pao Lim
- Microelectronics and Nanotechnology-Shamsuddin Research Centre, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400, Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Kian Sek Tee
- Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400, Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
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48
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Kong J, Li W, Hu J, Zhao S, Yue T, Li Z, Xia Y. The Safety of Cold-Chain Food in Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: Precaution and Quarantine. Foods 2022; 11:foods11111540. [PMID: 35681292 PMCID: PMC9180738 DOI: 10.3390/foods11111540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), cold-chain food contamination caused by the pathogenic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has attracted huge concern. Cold-chain foods provide a congenial environment for SARS-CoV-2 survival, which presents a potential risk for public health. Strengthening the SARS-CoV-2 supervision of cold-chain foods has become the top priority in many countries. Methodologically, the potential safety risks and precaution measures of SARS-CoV-2 contamination on cold-chain food are analyzed. To ensure the safety of cold-chain foods, the advances in SARS-CoV-2 detection strategies are summarized based on technical principles and target biomarkers. In particular, the techniques suitable for SARS-CoV-2 detection in a cold-chain environment are discussed. Although many quarantine techniques are available, the field-based quarantine technique on cold-chain food with characteristics of real-time, sensitive, specific, portable, and large-scale application is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Kong
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (J.K.); (W.L.); (J.H.); (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Z.L.)
| | - Wenxin Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (J.K.); (W.L.); (J.H.); (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Z.L.)
| | - Jinyao Hu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (J.K.); (W.L.); (J.H.); (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Z.L.)
| | - Shixuan Zhao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (J.K.); (W.L.); (J.H.); (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Z.L.)
| | - Tianli Yue
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (J.K.); (W.L.); (J.H.); (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Z.L.)
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Zhonghong Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (J.K.); (W.L.); (J.H.); (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Z.L.)
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Yinqiang Xia
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (J.K.); (W.L.); (J.H.); (S.Z.); (T.Y.); (Z.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-151-2222-5493
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49
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Islam G, Gedge A, Lara-Jacobo L, Kirkwood A, Simmons D, Desaulniers JP. Pasteurization, storage conditions and viral concentration methods influence RT-qPCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 821:153228. [PMID: 35090920 PMCID: PMC8788100 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic presents many public health challenges including the tracking of infected individuals from local to regional scales. Wastewater surveillance of viral RNA has emerged as a complementary approach to track and monitor the presence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus in a variety of communities of different land use and population size. In the present study, we investigate how five different parameters (pasteurization, storage temperature, storage time, polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration, and pellet mass) affect the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 N gene and fecal abundance indicator pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) gene. Pre-treatment of 24-h composite wastewater samples (n = 14) by pasteurization at 60 °C resulted in a significant reduction of total RNA concentration and copies of the SARS-CoV-2 N gene copies/L (paired Student's t-test, P < 0.05). Comparing the wastewater samples collected from 6 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for a storage period of 7 and 14 days at 4 °C, -20 °C and -80 °C, demonstrated a decrease in SARS-CoV-2 N gene copies/L when samples were stored for 14 days at -20 °C. Polyethylene glycol-NaCl for purification and concentration of viral particles from the wastewater samples demonstrated that a short PEG incubation of 2 h during centrifugation at 4 °C was sufficient for the consistent detection of the SARS-CoV-2 N gene from a 30 mL sample volume. Combined, this paper presents method recommendations for developing a reliable, accurate, sensitive, and reproducible estimation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in diverse domestic wastewater samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golam Islam
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada.
| | - Ashley Gedge
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Linda Lara-Jacobo
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Andrea Kirkwood
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Denina Simmons
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Jean-Paul Desaulniers
- Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St N, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
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50
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Tiwari A, Lipponen A, Hokajärvi AM, Luomala O, Sarekoski A, Rytkönen A, Österlund P, Al-Hello H, Juutinen A, Miettinen IT, Savolainen-Kopra C, Pitkänen T. Detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater influent in relation to reported COVID-19 incidence in Finland. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 215:118220. [PMID: 35248908 PMCID: PMC8865022 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based surveillance is a cost-effective concept for monitoring COVID-19 pandemics at a population level. Here, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was monitored from a total of 693 wastewater (WW) influent samples from 28 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP, N = 21-42 samples per WWTP) in Finland from August 2020 to May 2021, covering WW of ca. 3.3 million inhabitants (∼ 60% of the Finnish population). Quantity of SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragments in 24 h-composite samples was determined by using the ultrafiltration method followed by nucleic acid extraction and CDC N2 RT-qPCR assay. SARS-CoV-2 RNA signals at each WWTP were compared over time to the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases (14-day case incidence rate) in the sewer network area. Over the 10-month surveillance period with an extensive total number of samples, the detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in WW was 79% (including 6% uncertain results, i.e., amplified only in one out of four, two original and two ten-fold diluted replicates), while only 24% of all samples exhibited gene copy numbers above the quantification limit. The range of the SARS-CoV-2 detection rate in WW varied from 33% (including 10% uncertain results) in Pietarsaari to 100% in Espoo. Only six out of 693 WW samples were positive with SARS-COV-2 RNA when the reported COVID-19 case number from the preceding 14 days was zero. Overall, the 14-day COVID-19 incidence was 7.0, 18, and 36 cases per 100 000 persons within the sewer network area when the probability to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater samples was 50%, 75% and 95%, respectively. The quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA required significantly more COVID-19 cases: the quantification rate was 50%, 75%, and 95% when the 14-day incidence was 110, 152, and 223 COVID-19 cases, respectively, per 100 000 persons. Multiple linear regression confirmed the relationship between the COVID-19 incidence and the SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantified in WW at 15 out of 28 WWTPs (overall R2 = 0.36, p < 0.001). At four of the 13 WWTPs where a significant relationship was not found, the SARS-CoV-2 RNA remained below the quantification limit during the whole study period. In the five other WWTPs, the sewer coverage was less than 80% of the total population in the area and thus the COVID-19 cases may have been inhabitants from the areas not covered. Based on the results obtained, WW-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 could be used as an indicator for local and national COVID-19 incidence trends. Importantly, the determination of SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragments from WW is a powerful and non-invasive public health surveillance measure, independent of possible changes in the clinical testing strategies or in the willingness of individuals to be tested for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananda Tiwari
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio FI-70701, Finland; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland.
| | - Anssi Lipponen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio FI-70701, Finland.
| | - Anna-Maria Hokajärvi
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio FI-70701, Finland.
| | - Oskari Luomala
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Infectious Disease Control and Vaccinations Unit, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki FI-00271, Finland.
| | - Anniina Sarekoski
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio FI-70701, Finland.
| | - Annastiina Rytkönen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio FI-70701, Finland; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland.
| | - Pamela Österlund
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki FI-00271, Finland.
| | - Haider Al-Hello
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki FI-00271, Finland.
| | - Aapo Juutinen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Infectious Disease Control and Vaccinations Unit, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki FI-00271, Finland.
| | - Ilkka T Miettinen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio FI-70701, Finland.
| | - Carita Savolainen-Kopra
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki FI-00271, Finland.
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio FI-70701, Finland; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, Helsinki FI-00014, Finland.
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