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Girón-Guzmán I, Cuevas-Ferrando E, Barranquero R, Díaz-Reolid A, Puchades-Colera P, Falcó I, Pérez-Cataluña A, Sánchez G. Urban wastewater-based epidemiology for multi-viral pathogen surveillance in the Valencian region, Spain. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 255:121463. [PMID: 38537489 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/24/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has lately arised as a promising tool for monitoring and tracking viral pathogens in communities. In this study, we analysed WBE's role as a multi-pathogen surveillance strategy to detect the presence of several viral illness causative agents. Thus, an epidemiological study was conducted from October 2021 to February 2023 to estimate the weekly levels of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV), and Influenza A virus (IAV) in influent wastewater samples (n = 69). In parallel, a one-year study (October 2021 to October 2022) was performed to assess the presence of pathogenic human enteric viruses. Besides, monitoring of proposed viral fecal contamination indicators crAssphage and Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) was also assessed, along with plaque counting of somatic coliphages. Genetic material of rotavirus (RV), human astrovirus (HAStV), and norovirus genogroup I (GI) and GII was found in almost all samples, while hepatitis A and E viruses (HAV and HEV) only tested positive in 3.77 % and 22.64 % of the samples, respectively. No seasonal patterns were overall found for enteric viruses, although RVs had a peak prevalence in the winter months. All samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, with a mean concentration of 5.43 log genome copies per liter (log GC/L). The tracking of the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) was performed by both duplex RT-qPCR and next generation sequencing (NGS). Both techniques reliably showed how the dominant VOC transitioned from Delta to Omicron during two weeks in Spain in December 2021. RSV and IAV viruses peaked in winter months with mean concentrations 6.40 and 4.10 log GC/L, respectively. Moreover, the three selected respiratory viruses strongly correlated with reported clinical data when normalised by wastewater physico-chemical parameters and presented weaker correlations when normalising sewage concentration levels with crAssphage or somatic coliphages titers. Finally, predictive models were generated for each respiratory virus, confirming high reliability on WBE data as an early-warning system and communities illness monitoring system. Overall, this study presents WBE as an optimal tool for multi-pathogen tracking reflecting viral circulation and diseases trends within a selected area, its value as a multi-pathogen early-warning tool stands out due to its public health interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Girón-Guzmán
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, Av. Agustín Escardino 7, Paterna, Valencia 46980, Spain
| | - Enric Cuevas-Ferrando
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, Av. Agustín Escardino 7, Paterna, Valencia 46980, Spain.
| | - Regino Barranquero
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, Av. Agustín Escardino 7, Paterna, Valencia 46980, Spain
| | - Azahara Díaz-Reolid
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, Av. Agustín Escardino 7, Paterna, Valencia 46980, Spain
| | - Pablo Puchades-Colera
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, Av. Agustín Escardino 7, Paterna, Valencia 46980, Spain
| | - Irene Falcó
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, Av. Agustín Escardino 7, Paterna, Valencia 46980, Spain; Department of Microbiology and Ecology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alba Pérez-Cataluña
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, Av. Agustín Escardino 7, Paterna, Valencia 46980, Spain
| | - Gloria Sánchez
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, Av. Agustín Escardino 7, Paterna, Valencia 46980, Spain.
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Ando H, Ahmed W, Okabe S, Kitajima M. Tracking the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on viral gastroenteritis through wastewater-based retrospective analyses. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:166557. [PMID: 37633393 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166557] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic possibly disrupted the circulation and seasonality of gastroenteritis viruses (e.g., Norovirus (NoV), Sapovirus (SaV), group A rotavirus (ARoV), and Aichivirus (AiV)). Despite the growing application of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), there remains a lack of sufficient investigations into the actual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of gastroenteritis viruses. In this study, we measured NoV GI and GII, SaV, ARoV, and AiV RNA concentrations in 296 influent wastewater samples collected from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Sapporo, Japan between October 28, 2018 and January 12, 2023 using the highly sensitive EPISENS™ method. The detection ratios of SaV and ARoV after May 2020 (SaV: 49.8 % (134/269), ARoV: 57.4 % (151/263)) were significantly lower than those before April 2020 (SaV: 93.9 % (31/33), ARoV: 97.0 % (32/33); SaV: p < 3.5×10-7, ARoV: p < 1.5×10-6). Furthermore, despite comparable detection ratios before (88.5 %, 23/26) and during (66.7 %, 80/120) the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.032), the concentrations of NoV GII revealed a significant decrease after the onset of the pandemic (p < 1.5×10-7, Cliff's delta = 0.72). NoV GI RNA were sporadically detected (24.7 %, 8/33) before April 2020 and after May 2020 (6.5 %, 17/263), whereas AiV was consistently (100 %, 33/33) detected from wastewater throughout the study period (95.8 %, 252/263). The WBE results demonstrated the significant influence of COVID-19 countermeasures on the circulation of gastroenteritis viruses, with variations observed in the magnitude of their impact across different types of viruses. These epidemiological findings highlight that the hygiene practices implemented to prevent COVID-19 infections may also be effective for controlling the prevalence of gastroenteritis viruses, providing invaluable insights for public health units and the development of effective disease management guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Ando
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
| | - Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Satoshi Okabe
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
| | - 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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Valdivia-Carrera CA, Ho-Palma AC, Munguia-Mercado A, Gonzalez-Pizarro K, Ibacache-Quiroga C, Dinamarca A, Stehlík M, Rusiñol M, Girones R, Lopez-Urbina MT, Basaldua Galarza A, Gonzales-Gustavson E. Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2, rotavirus, norovirus genogroup II, and human adenovirus in wastewater as an epidemiological tool to anticipate outbreaks of COVID-19 and acute gastroenteritis in a city without a wastewater treatment plant in the Peruvian Highlands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167161. [PMID: 37730068 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167161] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has demonstrated that Wastewater Based Epidemiology is a fast and economical alternative for monitoring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the community level in high-income countries. In the present study, wastewater from a city in the Peruvian Highlands, which lacks a wastewater treatment plant, was monitored for one year to assess the relationship between the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and the reported cases of COVID-19 in the community. Additionally, we compared the relationship between rotavirus (RV), norovirus genogroup II (NoV GGII), and human adenovirus (HAdV) with the number of reported cases of acute gastroenteritis. Before commencing the analysis of the samples, the viral recovery efficacy of three processing methods was determined in spiked wastewater with SARS-CoV-2. This evaluation demonstrated the highest recovery rate with direct analysis (72.2 %), as compared to ultrafiltration (50.8 %) and skimmed milk flocculation (5.6 %). Wastewater monitoring revealed that 72 % (36/50) of the samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with direct analysis yielding the highest detection frequency and quantification of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and the reported cases of COVID-19, mainly when we shift the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 by two weeks, which allows us to anticipate the onset of the fourth and fifth waves of the pandemic in Peru up to two weeks in advance. All samples processed using the skimmed milk flocculation method tested positive and showed high concentrations of RV, NoV GGII, and HAdV. In fact, the highest RV concentrations were detected up to four weeks before outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis reported in children under four years of age. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that periodic wastewater monitoring is an excellent epidemiological tool for surveillance and can anticipate outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar A Valdivia-Carrera
- Tropical and Highlands Veterinary Research Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Jr. 28 de Julio s/n, Km 34, margen izquierda, Carretera Central, El Mantaro, Jauja, Junin, Peru; Department of Animal Health and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Circunvalacion 2800, San Borja, Lima, Peru.
| | - Ana C Ho-Palma
- Department of Human Medicine, School of Human Medicine, Universidad Nacional del Centro del Peru, Av. Mariscal Castilla 3909, Huancayo, Peru.
| | - Astrid Munguia-Mercado
- Tropical and Highlands Veterinary Research Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Jr. 28 de Julio s/n, Km 34, margen izquierda, Carretera Central, El Mantaro, Jauja, Junin, Peru.
| | - Karoll Gonzalez-Pizarro
- Centro de Micro-Bioinnovación, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Claudia Ibacache-Quiroga
- Centro de Micro-Bioinnovación, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso, Chile; Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Alejandro Dinamarca
- Centro de Micro-Bioinnovación, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso, Chile; Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Milan Stehlík
- Institute of Statistics, Universidad de Valparaiso, Av. Gran Bretana 1111, Valparaiso, Chile; Linz Institute of Technology & Department of Applied Statistics, Johannes Kepler University in Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria.
| | - Marta Rusiñol
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Rosina Girones
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Maria T Lopez-Urbina
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Circunvalacion 2800, San Borja, Lima, Peru.
| | - Anani Basaldua Galarza
- Department of Human Medicine, School of Human Medicine, Universidad Nacional del Centro del Peru, Av. Mariscal Castilla 3909, Huancayo, Peru; Dirección Ejecutiva de Epidemiología, Dirección Regional de Salud, Jr. Julio Cesar Tello 488, Huancayo 12004, Junin, Peru.
| | - Eloy Gonzales-Gustavson
- Tropical and Highlands Veterinary Research Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Jr. 28 de Julio s/n, Km 34, margen izquierda, Carretera Central, El Mantaro, Jauja, Junin, Peru; Department of Animal Health and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Circunvalacion 2800, San Borja, Lima, Peru.
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Viviana B, Matias S, Daiana M, Rodney C, Matias V. Molecular Characterization of Gastroenteric Viruses in Wastewater from Cities in Uruguay. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2023; 15:318-330. [PMID: 37872461 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-023-09567-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Group A Rotavirus, Human Astrovirus, and Norovirus (RVA, HAstV, and NoV) are recognized as the major causative agents of acute gastroenteritis in children and adults worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of RVA, HAstV, and NoV in wastewater from three cities in Uruguay. Thirty-six samples from Bella Unión, Salto, and Fray Bentos cities were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative PCR. RVA was the most frequently detected virus (50%), followed by HAstV (39%), NoV GII (36%), and NoV GI (25%). RVA strains were characterized as P[8] and G3 based on the VP4 and VP7 genes, respectively. Among NoV-positive samples, genotypes GI.2, GI.3, GI.5, GI.6, GI.7, GII.2, GII.6, and GII.4 were detected, and only one HAstV genotype (MLB1) was found. Our wastewater-based epidemiological approach provides a snapshot of the overall genetic diversity of these viruses in three cities of the Uruguay River basin during 2017-2018. These findings reinforce the importance of this environmental surveillance tool for monitoring epidemiological trends of enteric viruses circulating in the population, which can be used to guide public health intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bortagaray Viviana
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, CENUR Litoral Norte, Sede Salto, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Salvo Matias
- Department of Water, CENUR Litoral Norte, Sede Salto, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Mir Daiana
- Genomic and Bioinformatic Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, CENUR Litoral Norte, Sede Salto, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Colina Rodney
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, CENUR Litoral Norte, Sede Salto, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Victoria Matias
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, CENUR Litoral Norte, Sede Salto, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay.
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5
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Lanzarini NM, Mannarino CF, Mata RM, Saggioro EM, Moreira JC, Miagostovich MP. Quantification and molecular characterization of intact rotavirus species A (RVA) in municipal solid waste leachate. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad146. [PMID: 37429601 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad146] [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: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Leachate comprises a solid waste decomposition product found fresh in collection trucks or as an effluent in landfills. This study aimed to assess the occurrence, concentrations, and genetic diversity of intact rotavirus species A (RVA) in solid waste leachate. METHODS AND RESULTS Leachate samples were concentrated by ultracentrifugation, treated with propidium monoazide (PMA), and exposed to LED photolysis. Treated and untread samples were extracted using the QIAamp Fast DNA Stool mini kit, and nucleic acids were screened for RVA employing a Taqman® Real-time PCR. The PMA RT-qPCR method detected RVA in eight out of nine truck samples and in 15.40% (2/13) of the landfill leachate samples. The RVA concentrations in the PMA-treated samples ranged from 4.57 × 103 to 2.15 × 107 genomic copies (GC) 100 mL-1 in truck leachate and from 7.83 × 103 to 1.42 × 104 GC 100 mL-1 in landfill samples. Six truck leachate samples were characterized as RVA VP6 genogroup I2 by partial nucleotide sequencing. CONCLUSIONS The high intact RVA detection rates and concentrations in truck leachate samples indicate potential infectivity and comprise a warning for solid waste collectors concerning hand-to-mouth contact and the splash route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Maria Lanzarini
- Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Camille Ferreira Mannarino
- Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Rafaela Marinho Mata
- Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Enrico Mendes Saggioro
- Environmental Health Evaluation and Promotion Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Josino Costa Moreira
- Center for Studies on Workers' Health and Human Ecology, National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Marize Pereira Miagostovich
- Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
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Tubatsi G, Kebaabetswe LP. Detection of Enteric Viruses from Wastewater and River Water in Botswana. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2022; 14:157-169. [PMID: 35150381 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-022-09513-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Waterborne diseases remain a public health concern in developing countries where many lack access to safe water. Water testing mainly uses bacterial indicators to assess water quality, which may not fully indicate the threat from other non-bacterial pathogens like enteric viruses. This study was done to ascertain and establish the viral load, the temporal and spatial distribution of rotavirus A and norovirus (GI and GII) in sewage and river water samples. A total of 45 samples of raw and treated sewage, and surface water, were collected from a sludge activated wastewater treatment plant in Gaborone, and after treatment from the Notwane River, Botswana, over a period of 9 months (February 2016 to October 2016). Viruses were concentrated using polyethylene glycol/NaCl precipitation. Virus detection was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Rotavirus A was the most prevalent (84.4% positive samples), followed by Norovirus GI (48.9% positive samples), and Norovirus GII 46.7% positive samples). Detected viral loads went up to 104 genome copies per liter (copies/L) for all the viruses. The enteric viruses were detected in all the study sites with highest detection from site S1 (inlet). There was no significant association between physicochemical parameters and viral loads, except for pH which showed significant relationship with rotavirus and norovirus GII (p ≤ 0.05). This is the first study in Botswana to highlight the occurrence and quantification of the enteric viruses in treated and untreated wastewater, as well as surface water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gosaitse Tubatsi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, P/Bag 16, Palapye, Botswana
| | - Lemme P Kebaabetswe
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, P/Bag 16, Palapye, Botswana.
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Omatola CA, Olaniran AO. Epidemiological significance of the occurrence and persistence of rotaviruses in water and sewage: a critical review and proposal for routine microbiological monitoring. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:380-399. [PMID: 35174845 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00435b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Globally, waterborne gastroenteritis attributable to rotaviruses is on the increase due to the rapid increase in population growth, poor socioeconomic conditions, and drastic changes in climatic conditions. The burden of diarrhea is quite alarming in developing nations where the majority of the populations still rely on untreated surface water that is usually polluted for their immediate water needs. Humans and animals of all ages are affected by rotaviruses. In humans, the preponderance of cases occurs in children under 5 years. Global efforts in advancing water/wastewater treatment technologies have not yet realized the objective of complete viral removal from wastewater. Most times, surface waters are impacted heavily by inadequately treated wastewater run-offs thereby exposing people or animals to preventable health risks. The relative stability of rotaviruses in aquatic matrices during wastewater treatment, poor correlation of bacteriological indicators with the presence of rotaviruses, and their infectiousness at a low dose informed the proposal for inclusion in the routine microbiological water screening panel. Environmental monitoring data have been shown to provide early warnings that can complement clinical data used to monitor the impact of current rotavirus vaccination in a community. This review was therefore undertaken to critically appraise rotavirus excretion and emission pathways, and the existence, viability and persistence in the receiving aquatic milieu. The efficiency of the current wastewater treatment modality for rotavirus removal, correlation of the current bacteriological water quality assessment strategy, public health risks and current laboratory methods for an epidemiological study were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelius A Omatola
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, Republic of South Africa.
| | - Ademola O Olaniran
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, Republic of South Africa.
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Composition of Eukaryotic Viruses and Bacteriophages in Individuals with Acute Gastroenteritis. Viruses 2021; 13:v13122365. [PMID: 34960634 PMCID: PMC8704738 DOI: 10.3390/v13122365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Metagenomics based on the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique is a target-independent assay that enables the simultaneous detection and genomic characterization of all viruses present in a sample. There is a limited amount of data about the virome of individuals with gastroenteritis (GI). In this study, the enteric virome of 250 individuals (92% were children under 5 years old) with GI living in the northeastern and northern regions of Brazil was characterized. Fecal samples were subjected to NGS, and the metagenomic analysis of virus-like particles (VLPs) identified 11 viral DNA families and 12 viral RNA families. As expected, the highest percentage of viral sequences detected were those commonly associated with GI, including rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus (94.8%, 82% and 71.2%, respectively). The most common co-occurrences, in a single individual, were the combinations of rotavirus-adenovirus, rotavirus-norovirus, and norovirus-adenovirus (78%, 69%, and 62%, respectively). In the same way, common fecal-emerging human viruses were also detected, such as parechovirus, bocaporvirus, cosavirus, picobirnavirus, cardiovirus, salivirus, and Aichivirus. In addition, viruses that infect plants, nematodes, fungi, protists, animals, and arthropods could be identified. A large number of unclassified viral contigs were also identified. We show that the metagenomics approach is a powerful and promising tool for the detection and characterization of different viruses in clinical GI samples.
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9
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Imprints of Lockdown and Treatment Processes on the Wastewater Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2: A Curious Case of Fourteen Plants in Northern India. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13162265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigated the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes at each treatment stage of 14 aerobic wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serving the major municipalities in two states of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand in Northern India. The untreated, primary, secondary and tertiary treated wastewater samples were collected over a time frame ranging from under-lockdown to post-lockdown conditions. The results showed that SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 13 out of 40 wastewater samples in Jaipur district, Rajasthan and in 5 out of 14 wastewater samples in the Haridwar District, Uttarakhand with the E gene predominantly observed as compared to the N and RdRp target genes in later time-points of sampling. The Ct values of genes present in wastewater samples were correlated with the incidence of patient and community cases of COVID-19. This study further indicates that the viral RNA could be detected after the primary treatment but was not present in secondary or tertiary treated samples. This study implies that aerobic biological wastewater treatment systems such as moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology and sequencing batch reactor (SBR) are effective in virus removal from the wastewater. This work might present a new indication that there is little to no risk in relation to SARS-CoV-2 while reusing the treated wastewater for non-potable applications. In contrast, untreated wastewater might present a potential route of viral transmission through WWTPs to sanitation workers and the public. However, there is a need to investigate the survival and infection rates of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater.
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10
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Balboa S, Mauricio-Iglesias M, Rodriguez S, Martínez-Lamas L, Vasallo FJ, Regueiro B, Lema JM. The fate of SARS-COV-2 in WWTPS points out the sludge line as a suitable spot for detection of COVID-19. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021. [PMID: 33556806 DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.25.20112706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 genetic material is detectable in the faeces of a considerable part of COVID-19 cases and hence, in municipal wastewater. This fact was confirmed early during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and prompted several studies that proposed monitoring its incidence by wastewater. This paper studies the fate of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in wastewater treatment plants using RT-qPCR with a two-fold goal: i) to check its presence in the water effluent and in the produced sludge and ii) based on the understanding of the virus particles fate, to identify the most suitable spots for detecting the incidence of COVID-19 and monitor its evolution. On the grounds of the affinity of enveloped virus towards biosolids, we hypothesized that the sludge line acts as a concentrator of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material. Sampling several spots in primary, secondary and sludge treatment at the Ourense (Spain) WWTP in 5 different days showed that, in effect, most of SARS-CoV-2 particles cannot be detected in the water effluent as they are retained by the sludge line. We identified the sludge thickener as a suitable spot for detecting SARS-CoV-2 particles thanks to its higher solids concentration (more virus particles) and longer residence time (less sensitive to dilution caused by precipitation). These findings could be useful to develop a suitable strategy for early warning of COVID-19 incidence based on WWTP monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabela Balboa
- CRETUS Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Miguel Mauricio-Iglesias
- CRETUS Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | | | - Lucía Martínez-Lamas
- Microbiology and Infectology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-Universidade de Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Sergas, Vigo, Spain
| | - Francisco J Vasallo
- Microbiology and Infectology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-Universidade de Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Sergas, Vigo, Spain
| | - Benito Regueiro
- Microbiology and Infectology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-Universidade de Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Sergas, Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Juan M Lema
- CRETUS Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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11
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Balboa S, Mauricio-Iglesias M, Rodriguez S, Martínez-Lamas L, Vasallo FJ, Regueiro B, Lema JM. The fate of SARS-COV-2 in WWTPS points out the sludge line as a suitable spot for detection of COVID-19. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 772:145268. [PMID: 33556806 PMCID: PMC7980226 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 genetic material is detectable in the faeces of a considerable part of COVID-19 cases and hence, in municipal wastewater. This fact was confirmed early during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and prompted several studies that proposed monitoring its incidence by wastewater. This paper studies the fate of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in wastewater treatment plants using RT-qPCR with a two-fold goal: i) to check its presence in the water effluent and in the produced sludge and ii) based on the understanding of the virus particles fate, to identify the most suitable spots for detecting the incidence of COVID-19 and monitor its evolution. On the grounds of the affinity of enveloped virus towards biosolids, we hypothesized that the sludge line acts as a concentrator of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material. Sampling several spots in primary, secondary and sludge treatment at the Ourense (Spain) WWTP in 5 different days showed that, in effect, most of SARS-CoV-2 particles cannot be detected in the water effluent as they are retained by the sludge line. We identified the sludge thickener as a suitable spot for detecting SARS-CoV-2 particles thanks to its higher solids concentration (more virus particles) and longer residence time (less sensitive to dilution caused by precipitation). These findings could be useful to develop a suitable strategy for early warning of COVID-19 incidence based on WWTP monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabela Balboa
- CRETUS Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Miguel Mauricio-Iglesias
- CRETUS Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | | | - Lucía Martínez-Lamas
- Microbiology and Infectology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-Universidade de Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Sergas, Vigo, Spain
| | - Francisco J Vasallo
- Microbiology and Infectology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-Universidade de Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Sergas, Vigo, Spain
| | - Benito Regueiro
- Microbiology and Infectology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-Universidade de Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Sergas, Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Juan M Lema
- CRETUS Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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12
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Balboa S, Mauricio-Iglesias M, Rodriguez S, Martínez-Lamas L, Vasallo FJ, Regueiro B, Lema JM. The fate of SARS-COV-2 in WWTPS points out the sludge line as a suitable spot for detection of COVID-19. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 772:145268. [PMID: 33556806 DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.25.20112706v1.article-metrics] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 genetic material is detectable in the faeces of a considerable part of COVID-19 cases and hence, in municipal wastewater. This fact was confirmed early during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and prompted several studies that proposed monitoring its incidence by wastewater. This paper studies the fate of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in wastewater treatment plants using RT-qPCR with a two-fold goal: i) to check its presence in the water effluent and in the produced sludge and ii) based on the understanding of the virus particles fate, to identify the most suitable spots for detecting the incidence of COVID-19 and monitor its evolution. On the grounds of the affinity of enveloped virus towards biosolids, we hypothesized that the sludge line acts as a concentrator of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material. Sampling several spots in primary, secondary and sludge treatment at the Ourense (Spain) WWTP in 5 different days showed that, in effect, most of SARS-CoV-2 particles cannot be detected in the water effluent as they are retained by the sludge line. We identified the sludge thickener as a suitable spot for detecting SARS-CoV-2 particles thanks to its higher solids concentration (more virus particles) and longer residence time (less sensitive to dilution caused by precipitation). These findings could be useful to develop a suitable strategy for early warning of COVID-19 incidence based on WWTP monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabela Balboa
- CRETUS Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Miguel Mauricio-Iglesias
- CRETUS Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | | | - Lucía Martínez-Lamas
- Microbiology and Infectology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-Universidade de Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Sergas, Vigo, Spain
| | - Francisco J Vasallo
- Microbiology and Infectology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-Universidade de Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Sergas, Vigo, Spain
| | - Benito Regueiro
- Microbiology and Infectology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur) SERGAS-Universidade de Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Sergas, Vigo, Spain; Department of Microbiology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Juan M Lema
- CRETUS Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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13
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Kadoya SS, Nishimura O, Kato H, Sano D. Predictive water virology using regularized regression analyses for projecting virus inactivation efficiency in ozone disinfection. WATER RESEARCH X 2021; 11:100093. [PMID: 33665597 PMCID: PMC7903012 DOI: 10.1016/j.wroa.2021.100093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater reclamation and reuse have been practically applied to water-stressed regions, but waterborne pathogens remaining in insufficiently treated wastewater are of concern. Sanitation Safety Planning adopts the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) approach to manage human health risks upon exposure to reclaimed wastewater. HACCP requires a predetermined reference value (critical limit: CL) at critical control points (CCPs), in which specific parameters are monitored and recorded in real time. A disinfection reactor of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is regarded as a CCP, and one of the CCP parameters is the disinfection intensity (e.g., initial disinfectant concentration and contact time), which is proportional to the log reduction value (LRV) of waterborne pathogens. However, the achievable LRVs are not always stable because the disinfection intensity is affected by water quality parameters, which vary among WWTPs. In this study, we established models for projecting virus LRVs using ozone, in which water quality and operational parameters were used as explanatory variables. For the model construction, we used five machine learning algorithms and found that automatic relevance determination with interaction terms resulted in better prediction performances for norovirus and rotavirus LRVs. Poliovirus and coxsackievirus LRVs were predicted well by a Bayesian ridge with interaction terms and lasso with quadratic terms, respectively. The established models were relatively robust to predict LRV using new datasets that were out of the range of the training data used here, but it is important to collect LRV datasets further to make the models more predictable and flexible for newly obtained datasets. The modeling framework proposed here can help WWTP operators and risk assessors determine the appropriate CL to protect human health in wastewater reclamation and reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syun-suke Kadoya
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Osamu Nishimura
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kato
- New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
- Department of Frontier Sciences for Advanced Environment, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
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14
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Kittigul L, Pombubpa K. Rotavirus Surveillance in Tap Water, Recycled Water, and Sewage Sludge in Thailand: A Longitudinal Study, 2007-2018. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2021; 13:53-63. [PMID: 33128701 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-020-09450-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological and molecular surveillance of rotaviruses in tap water, recycled water, and sewage sludge in Thailand from 2007 to 2018. Three hundred and seventy tap water, 202 recycled water, and 72 sewage sludge samples were collected and processed to detect the rotavirus VP7 gene using RT-nested PCR. Rotavirus G genotypes were identified by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The frequency of rotavirus detection was 0.54% of the tap water samples, 30.2% of the recycled water samples, and 50.0% of the sewage sludge samples. During the 12-year surveillance, G1 was prevalent most years and constantly predominant in recycled water and sewage sludge. G2 was identified in a tap water sample and in recycled water samples. G3 and G9 were observed in both recycled water and sewage sludge samples. The uncommon G6 rotavirus strain was identified in one recycled water sample. The rotavirus VP4 gene was detected in rotavirus strains with an identified G genotype using RT-multiplex nested PCR. The unusual P[6] genotype was the most frequently detected, followed by mixed P[6]/[4] and P[4] genotypes. Phylogenetic analysis of both G and P genotypes showed a close genetic relationship with sequences of human rotavirus strains. The high nucleotide identity of the rotavirus strains found in this study to human rotavirus strains suggests that the rotaviruses are derived from human source. These results represent useful epidemiological and molecular information for evaluating rotavirus distribution in water for consumption and irrigation, and in biosolids for agricultural application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leera Kittigul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Ratchawithi Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
| | - Kannika Pombubpa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Ratchawithi Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
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Unveiling Viruses Associated with Gastroenteritis Using a Metagenomics Approach. Viruses 2020; 12:v12121432. [PMID: 33322135 PMCID: PMC7764520 DOI: 10.3390/v12121432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute infectious gastroenteritis is an important illness worldwide, especially on children, with viruses accounting for approximately 70% of the acute cases. A high number of these cases have an unknown etiological agent and the rise of next generation sequencing technologies has opened new opportunities for viral pathogen detection and discovery. Viral metagenomics in routine clinical settings has the potential to identify unexpected or novel variants of viral pathogens that cause gastroenteritis. In this study, 124 samples from acute gastroenteritis patients from 2012–2014 previously tested negative for common gastroenteritis pathogens were pooled by age and analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS) to elucidate unidentified viral infections. The most abundant sequences detected potentially associated to acute gastroenteritis were from Astroviridae and Caliciviridae families, with the detection of norovirus GIV and sapoviruses. Lower number of contigs associated to rotaviruses were detected. As expected, other viruses that may be associated to gastroenteritis but also produce persistent infections in the gut were identified including several Picornaviridae members (EV, parechoviruses, cardioviruses) and adenoviruses. According to the sequencing data, astroviruses, sapoviruses and NoV GIV should be added to the list of viral pathogens screened in routine clinical analysis.
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