101
|
Jmii H, Gharbi-Khelifi H, Assaoudi R, Aouni M. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the sewerage system in Tunisia: a promising tool to confront COVID-19 pandemic. Future Virol 2021; 16:10.2217/fvl-2021-0050. [PMID: 34659444 PMCID: PMC8516351 DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2021-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Aim: The current study undertaken in Tunisia examines the use of wastewaters to monitor SARS-CoV-2 circulation. Materials & methods: Viral genetic materials collected in wastewaters during two different periods (September-October 2020 and February-April 2021) were concentrated using the adsorption-elution method. SARS-CoV-2 genes were researched by real-time PCR. Results: During the first period of the study, viral RNA was detected in 61.11% of the analyzed samples collected from Monastir city with a rate of 88.88% for raw wastewaters and 33.33% for treated wastewaters. Then, during the second period of the study, the quantitative analysis of wastewaters collected from seven governorates showed the presence of viral RNA among around 25% of them with variable RNA loads. The increased amounts of viral RNA detected in wastewaters were accompanied by an increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in Tunisia. Conclusion: Our results emphasize the importance of sewage survey in SARS-CoV-2 tracking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Habib Jmii
- Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases & Biologically Active Substances (LR99ES27), Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Hakima Gharbi-Khelifi
- Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases & Biologically Active Substances (LR99ES27), Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
- Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Sidi Bouzid, University of Kairouan, Tunisia
| | - Raouia Assaoudi
- Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases & Biologically Active Substances (LR99ES27), Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
- Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Sidi Bouzid, University of Kairouan, Tunisia
| | - Mahjoub Aouni
- Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases & Biologically Active Substances (LR99ES27), Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| |
Collapse
|
102
|
Saba B, Hasan SW, Kjellerup BV, Christy AD. Capacity of existing wastewater treatment plants to treat SARS-CoV-2. A review. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY REPORTS 2021; 15:100737. [PMID: 34179735 PMCID: PMC8216935 DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2021.100737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Water is one of many viral transmission routes, and the presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater has brought attention to its treatment. SARS CoV-2 primarily transmits in the air but the persistence of the virus in the water possibly can serve as a secondary source even though current studies do not show this. In this paper, an evaluation of the current literature with regards to the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and biosolids is presented. Treatment efficiencies of WWTPs are compared for viral load reduction on the basis of publicly available data. The results of this evaluation indicate that existing WWTPs are effectively removing 1-6 log10 viable SARS-CoV-2. However, sludge and biosolids provide an umbrella of protection from treatment and inactivation to the virus. Hence, sludge treatment factors like high temperature, pH changes, and predatory microorganisms can effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beenish Saba
- Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University, 590 Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA,Department of Environmental Sciences, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, 46300, Rawalpindi, Pakistan,Corresponding author at: Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University, 590 Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Shadi W. Hasan
- Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Birthe V. Kjellerup
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Ann D. Christy
- Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University, 590 Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
103
|
Adelodun B, Ajibade FO, Tiamiyu AO, Nwogwu NA, Ibrahim RG, Kumar P, Kumar V, Odey G, Yadav KK, Khan AH, Cabral-Pinto MMS, Kareem KY, Bakare HO, Ajibade TF, Naveed QN, Islam S, Fadare OO, Choi KS. Monitoring the presence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in water-food-environmental compartments: State of the knowledge and research needs. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 200:111373. [PMID: 34033834 PMCID: PMC8142028 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111373] [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] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The recent spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SAR-CoV-2) and the accompanied coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued ceaselessly despite the implementations of popular measures, which include social distancing and outdoor face masking as recommended by the World Health Organization. Due to the unstable nature of the virus, leading to the emergence of new variants that are claimed to be more and rapidly transmissible, there is a need for further consideration of the alternative potential pathways of the virus transmissions to provide the needed and effective control measures. This review aims to address this important issue by examining the transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2 via indirect contacts such as fomites and aerosols, extending to water, food, and other environmental compartments. This is essentially required to shed more light regarding the speculation of the virus spread through these media as the available information regarding this is fragmented in the literature. The existing state of the information on the presence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in water-food-environmental compartments is essential for cause-and-effect relationships of human interactions and environmental samples to safeguard the possible transmission and associated risks through these media. Furthermore, the integration of effective remedial measures previously used to tackle the viral outbreaks and pandemics, and the development of new sustainable measures targeting at monitoring and curbing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 were emphasized. This study concluded that alternative transmission pathways via human interactions with environmental samples should not be ignored due to the evolving of more infectious and transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bashir Adelodun
- Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea; Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, 240103, Nigeria.
| | - Fidelis Odedishemi Ajibade
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | | | - Nathaniel Azubuike Nwogwu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China; Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Federal University of Technology Owerri, PMB 1526, Nigeria; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, PR China
| | | | - Pankaj Kumar
- Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar, 249404, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar, 249404, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Golden Odey
- Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea
| | - Krishna Kumar Yadav
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Madhyanchal Professional University, Ratibad, Bhopal, 462044, India
| | - Afzal Husain Khan
- Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Jazan University, 114, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marina M S Cabral-Pinto
- Geobiotec Research Centre, Department of Geoscience, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Kola Yusuff Kareem
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, 240103, Nigeria
| | | | - Temitope Fausat Ajibade
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China; Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China
| | | | - Saiful Islam
- Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Asir, Saudi Arabia
| | - Oluniyi Olatunji Fadare
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; Division of Environmental and Earth Sciences, Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, 220001, Nigeria
| | - Kyung Sook Choi
- Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea; Institute of Agricultural Science & Technology, Kyungpook, National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
104
|
Serra-Compte A, González S, Arnaldos M, Berlendis S, Courtois S, Loret JF, Schlosser O, Yáñez AM, Soria-Soria E, Fittipaldi M, Saucedo G, Pinar-Méndez A, Paraira M, Galofré B, Lema JM, Balboa S, Mauricio-Iglesias M, Bosch A, Pintó RM, Bertrand I, Gantzer C, Montero C, Litrico X. Elimination of SARS-CoV-2 along wastewater and sludge treatment processes. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 202:117435. [PMID: 34330027 PMCID: PMC8280618 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is shed in the feces of infected people. As a consequence, genomic RNA of the virus can be detected in wastewater. Although the presence of viral RNA does not inform on the infectivity of the virus, this presence of genetic material raised the question of the effectiveness of treatment processes in reducing the virus in wastewater and sludge. In this work, treatment lines of 16 wastewater treatment plants were monitored to evaluate the removal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in raw, processed waters and sludge, from March to May 2020. Viral RNA copies were enumerated using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in 5 different laboratories. These laboratories participated in proficiency testing scheme and their results demonstrated the reliability and comparability of the results obtained for each one. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was found in 50.5% of the 101 influent wastewater samples characterized. Positive results were detected more frequently in those regions with a COVID-19 incidence higher than 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) significantly reduced the occurrence of virus RNA along the water treatment lines. Secondary treatment effluents showed an occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 23.3% of the samples and no positive results were found after MBR and chlorination. Non-treated sludge (from primary and secondary treatments) presented a higher occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA than the corresponding water samples, demonstrating the affinity of virus particles for solids. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in treated sludge after thickening and anaerobic digestion, whereas viral RNA was completely eliminated from sludge only when thermal hydrolysis was applied. Finally, co-analysis of SARS-CoV-2 and F-specific RNA bacteriophages was done in the same water and sludge samples in order to investigate the potential use of these bacteriophages as indicators of SARS-CoV-2 fate and reduction along the wastewater treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Susana González
- Cetaqua, Water Technology Centre, Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Marina Arnaldos
- Cetaqua, Water Technology Centre, Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Sabrina Berlendis
- Suez, Centre International de Recherche sur l'Eau et l'Environnement (CIRSEE), Le Pecq, France
| | - Sophie Courtois
- Suez, Centre International de Recherche sur l'Eau et l'Environnement (CIRSEE), Le Pecq, France
| | - Jean Francois Loret
- Suez, Centre International de Recherche sur l'Eau et l'Environnement (CIRSEE), Le Pecq, France
| | - Olivier Schlosser
- Suez, Centre International de Recherche sur l'Eau et l'Environnement (CIRSEE), Le Pecq, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Juan M Lema
- CRETUS Institute, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Sabela Balboa
- CRETUS Institute, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Carlos Montero
- Cetaqua, Water Technology Centre, Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
105
|
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.
Collapse
|
106
|
Mousazadeh M, Ashoori R, Paital B, Kabdaşlı I, Frontistis Z, Hashemi M, Sandoval MA, Sherchan S, Das K, Emamjomeh MM. Wastewater Based Epidemiology Perspective as a Faster Protocol for Detecting Coronavirus RNA in Human Populations: A Review with Specific Reference to SARS-CoV-2 Virus. Pathogens 2021; 10:1008. [PMID: 34451472 PMCID: PMC8401392 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10081008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has a long history of identifying a variety of viruses from poliovirus to coronaviruses, including novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The presence and detection of SARS-CoV-2 in human feces and its passage into the water bodies are significant public health challenges. Hence, the hot issue of WBE of SARS-CoV-2 in the coronavirus respiratory disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a matter of utmost importance (e.g., SARS-CoV-1). The present review discusses the background, state of the art, actual status, and prospects of WBE, as well as the detection and quantification protocols of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. The SARS-CoV-2 detection studies have been performed in different water matrixes such as influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants, suburban pumping stations, hospital wastewater, and sewer networks around the globe except for Antarctica. The findings revealed that all WBE studies were in accordance with clinical and epidemiological data, which correlates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) with the number of new daily positive cases officially reported. This last was confirmed via Reverse Transcriptase-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) testing which unfortunately is not suitable for real-time surveillance. In addition, WBE concept may act as a faster protocol to alert the public health authorities to take administrative orders (possible re-emerging infections) due to the impracticality of testing all citizens in a short time with limited diagnostic facilities. A comprehensive and integrated review covering all steps starting from sampling to molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater has been made to guide for the development well-defined and reliable protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Milad Mousazadeh
- Student Research Committee, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran;
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Razieh Ashoori
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
| | - Biswaranjan Paital
- Redox Regulation Laboratory, College of Basic Science and Humanities, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar 751003, India;
| | - Işık Kabdaşlı
- Environmental Engineering Department, Civil Engineering Faculty, Ayazağa Campus, İstanbul Technical University, İstanbul 34469, Turkey;
| | - Zacharias Frontistis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50132 Kozani, Greece;
| | - Marjan Hashemi
- Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
| | - Miguel A. Sandoval
- Laboratorio de Electroquímica Medio Ambiental LEQMA, Departamento de Química de los Materiales, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile USACH, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago 9170022, Chile;
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Samendra Sherchan
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 7011, USA;
| | - Kabita Das
- Department of Philosophy, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar 751004, India;
| | - Mohammad Mahdi Emamjomeh
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
107
|
Comparison of Detecting and Quantitating SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater Using Moderate-Speed Centrifuged Solids versus an Ultrafiltration Method. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13162166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that solids are a reliable matrix for SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater, yet studies comparing solids-based methods and common concentration methods using the liquid fraction remain limited. In this study, we developed and optimized a method for SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater using moderate-speed centrifuged solids and evaluated it against an ultrafiltration reference method. SARS-CoV-2 was quantified in samples from 12 wastewater treatment plants from Alberta, Canada, using RT-qPCR targeting the N2 and E genes. PCR inhibition was examined by spiking salmon DNA. The effects of using different amounts of solids, adjusting the sample pH to 9.6–10, and modifying the elution volume at the final step of RNA extraction were evaluated. SARS-CoV-2 detection rate in solids from 20 mL of wastewater showed no statistically significant difference compared to the ultrafiltration method (97/139 versus 90/139, p = 0.26, McNemar’s mid-p test). The optimized wastewater solids-based method had a significantly lower rate of samples with PCR inhibition versus ultrafiltration (3% versus 9.5%, p = 0.014, Chi-square test). Our optimized moderate-speed centrifuged solids-based method had similar sensitivity when compared to the ultrafiltration reference method but had the added advantages of lower costs, fewer processing steps, and a shorter turnaround time.
Collapse
|
108
|
Amereh F, Negahban-Azar M, Isazadeh S, Dabiri H, Masihi N, Jahangiri-Rad M, Rafiee M. Sewage Systems Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2: Identification of Knowledge Gaps, Emerging Threats, and Future Research Needs. Pathogens 2021. [PMID: 34451410 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10080946.pmid:34451410;pmcid:pmc8402176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The etiological agent for novel coronavirus (COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), not only affects the human respiratory system, but also the gastrointestinal tract resulting in gastrointestinal manifestations. The high rate of asymptomatic infected individuals has challenged the estimation of infection spread based on patients' surveillance, and thus alternative approaches such as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) have been proposed. Accordingly, the number of publications on this topic has increased substantially. The present systematic review thus aimed at providing state-of-the-knowledge on the occurrence and existing methods for sampling procedures, detection/quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage samples, as well as anticipating challenges and providing future research direction to improve the current scientific knowledge. Articles were collected from three scientific databases. Only studies reporting measurements of virus in stool, urine, and wastewater samples were included. Results showed that improving the scientific community's understanding in these avenues is essential if we are to develop appropriate policy and management tools to address this pandemic pointing particularly towards WBE as a new paradigm in public health. It was also evident that standardized protocols are needed to ensure reproducibility and comparability of outcomes. Areas that require the most improvements are sampling procedures, concentration/enrichment, detection, and quantification of virus in wastewater, as well as positive controls. Results also showed that selecting the most accurate population estimation method for WBE studies is still a challenge. While the number of people infected in an area could be approximately estimated based on quantities of virus found in wastewater, these estimates should be cross-checked by other sources of information to draw a more comprehensive conclusion. Finally, wastewater surveillance can be useful as an early warning tool, a management tool, and/or a way for investigating vaccination efficacy and spread of new variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Amereh
- Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran
| | - Masoud Negahban-Azar
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740, USA
| | - Siavash Isazadeh
- Environmental Service, Suez Water North America, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA
| | - Hossein Dabiri
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran
| | - Najmeh Masihi
- Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran
| | - Mahsa Jahangiri-Rad
- Water Purification Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 19168, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rafiee
- Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
109
|
Amereh F, Negahban-Azar M, Isazadeh S, Dabiri H, Masihi N, Jahangiri-rad M, Rafiee M. Sewage Systems Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2: Identification of Knowledge Gaps, Emerging Threats, and Future Research Needs. Pathogens 2021; 10:946. [PMID: 34451410 PMCID: PMC8402176 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10080946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The etiological agent for novel coronavirus (COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), not only affects the human respiratory system, but also the gastrointestinal tract resulting in gastrointestinal manifestations. The high rate of asymptomatic infected individuals has challenged the estimation of infection spread based on patients' surveillance, and thus alternative approaches such as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) have been proposed. Accordingly, the number of publications on this topic has increased substantially. The present systematic review thus aimed at providing state-of-the-knowledge on the occurrence and existing methods for sampling procedures, detection/quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage samples, as well as anticipating challenges and providing future research direction to improve the current scientific knowledge. Articles were collected from three scientific databases. Only studies reporting measurements of virus in stool, urine, and wastewater samples were included. Results showed that improving the scientific community's understanding in these avenues is essential if we are to develop appropriate policy and management tools to address this pandemic pointing particularly towards WBE as a new paradigm in public health. It was also evident that standardized protocols are needed to ensure reproducibility and comparability of outcomes. Areas that require the most improvements are sampling procedures, concentration/enrichment, detection, and quantification of virus in wastewater, as well as positive controls. Results also showed that selecting the most accurate population estimation method for WBE studies is still a challenge. While the number of people infected in an area could be approximately estimated based on quantities of virus found in wastewater, these estimates should be cross-checked by other sources of information to draw a more comprehensive conclusion. Finally, wastewater surveillance can be useful as an early warning tool, a management tool, and/or a way for investigating vaccination efficacy and spread of new variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Amereh
- Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran; (F.A.); (N.M.)
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran
| | - Masoud Negahban-Azar
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740, USA
| | - Siavash Isazadeh
- Environmental Service, Suez Water North America, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA;
| | - Hossein Dabiri
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran;
| | - Najmeh Masihi
- Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran; (F.A.); (N.M.)
| | - Mahsa Jahangiri-rad
- Water Purification Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 19168, Iran;
| | - Mohammad Rafiee
- Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran; (F.A.); (N.M.)
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 35511, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
110
|
Ali W, Zhang H, Wang Z, Chang C, Javed A, Ali K, Du W, Niazi NK, Mao K, Yang Z. Occurrence of various viruses and recent evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater systems. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 414:125439. [PMID: 33684818 PMCID: PMC7894103 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Viruses are omnipresent and persistent in wastewater, which poses a risk to human health. In this review, we summarise the different qualitative and quantitative methods for virus analysis in wastewater and systematically discuss the spatial distribution and temporal patterns of various viruses (i.e., enteric viruses, Caliciviridae (Noroviruses (NoVs)), Picornaviridae (Enteroviruses (EVs)), Hepatitis A virus (HAV)), and Adenoviridae (Adenoviruses (AdVs))) in wastewater systems. Then we critically review recent SARS-CoV-2 studies to understand the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through wastewater surveillance. SARS-CoV-2 genetic material has been detected in wastewater from France, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Japan, Spain, Turkey, India, Pakistan, China, and the USA. We then discuss the utility of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to estimate the occurrence, distribution, and genetic diversity of these viruses and generate human health risk assessment. Finally, we not only promote the prevention of viral infectious disease transmission through wastewater but also highlight the potential use of WBE as an early warning system for public health assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Waqar Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China
| | - Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China.
| | - Zhenglu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Hazards Forecasting, Ministry of Natural Resources, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Chuanyu Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China
| | - Asif Javed
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bahria University Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Kamran Ali
- Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (IESE), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Wei Du
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Nabeel Khan Niazi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
| | - Kang Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, PR China.
| | - Zhugen Yang
- Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
111
|
Prospects and challenges of using electrochemical immunosensors as an alternative detection method for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based epidemiology. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 777:146239. [PMCID: PMC7934662 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Given its potential applications in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has attracted tremendous attention. Developing a fast, cost-effective, and practical method for SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater is of great significance to facilitate future WBE development. By now, the PCR-based approach serves as the reference method and “gold standard” to detect the virus in wastewater. However, we found a trend that the PCR-based method becomes almost an unshakable choice as more and more studies were published regarding SARS-CoV-2 WBE. Of note, the importance of exploring new, alternative approaches for SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater should not be underestimated. In this context, the prospect of using electrochemical immunosensors as the alternative detection method was investigated in this survey. Based on the previous efforts towards different virus immunoassay studies and newly published PCR-based COVD-19 WBE works, this survey provides new insights into the electrochemical immunoassay that have been widely adopted in body fluids virus detection, along with an extensive discussion of the detection mechanism, detection performance, past performances, current efforts, and potential challenges with wastewater detection. In the end, this survey concludes that using electrochemical immunosensors to analyze SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples quantitatively may have better feasibility and practicability than using the conventional PCR-based approach, especially when considering its fast detection, ease of miniaturization, and potential on-site measurement.
Collapse
|
112
|
Sherchan SP, Shahin S, Patel J, Ward LM, Tandukar S, Uprety S, Schmitz BW, Ahmed W, Simpson S, Gyawali P. Occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Six Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants at the Early Stage of COVID-19 Pandemic in The United States. Pathogens 2021; 10:798. [PMID: 34201687 PMCID: PMC8308538 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the occurrence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in primary influent (n = 42), secondary effluent (n = 24) and tertiary treated effluent (n = 34) collected from six wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs A-F) in Virginia (WWTP A), Florida (WWTPs B, C, and D), and Georgia (WWTPs E and F) in the United States during April-July 2020. Of the 100 wastewater samples analyzed, eight (19%) untreated wastewater samples collected from the primary influents contained SARS-CoV-2 RNA as measured by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays. SARS-CoV-2 RNA were detected in influent wastewater samples collected from WWTP A (Virginia), WWTPs E and F (Georgia) and WWTP D (Florida). Secondary and tertiary effluent samples were not positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA indicating the treatment processes in these WWTPs potentially removed SARS-CoV-2 RNA during the secondary and tertiary treatment processes. However, further studies are needed to understand the log removal values (LRVs) and transmission risks of SARS-CoV-2 RNA through analyzing wastewater samples from a wider range of WWTPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samendra P. Sherchan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2100, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (S.S.); (J.P.); (L.M.W.)
| | - Shalina Shahin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2100, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (S.S.); (J.P.); (L.M.W.)
| | - Jeenal Patel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2100, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (S.S.); (J.P.); (L.M.W.)
| | - Lauren M. Ward
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2100, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (S.S.); (J.P.); (L.M.W.)
| | - Sarmila Tandukar
- Policy Research Institute, Sano Gaucharan, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal; or
| | - Sital Uprety
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Eawag, Überlandstrasse 133, Dübendorf, 8600 Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - Bradley W. Schmitz
- Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture (YCEDA), University of Arizona, 6425 W. 8th St., Yuma, AZ 85364, USA;
| | - Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia;
| | - Stuart Simpson
- CSIRO Land and Water, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia;
| | - Pradip Gyawali
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd., Porirua 5240, New Zealand;
| |
Collapse
|
113
|
Wurtzer S, Waldman P, Ferrier-Rembert A, Frenois-Veyrat G, Mouchel JM, Boni M, Maday Y, Marechal V, Moulin L. Several forms of SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in wastewaters: Implication for wastewater-based epidemiology and risk assessment. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 198:117183. [PMID: 33962244 DOI: 10.1101/2020.12.19.20248508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a public health emergency of international concern. Although SARS-CoV-2 is considered to be mainly transmitted by inhalation of contaminated droplets and aerosols, SARS-CoV-2 is also detected in human feces and to a less extent in urine, and in raw wastewaters (to date viral RNA only) suggesting that other routes of infection may exist. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 genomes in wastewaters has been proposed as a complementary approach for tracing the dynamics of virus transmission within human population connected to wastewater network. The understanding on SARS-CoV-2 transmission through wastewater surveillance, the development of epidemic modeling and the evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from contaminated wastewater are largely limited by our knowledge on viral RNA genome persistence and virus infectivity preservation in such an environment. Using an integrity based RT-qPCR assay this study led to the discovery that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can persist under several forms in wastewaters, which provides important information on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in raw wastewaters and associated risk assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Wurtzer
- Eau de Paris, R&D and Water quality department, 33 avenue Jean Jaurès, F-94200 Ivry sur Seine, France.
| | - P Waldman
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UMR 7619 Metis, e-LTER Zone Atelier Seine, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - A Ferrier-Rembert
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Microbiology & Infectious diseases, Virology unit, 1 place Valérie André, F-91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - G Frenois-Veyrat
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Microbiology & Infectious diseases, Virology unit, 1 place Valérie André, F-91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - J M Mouchel
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UMR 7619 Metis, e-LTER Zone Atelier Seine, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - M Boni
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Microbiology & Infectious diseases, Virology unit, 1 place Valérie André, F-91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Y Maday
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Université de Paris, Laboratoire Jacques-Louis Lions (LJLL), F-75005 Paris, France
| | - V Marechal
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - L Moulin
- Eau de Paris, R&D and Water quality department, 33 avenue Jean Jaurès, F-94200 Ivry sur Seine, France
| |
Collapse
|
114
|
Wurtzer S, Waldman P, Ferrier-Rembert A, Frenois-Veyrat G, Mouchel JM, Boni M, Maday Y, Marechal V, Moulin L. Several forms of SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in wastewaters: Implication for wastewater-based epidemiology and risk assessment. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 198:117183. [PMID: 33962244 PMCID: PMC8060898 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a public health emergency of international concern. Although SARS-CoV-2 is considered to be mainly transmitted by inhalation of contaminated droplets and aerosols, SARS-CoV-2 is also detected in human feces and to a less extent in urine, and in raw wastewaters (to date viral RNA only) suggesting that other routes of infection may exist. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 genomes in wastewaters has been proposed as a complementary approach for tracing the dynamics of virus transmission within human population connected to wastewater network. The understanding on SARS-CoV-2 transmission through wastewater surveillance, the development of epidemic modeling and the evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from contaminated wastewater are largely limited by our knowledge on viral RNA genome persistence and virus infectivity preservation in such an environment. Using an integrity based RT-qPCR assay this study led to the discovery that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can persist under several forms in wastewaters, which provides important information on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in raw wastewaters and associated risk assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Wurtzer
- Eau de Paris, R&D and Water quality department, 33 avenue Jean Jaurès, F-94200 Ivry sur Seine, France.
| | - P Waldman
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UMR 7619 Metis, e-LTER Zone Atelier Seine, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - A Ferrier-Rembert
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Microbiology & Infectious diseases, Virology unit, 1 place Valérie André, F-91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - G Frenois-Veyrat
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Microbiology & Infectious diseases, Virology unit, 1 place Valérie André, F-91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - J M Mouchel
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UMR 7619 Metis, e-LTER Zone Atelier Seine, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - M Boni
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Microbiology & Infectious diseases, Virology unit, 1 place Valérie André, F-91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Y Maday
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Université de Paris, Laboratoire Jacques-Louis Lions (LJLL), F-75005 Paris, France
| | - V Marechal
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - L Moulin
- Eau de Paris, R&D and Water quality department, 33 avenue Jean Jaurès, F-94200 Ivry sur Seine, France
| |
Collapse
|
115
|
Ahmed W, Bibby K, D'Aoust PM, Delatolla R, Gerba CP, Haas CN, Hamilton KA, Hewitt J, Julian TR, Kaya D, Monis P, Moulin L, Naughton C, Noble RT, Shrestha A, Tiwari A, Simpson SL, Wurtzer S, Bivins A. Differentiating between the possibility and probability of SARS-CoV-2 transmission associated with wastewater: empirical evidence is needed to substantiate risk. FEMS MICROBES 2021; 2:xtab007. [PMID: 38626275 PMCID: PMC8135732 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Patrick M D'Aoust
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Delatolla
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Charles P Gerba
- Department of Environmental Science, Water and Energy Sustainable Technology Center, University of Arizona, 2959 W. Calle Agua Nueva, Tucson, AZ 85745, USA
| | | | - Kerry A Hamilton
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and the Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Joanne Hewitt
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR), Porirua, 5240, New Zealand
| | - Timothy R Julian
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf CH-8600, Switzerland
| | - Devrim Kaya
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 105 SW 26th St #116, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Paul Monis
- South Australian Water Corporation, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Laurent Moulin
- Eau de Paris R&D Laboratory. 33 Av. Jean Jaures 94200 Ivry/seine, France
| | - Colleen Naughton
- University of California Merced Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 5200 N, Lake Rd. Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Rachel T Noble
- University of North Carolina Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead City, NC, USA
| | - Abhilasha Shrestha
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ananda Tiwari
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Sebastien Wurtzer
- Eau de Paris R&D Laboratory. 33 Av. Jean Jaures 94200 Ivry/seine, France
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| |
Collapse
|
116
|
Mohan SV, Hemalatha M, Kopperi H, Ranjith I, Kumar AK. SARS-CoV-2 in environmental perspective: Occurrence, persistence, surveillance, inactivation and challenges. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL (LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND : 1996) 2021; 405:126893. [PMID: 32901196 PMCID: PMC7471803 DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.126893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The unprecedented global spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by SARS-CoV-2 is depicting the distressing pandemic consequence on human health, economy as well as ecosystem services. So far novel coronavirus (CoV) outbreaks were associated with SARS-CoV-2 (2019), middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV, 2012), and SARS-CoV-1 (2003) events. CoV relates to the enveloped family of Betacoronavirus (βCoV) with positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA). Knowing well the persistence, transmission, and spread of SARS-CoV-2 through proximity, the faecal-oral route is now emerging as a major environmental concern to community transmission. The replication and persistence of CoV in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and shedding through stools is indicating a potential transmission route to the environment settings. Despite of the evidence, based on fewer reports on SARS-CoV-2 occurrence and persistence in wastewater/sewage/water, the transmission of the infective virus to the community is yet to be established. In this realm, this communication attempted to review the possible influx route of the enteric enveloped viral transmission in the environmental settings with reference to its occurrence, persistence, detection, and inactivation based on the published literature so far. The possibilities of airborne transmission through enteric virus-laden aerosols, environmental factors that may influence the viral transmission, and disinfection methods (conventional and emerging) as well as the inactivation mechanism with reference to the enveloped virus were reviewed. The need for wastewater epidemiology (WBE) studies for surveillance as well as for early warning signal was elaborated. This communication will provide a basis to understand the SARS-CoV-2 as well as other viruses in the context of the environmental engineering perspective to design effective strategies to counter the enteric virus transmission and also serves as a working paper for researchers, policy makers and regulators.
Collapse
Key Words
- (h+), Photoholes
- +ssRNA, Positive Sense Single-Stranded RNA
- A-WWTS, Algal-WWTS
- ACE2, Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
- AH, Absolute Humidity
- AOPs, Advanced Oxidation Processes
- ASP, Activate Sludge Process
- Aerosols
- BCoV, Bovine Enteric Coronavirus)
- BSL, Biosafety Level
- BVDV1, Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Type 1
- BVDV2, Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Type 2
- BoRv, Bovine Rotavirus Group A
- CCA, Carbon Covered Alumina
- CNT, Carbon Nanotubes
- COVID-19
- COVID-19, Coronavirus Disease 2019
- CRFK, Crandell Reese feline kidney cell line (CRFK)
- CVE, Coxsackievirus B5
- ClO2, Chlorine dioxide
- Cl−, Chlorine
- Cys, Cysteine
- DBP, Disinfection by-products
- DBT, L2 and Delayed Brain Tumor Cell Cultures
- DMEM, Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium
- DNA, deoxyribose nucleic acid
- Disinfection
- E gene, Envelope protein gene
- EV, Echovirus 11
- Enteric virus
- Enveloped virus
- FC, Free Chlorine
- FFP3, Filtering Face Piece
- FIPV, Feline infectious peritonitis virus
- GI, Gastrointestinal tract
- H2O2, Hydrogen Peroxide
- H3N2, InfluenzaA
- H6N2, Avian influenza virus
- HAV, Hepatitis A virus (HAV)
- HAdV, Human Adenovirus
- HCoV, Human CoV
- HEV, Hepatitis E virus
- HKU1, Human CoV1
- ICC-PCR, Integrated Cell Culture with PCR
- JCV, JCV polyomavirus
- MALDI-TOF MS, Mass Spectrometry
- MBR, Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)
- MERS-CoV, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
- MHV, Murine hepatitis virus
- MNV-1, Murine Norovirus
- MWCNTs, Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes
- Met, Methionine
- N gene, Nucleocapsid protein gene
- NCoV, Novel coronavirus
- NGS, Next generation sequencing
- NTP, Non-Thermal Plasma
- O2, Singlet Oxygen
- O3, Ozone
- ORF, Open Reading Frame
- PAA, Para Acetic Acid
- PCR, Polymerase Chain Reaction
- PEC, Photoelectrocatalytical
- PEG, Polyethylene Glycol
- PFU, Plaque Forming Unit
- PMMoV, Pepper Mild Mottle Virus
- PMR, Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors
- PPE, Personal Protective Equipment
- PTAF, Photocatalytic Titanium Apatite Filter
- PV-1, Polivirus-1
- PV-3, Poliovirus 3
- PVDF, Polyvinylidene Fluoride
- Qβ, bacteriophages
- RH, Relative Humidity
- RNA, Ribose nucleic acid
- RONS, Reactive Oxygen and/or Nitrogen Species
- RT-PCR, Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- RVA, Rotaviruses A
- SARS-CoV-1, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 1
- SARS-CoV-2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
- SBR, Sequential Batch Reactor
- SODIS, Solar water disinfection
- STP, Sewage Treatment Plant
- Sewage
- T90, First order reaction time required for completion of 90%
- T99.9, First order reaction time required for completion of 99.9%
- TGEV, Porcine Coronavirus Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus
- TGEV, Transmissible Gastroenteritis
- Trp, Tryptophan
- Tyr, Tyrosine
- US-EPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency
- UV, Ultraviolet
- WBE, Wastewater-Based Epidemiology
- WWT, Wastewater Treatment
- WWTPs, Wastewater Treatment Plants
- dPCR, Digital PCR
- ds, Double Stranded
- dsDNA, Double Stranded DNA
- log10, logarithm with base 10
- qRT-PCR, quantitative RT-PCR
- ss, Single Stranded
- ssDNA, Single Stranded DNA
- ssRNA, Single Stranded RNA
- αCoV, Alphacoronavirus
- βCoV, Betacoronavirus
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Venkata Mohan
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering (DEEE), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) Campus, Hyderabad 500007, India
| | - Manupati Hemalatha
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering (DEEE), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) Campus, Hyderabad 500007, India
| | - Harishankar Kopperi
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering (DEEE), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500007, India
| | - I Ranjith
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering (DEEE), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500007, India
| | - A Kiran Kumar
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering (DEEE), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500007, India
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) Dispensary, Hyderabad 500007, India
| |
Collapse
|
117
|
Ni G, Lu J, Maulani N, Tian W, Yang L, Harliwong I, Wang Z, Mueller J, Yang B, Yuan Z, Hu S, Guo J. Novel Multiplexed Amplicon-Based Sequencing to Quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA from Wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2021; 8:683-690. [PMID: 37566375 PMCID: PMC8276671 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The application of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to support the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has shown encouraging outcomes. The accurate, sensitive, and high-throughput detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in municipal wastewater is critical for WBE. Here, we present a novel approach based on multiplexed amplicon-based sequencing, namely the ATOPlex platform, for detecting SARS-CoV-2. The ATOPlex platform is capable of quantifying SARS-CoV-2 RNA at concentrations that are at least 1 order of magnitude lower than the detection limit of reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Robust and accurate phylogenetic placement can be done at viral concentrations 4 times lower than the detection limit of RT-qPCR. We further found that the solid fraction in wastewater harbors a considerable amount of viral RNA, highlighting the need to extract viral RNA from the solid and liquid fractions of wastewater. This study delivers a highly sensitive, phylogenetically informative, and high-throughput analytical workflow that facilitates the application of WBE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaofeng Ni
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072,
Australia
| | - Ji Lu
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072,
Australia
| | - Nova Maulani
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072,
Australia
| | - Wei Tian
- BGI Australia, 300 Herston
Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Lin Yang
- BGI Australia, 300 Herston
Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Ivon Harliwong
- BGI Australia, 300 Herston
Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Zhiyao Wang
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072,
Australia
| | - Jochen Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences
(QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street,
Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Bicheng Yang
- BGI Australia, 300 Herston
Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072,
Australia
| | - Shihu Hu
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072,
Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072,
Australia
| |
Collapse
|
118
|
Amoah ID, Kumari S, Bux F. Coronaviruses in wastewater processes: Source, fate and potential risks. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 143:105962. [PMID: 32711332 PMCID: PMC7346830 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The last 17 years have seen three major outbreaks caused by coronaviruses, with the latest outbreak, COVID-19, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The frequency of these outbreaks, their mortality and associated disruption to normal life calls for concerted efforts to understand their occurrence and fate in different environments. There is an increased interest in the occurrence of coronaviruses in wastewater from the perspective of wastewater-based epidemiology. However, there is no comprehensive review of the knowledge on coronavirus occurrence, fate and potential transmission in wastewater. This paper, provides a review of the literature on the occurrence of coronaviruses in wastewater treatment processes. We discuss the presence of viral RNA in feces as a result of diarrhoea caused by gastrointestinal infections. We also reviewed the literature on the presence, survival and potential removal of coronaviruses in common wastewater treatment processes. The detection of infectious viral particles in feces of patients raises questions on the potential risks of infection for people exposed to untreated sewage/wastewater. We, therefore, highlighted the potential risk of infection with coronaviruses for workers in wastewater treatment plants and the public that may be exposed through faulty plumbing or burst sewer networks. The mortalities and morbidities associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic warrants a much more focused research on the role of environments, such as wastewater and surface water, in disease transmission. The current wealth of knowledge on coronaviruses in wastewater based on the reviewed literature is scant and therefore calls for further studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Dennis Amoah
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Sheena Kumari
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
| | - Faizal Bux
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|