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Maidana-Kulesza MN, Poma HR, Sanguino-Jorquera DG, Reyes SI, Del Milagro Said-Adamo M, Mainardi-Remis JM, Gutiérrez-Cacciabue D, Cristóbal HA, Cruz MC, Aparicio González M, Rajal VB. Tracking SARS-CoV-2 in rivers as a tool for epidemiological surveillance. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022. [PMID: 35908692 DOI: 10.1101/2021.06.17.21259122] [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] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate if rivers could be used for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. Five sampling points from three rivers (AR-1 and AR-2 in Arenales River, MR-1 and MR-2 in Mojotoro River, and CR in La Caldera River) from Salta (Argentina), two of them receiving discharges from wastewater plants (WWTP), were monitored from July to December 2020. Fifteen water samples from each point (75 in total) were collected and characterized physico-chemically and microbiologically and SARS-CoV-2 was quantified by RT-qPCR. Also, two targets linked to human contributions, human polyomavirus (HPyV) and RNase P, were quantified and used to normalize SARS-CoV-2 concentration, which was compared to reported COVID-19 cases. Statistical analyses allowed us to verify the correlation between SARS-CoV-2 and the concentration of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), as well as to find similarities and differences between sampling points. La Caldera River showed the best water quality; FIBs were within acceptable limits for recreational activities. Mojotoro River's water quality was not affected by the northern WWTP of the city. Instead, Arenales River presented the poorest water quality; at AR-2 was negatively affected by the discharges of the southern WWTP, which contributed to significant increase of fecal contamination. SARS-CoV-2 was found in about half of samples in low concentrations in La Caldera and Mojotoro Rivers, while it was high and persistent in Arenales River. No human tracers were detected in CR, only HPyV was found in MR-1, MR-2 and AR-1, and both were quantified in AR-2. The experimental and normalized viral concentrations strongly correlated with reported COVID-19 cases; thus, Arenales River at AR-2 reflected the epidemiological situation of the city. This is the first study showing the dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 concentration in an urban river highly impacted by wastewater and proved that can be used for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance to support health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Noel Maidana-Kulesza
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Hugo Ramiro Poma
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Diego Gastón Sanguino-Jorquera
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Sarita Isabel Reyes
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - María Del Milagro Said-Adamo
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Juan Martín Mainardi-Remis
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Facultad de Ingeniería, UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Dolores Gutiérrez-Cacciabue
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Facultad de Ingeniería, UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Héctor Antonio Cristóbal
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Mercedes Cecilia Cruz
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Mónica Aparicio González
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Verónica Beatriz Rajal
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Facultad de Ingeniería, UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Science Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
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Maidana-Kulesza MN, Poma HR, Sanguino-Jorquera DG, Reyes SI, Del Milagro Said-Adamo M, Mainardi-Remis JM, Gutiérrez-Cacciabue D, Cristóbal HA, Cruz MC, Aparicio González M, Rajal VB. Tracking SARS-CoV-2 in rivers as a tool for epidemiological surveillance. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 848:157707. [PMID: 35908692 PMCID: PMC9334864 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157707] [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: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate if rivers could be used for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. Five sampling points from three rivers (AR-1 and AR-2 in Arenales River, MR-1 and MR-2 in Mojotoro River, and CR in La Caldera River) from Salta (Argentina), two of them receiving discharges from wastewater plants (WWTP), were monitored from July to December 2020. Fifteen water samples from each point (75 in total) were collected and characterized physico-chemically and microbiologically and SARS-CoV-2 was quantified by RT-qPCR. Also, two targets linked to human contributions, human polyomavirus (HPyV) and RNase P, were quantified and used to normalize SARS-CoV-2 concentration, which was compared to reported COVID-19 cases. Statistical analyses allowed us to verify the correlation between SARS-CoV-2 and the concentration of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), as well as to find similarities and differences between sampling points. La Caldera River showed the best water quality; FIBs were within acceptable limits for recreational activities. Mojotoro River's water quality was not affected by the northern WWTP of the city. Instead, Arenales River presented the poorest water quality; at AR-2 was negatively affected by the discharges of the southern WWTP, which contributed to significant increase of fecal contamination. SARS-CoV-2 was found in about half of samples in low concentrations in La Caldera and Mojotoro Rivers, while it was high and persistent in Arenales River. No human tracers were detected in CR, only HPyV was found in MR-1, MR-2 and AR-1, and both were quantified in AR-2. The experimental and normalized viral concentrations strongly correlated with reported COVID-19 cases; thus, Arenales River at AR-2 reflected the epidemiological situation of the city. This is the first study showing the dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 concentration in an urban river highly impacted by wastewater and proved that can be used for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance to support health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Noel Maidana-Kulesza
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Hugo Ramiro Poma
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Diego Gastón Sanguino-Jorquera
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Sarita Isabel Reyes
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - María Del Milagro Said-Adamo
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Juan Martín Mainardi-Remis
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Facultad de Ingeniería, UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Dolores Gutiérrez-Cacciabue
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Facultad de Ingeniería, UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Héctor Antonio Cristóbal
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Mercedes Cecilia Cruz
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Mónica Aparicio González
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina
| | - Verónica Beatriz Rajal
- Laboratorio de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Facultad de Ingeniería, UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Science Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
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Lanrewaju AA, Enitan-Folami AM, Sabiu S, Edokpayi JN, Swalaha FM. Global public health implications of human exposure to viral contaminated water. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:981896. [PMID: 36110296 PMCID: PMC9468673 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.981896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteric viruses are common waterborne pathogens found in environmental water bodies contaminated with either raw or partially treated sewage discharge. Examples of these viruses include adenovirus, rotavirus, noroviruses, and other caliciviruses and enteroviruses like coxsackievirus and polioviruses. They have been linked with gastroenteritis, while some enteric viruses have also been implicated in more severe infections such as encephalitis, meningitis, hepatitis (hepatitis A and E viruses), cancer (polyomavirus), and myocarditis (enteroviruses). Therefore, this review presents information on the occurrence of enteric viruses of public health importance, diseases associated with human exposure to enteric viruses, assessment of their presence in contaminated water, and their removal in water and wastewater sources. In order to prevent illnesses associated with human exposure to viral contaminated water, we suggest the regular viral monitoring of treated wastewater before discharging it into the environment. Furthermore, we highlight the need for more research to focus on the development of more holistic disinfection methods that will inactivate waterborne viruses in municipal wastewater discharges, as this is highly needed to curtail the public health effects of human exposure to contaminated water. Moreover, such a method must be devoid of disinfection by-products that have mutagenic and carcinogenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abimbola Motunrayo Enitan-Folami
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Abimbola Motunrayo Enitan-Folami,
| | - Saheed Sabiu
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
| | - Joshua Nosa Edokpayi
- Water and Environmental Management Research Group, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Feroz Mahomed Swalaha
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
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Barrantes K, Chacón L, Morales E, Rivera-Montero L, Pino M, Jiménez AG, Mora DC, Jiménez PS, Silva B, Romero-Esquivel LG. Occurrence of pathogenic microorganisms in small drinking-water systems in Costa Rica. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2022; 20:344-355. [PMID: 36366991 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2022.230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study describes the quality of drinking water sampled over 2 years (2018 and 2019) from 20 ASADAS (Spanish acronym for Administrative Associations for Water and Sewer Systems) in Costa Rica. The analysis included Rotavirus (RV), somatic coliphages, fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli. The ASADAS were categorized into three regions as temperate rainy (region 1), tropical rainy (region 2), and tropical rainy and dry (region 3) according to biogeographic classification. The concentrations of fecal coliforms and E. coli were higher in samples from surface water sources from the ASADAS in region 3 compared to regions 1 and 2. RV-positive samples (24/296) were detected in drinking-water samples from regions 2 and 3 during dry and transition seasons, with higher concentrations more frequently in the dry season. In addition, somatic coliphages were detected in samples from the three regions, with higher concentrations in region 2. Furthermore, a statistically significant relationship was found between somatic coliphages and diarrheal cases, classified as outbreaks or alerts in the region. Thus, the results confirmed that somatic coliphages are a good indicator of the presence of diarrhea cases in a specific region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenia Barrantes
- Infection and Nutrition Section, Health Research Institute, University of Costa Rica, P.O. Box 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica E-mail:
| | - Luz Chacón
- Infection and Nutrition Section, Health Research Institute, University of Costa Rica, P.O. Box 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica E-mail:
| | - Eric Morales
- Infection and Nutrition Section, Health Research Institute, University of Costa Rica, P.O. Box 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica E-mail:
| | - Luis Rivera-Montero
- Infection and Nutrition Section, Health Research Institute, University of Costa Rica, P.O. Box 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica E-mail:
| | - Macario Pino
- Environmental Protection Research Center (CIPA), School of Chemistry, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR), P.O. Box 159-7050, Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Alejandra Gamboa Jiménez
- Environmental Analysis Laboratory, School of Environmental Sciences, National University, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Diana Campos Mora
- Environmental Analysis Laboratory, School of Environmental Sciences, National University, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Pablo Salas Jiménez
- Environmental Analysis Laboratory, School of Environmental Sciences, National University, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Basilio Silva
- Basic Sciences, National Technological University, P.O. Box 1902-4050, Alajuela, Costa Rica
| | - Luis G Romero-Esquivel
- Environmental Protection Research Center (CIPA), School of Chemistry, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR), P.O. Box 159-7050, Cartago, Costa Rica
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Upfold NS, Luke GA, Knox C. Occurrence of Human Enteric Viruses in Water Sources and Shellfish: A Focus on Africa. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2021; 13:1-31. [PMID: 33501612 PMCID: PMC7837882 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-020-09456-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Enteric viruses are a diverse group of human pathogens which are primarily transmitted by the faecal-oral route and are a major cause of non-bacterial diarrhoeal disease in both developed and developing countries. Because they are shed in high numbers by infected individuals and can persist for a long time in the environment, they pose a serious threat to human health globally. Enteric viruses end up in the environment mainly through discharge or leakage of raw or inadequately treated sewage into water sources such as springs, rivers, dams, or marine estuaries. Human exposure then follows when contaminated water is used for drinking, cooking, or recreation and, importantly, when filter-feeding bivalve shellfish are consumed. The human health hazard posed by enteric viruses is particularly serious in Africa where rapid urbanisation in a relatively short period of time has led to the expansion of informal settlements with poor sanitation and failing or non-existent wastewater treatment infrastructure, and where rural communities with limited or no access to municipal water are dependent on nearby open water sources for their subsistence. The role of sewage-contaminated water and bivalve shellfish as vehicles for transmission of enteric viruses is well documented but, to our knowledge, has not been comprehensively reviewed in the African context. Here we provide an overview of enteric viruses and then review the growing body of research where these viruses have been detected in association with sewage-contaminated water or food in several African countries. These studies highlight the need for more research into the prevalence, molecular epidemiology and circulation of these viruses in Africa, as well as for development and application of innovative wastewater treatment approaches to reduce environmental pollution and its impact on human health on the continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S Upfold
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Garry A Luke
- Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, School of Biology, Biomolecular Sciences Building, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Caroline Knox
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
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