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Chai X, Liu S, Liu C, Bai J, Meng J, Tian H, Han X, Han G, Xu X, Li Q. Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater by quantitative PCR and digital PCR: a case study in Shijiazhuang city, Hebei province, China. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2324502. [PMID: 38465692 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2324502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we reported the first long-term monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Mainland China from November 2021 to October 2023. The city of Shijiazhuang was employed for this case study. We developed a triple reverse transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) method using triple primer-probes for simultaneous detection of the N1 gene, E gene, and Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) to achieve accurate quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater. Both the RT-ddPCR method and the commercial multiplex reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method were implemented for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Shijiazhuang City over a 24-month period. Results showed that SARS-CoV-2 was detected for the first time in the wastewater of Shijiazhuang City on 10 November 2022. The peak of COVID-19 cases occurred in the middle of December 2022, when the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater was highest. The trend of virus concentration increases and decreases forming a "long-tailed" shape in the COVID-19 outbreak and recession cycle. The results indicated that both multiplex RT-ddPCR and RT-qPCR are effective in detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, but RT-ddPCR is capable of detecting low concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater which is more efficient. The SARS-CoV-2 abundance in wastewater is correlated to clinical data, outlining the public health utility of this work.HighlightsFirst long-term monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Mainland ChinaCOVID-19 outbreak was tracked in Shijiazhuang City from outbreak to containmentWastewater was monitored simultaneously using RT-ddPCR and RT-qPCR methodsTriple primer-probe RT-ddPCR detects N1 and E genes of SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoru Chai
- School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiyou Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Hebei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Liu
- Shijiazhuang Qiaodong Sewage Treatment Plant, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaxuan Bai
- School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Juntao Meng
- School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Tian
- School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Han
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Hebei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangyue Han
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Hebei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangdong Xu
- School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Hebei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
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Jaroenram W, Teerapittayanon S, Suvannakad R, Pengpanich S, Kampeera J, Arunrut N, Dangtip S, Sirithammajak S, Tondee B, Khumwan P, Japakasetr S, Leaungwutiwong P, Chatnuntawech I, Kiatpathomchai W. Enhancing efficiency in detection of COVID-19 through AI-driven colorimetric isothermal detection with multiplex primers. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 110:116446. [PMID: 39096664 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
COVID-19 has afflicted millions of lives worldwide. Although there are many rapid methods to detect it based on colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification, there remains room for improvement. This study aims to 1) integrate multiple primers into a singleplex assay to enhance the diagnostic sensitivity, and 2) utilize a high-throughput smartphone-operatable AI-driven color reading tool to enable a rapid result analysis. This setup can improve the sensitivity by 10-100 times and can analyze approximately 6700 samples per minute. The assay is simpler than RT-qPCR, with a turnaround time of less than 75 min. It can detect various types of SARS-CoV-2 by targeting 3 genes, increasing the likelihood that it will remain effective even if the virus undergoes mutations in any single target gene. In summary, it affords potential for adaptation to detection of new/re-emerging diseases with the visual readout for maximum assay simplicity and AI-operated mode for large-scale testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wansadaj Jaroenram
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Surat Teerapittayanon
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Rapheephat Suvannakad
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Sukanya Pengpanich
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Jantana Kampeera
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Narong Arunrut
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Sirintip Dangtip
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Sarawut Sirithammajak
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Benyatip Tondee
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Pakapreud Khumwan
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | | | - Pornsawan Leaungwutiwong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Itthi Chatnuntawech
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Wansika Kiatpathomchai
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Klong Neung, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
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Oyervides-Muñoz MA, Aguayo-Acosta A, de los Cobos-Vasconcelos D, Carrillo-Reyes J, Espinosa-García AC, Campos E, Driver EM, Lucero-Saucedo SL, Armenta-Castro A, de la Rosa O, Martínez-Ruiz M, Barragán-Trinidad M, Vázquez-Salvador N, Silva-Magaña MA, Zavala-Méndez M, Iqbal HM, Mazari-Hiriart M, Velazco H, Buitrón G, Noyola A, Halden RU, Sosa-Hernández JE, Parra-Saldívar R. Inter-institutional laboratory standardization for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance through wastewater-based epidemiology applied to Mexico City. IJID REGIONS 2024; 12:100429. [PMID: 39318545 PMCID: PMC11419891 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.100429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
Objectives Wastewater-based surveillance applied to SARS-CoV-2 viral load quantification for COVID-19 has become one of the most relevant complementary tools in epidemiologic prevention programs worldwide. However, this valuable decision-making tool still requires fine-tuning to produce comparable results between laboratories, especially when applied to the surveillance of megacities. Methods Six laboratories across Mexico and one from the United States executed an interlaboratory study to set up a singular standardized protocol considering method cost, installed infrastructure, materials available, and supply availability for SARS-CoV-2 quantification from five Mexico City sampling sites across this megacity. Results Comparable data from processing outcomes in the Mexican laboratories and in the external international laboratory serve as a validating data source. The Bland-Altman comparison showed consistency, with cycle threshold values within ±1.96 SD of SARS-CoV-2 genetic copies for the standard curve quantification, with a mismatch of two laboratories. In addition, MS2 bacteriophage recovery rates varied between 35% and 67% among all participating laboratories. Finally, the efficiency of viral genetic material recovered from all participating laboratories varied between 65% and 93% for the participating laboratories. Conclusion This work lays the foundation for extensive and continuous wastewater-based surveillance application across independent Mexican laboratories in a time- and resource-effective manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariel Araceli Oyervides-Muñoz
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Alberto Aguayo-Acosta
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Daniel de los Cobos-Vasconcelos
- Grupo de Investigación en Procesos Anaerobios, Coordinación de Ingeniería Ambiental, Instituto de Ingeniería, Campus CU, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Julián Carrillo-Reyes
- Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Ana C. Espinosa-García
- Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Eneida Campos
- Laboratorio de Ingeniería de Bioprocesos, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Erin M. Driver
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
| | | | - Arnoldo Armenta-Castro
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Orlando de la Rosa
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Manuel Martínez-Ruiz
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Martín Barragán-Trinidad
- Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Nallely Vázquez-Salvador
- Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Miguel A Silva-Magaña
- Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Marcela Zavala-Méndez
- Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Hafiz M.N. Iqbal
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Marisa Mazari-Hiriart
- Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Hugo Velazco
- Laboratorio de Ingeniería de Bioprocesos, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - German Buitrón
- Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Adalberto Noyola
- Grupo de Investigación en Procesos Anaerobios, Coordinación de Ingeniería Ambiental, Instituto de Ingeniería, Campus CU, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Rolf U. Halden
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
| | - Juan Eduardo Sosa-Hernández
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Roberto Parra-Saldívar
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
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D'Arpino MC, Sineli PE, Goroso G, Watanabe W, Saavedra ML, Hebert EM, Martínez MA, Migliavacca J, Gerstenfeld S, Chahla RE, Bellomio A, Albarracín VH. Wastewater monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 gene for COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance in Tucumán, Argentina. J Basic Microbiol 2024; 64:e2300773. [PMID: 38712352 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202300773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology provides temporal and spatial information about the health status of a population. The objective of this study was to analyze and report the epidemiological dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the province of Tucumán, Argentina during the second and third waves of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between April 2021 and March 2022. The study aimed to quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, correlating it with clinically reported COVID-19 cases. Wastewater samples (n = 72) were collected from 16 sampling points located in three cities of Tucumán (San Miguel de Tucumán, Yerba Buena y Banda del Río Salí). Detection of viral nucleocapsid markers (N1 gene) was carried out using one-step reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Viral loads were determined for each positive sample using a standard curve. A positive correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between viral load (copies/mL) and the clinically confirmed COVID-19 cases reported at specific sampling points in San Miguel de Tucumán (SP4, SP7, and SP8) in both months, May and June. Indeed, the high viral load concurred with the peaks of COVID-19 cases. This method allowed us to follow the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 infection during epidemic outbreaks. Thus, wastewater monitoring is a valuable epidemiological indicator that enables the anticipation of increases in COVID-19 cases and tracking the progress of the pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 genome-based surveillance should be implemented as a routine practice to prepare for any future surge in infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cecilia D'Arpino
- Laboratory of Molecular and Ultraestructural Microbiology, Centro Integral de Microscopía Electrónica, (CIME-UNT-CONICET), Facultad de Agronomía, Zootecnia y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Pedro Eugenio Sineli
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI-CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Goroso
- Laboratorio de Processamento de Sinais e Modelagem de Sistemas Biológicos. Núcleo de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Universidade Mogi das Cruzes, Sao Paulo, Brasil
| | - William Watanabe
- Laboratorio de Processamento de Sinais e Modelagem de Sistemas Biológicos. Núcleo de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Universidade Mogi das Cruzes, Sao Paulo, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Augusto Bellomio
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Tucumán), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Virginia Helena Albarracín
- Laboratory of Molecular and Ultraestructural Microbiology, Centro Integral de Microscopía Electrónica, (CIME-UNT-CONICET), Facultad de Agronomía, Zootecnia y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
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Carmo dos Santos M, Cerqueira Silva AC, dos Reis Teixeira C, Pinheiro Macedo Prazeres F, Fernandes dos Santos R, de Araújo Rolo C, de Souza Santos E, Santos da Fonseca M, Oliveira Valente C, Saraiva Hodel KV, Moraes dos Santos Fonseca L, Sampaio Dotto Fiuza B, de Freitas Bueno R, Bittencourt de Andrade J, Aparecida Souza Machado B. Wastewater surveillance for viral pathogens: A tool for public health. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33873. [PMID: 39071684 PMCID: PMC11279281 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
A focus on water quality has intensified globally, considering its critical role in sustaining life and ecosystems. Wastewater, reflecting societal development, profoundly impacts public health. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a surveillance tool for detecting outbreaks early, monitoring infectious disease trends, and providing real-time insights, particularly in vulnerable communities. WBE aids in tracking pathogens, including viruses, in sewage, offering a comprehensive understanding of community health and lifestyle habits. With the rise in global COVID-19 cases, WBE has gained prominence, aiding in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 levels worldwide. Despite advancements in water treatment, poorly treated wastewater discharge remains a threat, amplifying the spread of water-, sanitation-, and hygiene (WaSH)-related diseases. WBE, serving as complementary surveillance, is pivotal for monitoring community-level viral infections. However, there is untapped potential for WBE to expand its role in public health surveillance. This review emphasizes the importance of WBE in understanding the link between viral surveillance in wastewater and public health, highlighting the need for its further integration into public health management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Carmo dos Santos
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Ana Clara Cerqueira Silva
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Carine dos Reis Teixeira
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Filipe Pinheiro Macedo Prazeres
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Rosângela Fernandes dos Santos
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Carolina de Araújo Rolo
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Emanuelle de Souza Santos
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Maísa Santos da Fonseca
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Camila Oliveira Valente
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Katharine Valéria Saraiva Hodel
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Larissa Moraes dos Santos Fonseca
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Bianca Sampaio Dotto Fiuza
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo de Freitas Bueno
- Federal University of ABC. Center of Engineering, Modelling and Applied Social Sciences (CECS), Santo Andre, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jailson Bittencourt de Andrade
- University Center SENAI CIMATEC, SENAI CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Energia e Ambiente – CIEnAm, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, 40170-115, Brazil
| | - Bruna Aparecida Souza Machado
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), SENAI CI-MATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
- University Center SENAI CIMATEC, SENAI CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
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Rashid SA, Rajendiran S, Nazakat R, Mohammad Sham N, Khairul Hasni NA, Anasir MI, Kamel KA, Muhamad Robat R. A scoping review of global SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based epidemiology in light of COVID-19 pandemic. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30600. [PMID: 38765075 PMCID: PMC11098849 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) research has experienced a strong impetus during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, a few technical issues related to surveillance strategies, such as standardized procedures ranging from sampling to testing protocols, need to be resolved in preparation for future infectious disease outbreaks. This review highlights the study characteristics, potential use of WBE and overview of methods, as well as methods utilized to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) including its variant in wastewater. A literature search was performed electronically in PubMed and Scopus according to PRISMA guidelines for relevant peer-reviewed articles published between January 2020 and March 2022. The search identified 588 articles, out of which 221 fulfilled the necessary criteria and are discussed in this review. Most global WBE studies were conducted in North America (n = 75, 34 %), followed by Europe (n = 68, 30.8 %), and Asia (n = 43, 19.5 %). The review also showed that most of the application of WBE observed were to correlate SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) trends in sewage with epidemiological data (n = 90, 40.7 %). The techniques that were often used globally for sample collection, concentration, preferred matrix recovery control and various sample types were also discussed. Overall, this review provided a framework for researchers specializing in WBE to apply strategic approaches to their research questions in achieving better functional insights. In addition, areas that needed more in-depth analysis, data collection, and ideas for new initiatives were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siti Aishah Rashid
- Environmental Health Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sakshaleni Rajendiran
- Environmental Health Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Raheel Nazakat
- Environmental Health Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Noraishah Mohammad Sham
- Environmental Health Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Amalina Khairul Hasni
- Environmental Health Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Ishtiaq Anasir
- Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Khayri Azizi Kamel
- Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rosnawati Muhamad Robat
- Occupational & Environmental Health Unit, Public Health Division, Selangor State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Malaysia
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Gwenzi W, Adelodun B, Kumar P, Ajibade FO, Silva LFO, Choi KS, Selvarajan R, Abia ALK, Gholipour S, Mohammadi F, Nikaeen M. Human viral pathogens in the wastewater-source water-drinking water continuum: Evidence, health risks, and lessons for future outbreaks in low-income settings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170214. [PMID: 38278242 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170214] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Human viral pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2 continue to attract public and research attention due to their disruption of society, global health, and the economy. Several earlier reviews have investigated the occurrence and fate of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, and the potential to use such data in wastewater-based epidemiology. However, comprehensive reviews tracking SARS-CoV-2 and other viral pathogens in the wastewater-water-drinking water continuum and the associated risk assessment are still lacking. Therefore, to address this gap, the present paper makes the following contributions: (1) critically examines the early empirical results to highlight the occurrence and stability of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater-source water-drinking water continuum, (2) discusses the anthropogenic and hydro(geo)logical processes controlling the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater-source water-drinking water continuum, (3) discusses the risky behaviour, drivers and high-risk settings in the wastewater-source water-drinking water continuum, (4) uses the available empirical data on SARS-CoV-2 occurrence in the wastewater-source water-drinking water continuum to discuss human health risks from multiple exposure pathways, gendered aspects of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via shared on-site sanitation systems, and (5) develops and risk mitigation strategy based on the available empirical evidence and quantitative human risk assessment data. Finally, it presents a comprehensive research agenda on SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 to guide the mitigation of future similar outbreaks in low-income settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willis Gwenzi
- Biosystems and Environmental Engineering Research Group, 380 New Adylin, Westgate, Harare, Zimbabwe; Currently Alexander von Humboldt Fellow and Guest/Visiting Professor at: Grassland Science and Renewable Plant Resources, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Universität Kassel, Steinstraße 19, D-37213 Witzenhausen, Germany; Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, D-14469, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Bashir Adelodun
- Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea; Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin 240003, Nigeria; Institute of Agricultural Science & Technology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.
| | - Pankaj Kumar
- Agro-Ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to Be University), Haridwar 249404, India; Research and Development Division, Society for AgroEnvironmental Sustainability, Dehradun 248007, India.
| | - Fidelis Odedishemi Ajibade
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, 340001, Nigeria.
| | - Luis F O Silva
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidad de la Costa, Calle 58 #55-66, 080002 Barranquilla, Atlàntico, Colombia.
| | - Kyung Sook Choi
- Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea; Institute of Agricultural Science & Technology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ramganesh Selvarajan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida branch, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Akebe Luther King Abia
- Antimicrobial Research Unit, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Environmental Research Foundation, Westville 3630, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Sahar Gholipour
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Mohammadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mahnaz Nikaeen
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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8
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Aguayo-Acosta A, Oyervides-Muñoz MA, Rodriguez-Aguillón KO, Ovalle-Carcaño A, Romero-Castillo KD, Robles-Zamora A, Johnson M, Parra-Saldívar R, Sosa-Hernández JE. Omicron and Delta variant prevalence detection and identification during the fourth COVID-19 wave in Mexico using wastewater-based epidemiology. IJID REGIONS 2024; 10:44-51. [PMID: 38149263 PMCID: PMC10750064 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Objectives To identify the SARS-CoV-2 variants Delta and Omicron during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico using samples taken from 19 locations in 18 out of the 32 states. Methods The genetic material concentration was done with PEG/NaCl precipitation, SARS-CoV-2 presence was confirmed by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, the variant detection was carried out using a commercial mutation detection panel kit, and variant/mutation confirmation was done by amplicon sequencing of receptor-binding domain target region. The study used 41 samples. Results The Delta variant was confirmed in two samples during August 2021 (Querétaro and CDMX) and in three samples during November 2021 (Aguascalientes, Ciudad Juárez campuses, and Nuevo Leon). In December 2021, another sample with the Delta variant was confirmed in Nuevo Leon. Between January to March 2022 only the presence of Omicron was confirmed, (variant BA.1). Additionally, in this period six samples were identified with the status "Variant Not Determined". Conclusion To our knowledge, this study is one of the first to identify Omicron and Delta variants with polymerase chain reaction in Mexico and Latin America and its distribution across the country with 56% Mexican states making it a viable alternative for variant detection without conducting a large quantity of sequencing of clinical tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Aguayo-Acosta
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Mariel Araceli Oyervides-Muñoz
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Kassandra O. Rodriguez-Aguillón
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Antonio Ovalle-Carcaño
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
| | | | | | - Marc Johnson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, USA
| | - Roberto Parra-Saldívar
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Juan Eduardo Sosa-Hernández
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey, Mexico
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey, Mexico
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9
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Akter J, Smith WJM, Gebrewold M, Kim I, Simpson SL, Bivins A, Ahmed W. Evaluation of colorimetric RT-LAMP for screening of SARS-CoV-2 in untreated wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167964. [PMID: 37865239 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167964] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
This study compared reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) and three reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays targeting the N and E genes of the SARS-CoV-2 genome for detecting RNA in untreated wastewater samples. RT-qPCR assays exhibited consistent amplification down to 2 × 102 GC/reaction, with greater analytical sensitivity at 2 × 101 GC/reaction by US CDC N1 and US CDC N2 assays. In contrast, RT-LAMP exhibited lower sensitivity, detecting SARS-CoV-2 only at or above 2 × 103 GC/reaction. For SARS-CoV-2 seeded wastewater samples, the US CDC N1 assay exhibited greater analytical sensitivity than the US CDC N2, E_Sarbeco, and RT-LAMP assays. Out of 30 wastewater samples, RT-qPCR detected endogenous SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 29 samples, while RT-LAMP identified 27 positive samples, with 20 displaying consistent amplifications in all three RT-LAMP technical replicates. Agreement analysis revealed a strong concordance between RT-LAMP and the US CDC N1 and E_Sarbeco RT-qPCR assays (κ = 0.474) but lower agreement with the US CDC N2 RT-qPCR assay (κ = 0.359). Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in positive samples revealed a strong correlation between the US CDC N1 and E_Sarbeco assays, while the US CDC N1 and US CDC N2 assays exhibited weak correlation. Logistic regression analysis indicated that RT-LAMP results correlated with RNA quantified by the US CDC N1 and E_Sarbeco assays, with 95 % limits of detection of 3.99 and 3.47 log10 GC/15 mL, respectively. In conclusion, despite lower sensitivity compared to RT-qPCR assays, RT-LAMP may offer advantages for wastewater surveillance, such as rapid results (estimated as twice as fast), and simplicity, making it a valuable tool in the shifting landscape of COVID-19 wastewater surveillance. Furthermore, LAMP positive wastewater samples might be prioritized for SARS-CoV-2 sequencing due to reduced analytical sensitivity. These findings support the use of RT-LAMP as a specific and efficient method for screening wastewater samples for SARS-CoV-2, particularly in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesmin Akter
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), Republic of Korea; CSIRO Environment, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Wendy J M Smith
- CSIRO Environment, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Metasebia Gebrewold
- CSIRO Environment, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Ilho Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), Republic of Korea
| | | | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America
| | - Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Environment, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia.
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10
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Brighton K, Fisch S, Wu H, Vigil K, Aw TG. Targeted community wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and Mpox virus during a festival mass-gathering event. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167443. [PMID: 37793442 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167443] [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: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater surveillance has emerged recently as a powerful approach to understanding infectious disease dynamics in densely populated zones. Wastewater surveillance, while promising as a public health tool, is often hampered by slow turn-around times, complex analytical protocols, and resource-intensive techniques. In this study, we evaluated an affinity capture method and microfluidic digital PCR as a rapid approach to quantify severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) virus, and fecal indicator, pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in wastewater during a mass-gathering event. Wastewater samples (n = 131) were collected from residential and commercial manholes, pump stations, and a city's wastewater treatment plant. The use of Nanotrap® Microbiome Particles and microfluidic digital PCR produced comparable results to other established methodologies, with reduced process complexity and analytical times, providing same day results for public health preparedness and response. Using indigenous SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV in wastewater, the average viral recovery efficiency was estimated at 10.1 %. Both SARS-CoV-2 N1 and N2 genes were consistently detected throughout the sampling period, with increased RNA concentrations mainly in wastewater samples collected from commercial area after festival mass gatherings. The mpox virus was sporadically detected in wastewater samples during the surveillance period, without distinct temporal trends. SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in the city's wastewater mirrored the city's COVID-19 cases, confirming the predictive properties of wastewater surveillance. Wastewater surveillance continues to be beneficial for tracking diseases that display gastrointestinal symptoms, including SARS-CoV-2, and can be a powerful tool for sentinel surveillance. However, careful site selection and a thorough understanding of community dynamics are necessary when performing targeted surveillance during temporary mass-gathering events as potential confirmation bias may occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keegan Brighton
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Samuel Fisch
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Huiyun Wu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Katie Vigil
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Tiong Gim Aw
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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11
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Lira-Morales JD, López-Cuevas O, Medrano-Félix JA, González-Gómez JP, González-López I, Castro-Del Campo N, Gomez-Gil B, Chaidez C. Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in México: Three Years since Wuhan, China's First Reported Case. Viruses 2023; 15:2223. [PMID: 38005903 PMCID: PMC10674944 DOI: 10.3390/v15112223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this work was to analyze the metadata of the SARS-CoV-2 sequences obtained from samples collected in Mexico from 2020 to 2022. MATERIALS AND METHODS Metadata of SARS-CoV-2 sequences from samples collected in Mexico up to 31 December 2022 was retrieved from GISAID and manually cured for interpretation. RESULTS As of December 2022, Mexican health authorities and the scientific community have sequenced up to 81,983 SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes deposited in GISAID, representing 1.1% of confirmed cases. The number of sequences obtained per state corresponded to the gross domestic product (GDP) of each state for the first (Mexico City) and the last (Tlaxcala). Approximately 25% of the sequences were obtained from CoViGen-Mex, an interdisciplinary initiative of health and scientific institutions to collect and sequence samples nationwide. The metadata showed a clear dominance of sequences retrieved by women. A similar variant distribution over time was found in Mexico and overseas, with the Omicron variant predominating. Finally, the age group with the highest representation in the sequences was adults aged 21 to 50 years, accounting for more than 50% of the total. CONCLUSIONS Mexico presents diverse sociodemographic and economic characteristics. The COVID-19 pandemic has been and continues to be a challenge for collaboration across the country and around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Daniel Lira-Morales
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Coordinación Regional Culiacán, Culiacan 80110, Mexico; (J.D.L.-M.); (O.L.-C.); (J.P.G.-G.); (I.G.-L.); (N.C.-D.C.)
| | - Osvaldo López-Cuevas
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Coordinación Regional Culiacán, Culiacan 80110, Mexico; (J.D.L.-M.); (O.L.-C.); (J.P.G.-G.); (I.G.-L.); (N.C.-D.C.)
| | - José Andrés Medrano-Félix
- Investigadoras e Investigadores por México-Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Coordinación Regional Culiacán, Culiacan 80110, Mexico;
| | - Jean Pierre González-Gómez
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Coordinación Regional Culiacán, Culiacan 80110, Mexico; (J.D.L.-M.); (O.L.-C.); (J.P.G.-G.); (I.G.-L.); (N.C.-D.C.)
| | - Irvin González-López
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Coordinación Regional Culiacán, Culiacan 80110, Mexico; (J.D.L.-M.); (O.L.-C.); (J.P.G.-G.); (I.G.-L.); (N.C.-D.C.)
| | - Nohelia Castro-Del Campo
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Coordinación Regional Culiacán, Culiacan 80110, Mexico; (J.D.L.-M.); (O.L.-C.); (J.P.G.-G.); (I.G.-L.); (N.C.-D.C.)
| | - Bruno Gomez-Gil
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Coordinación Regional Mazatlán, Mazatlan 82112, Mexico;
| | - Cristóbal Chaidez
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Coordinación Regional Culiacán, Culiacan 80110, Mexico; (J.D.L.-M.); (O.L.-C.); (J.P.G.-G.); (I.G.-L.); (N.C.-D.C.)
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12
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Bowes D, Darling A, Driver EM, Kaya D, Maal-Bared R, Lee LM, Goodman K, Adhikari S, Aggarwal S, Bivins A, Bohrerova Z, Cohen A, Duvallet C, Elnimeiry RA, Hutchison JM, Kapoor V, Keenum I, Ling F, Sills D, Tiwari A, Vikesland P, Ziels R, Mansfeldt C. Structured Ethical Review for Wastewater-Based Testing in Support of Public Health. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12969-12980. [PMID: 37611169 PMCID: PMC10484207 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based testing (WBT) for SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly expanded over the past three years due to its ability to provide a comprehensive measurement of disease prevalence independent of clinical testing. The development and simultaneous application of WBT measured biomarkers for research activities and for the pursuit of public health goals, both areas with well-established ethical frameworks. Currently, WBT practitioners do not employ a standardized ethical review process, introducing the potential for adverse outcomes for WBT professionals and community members. To address this deficiency, an interdisciplinary workshop developed a framework for a structured ethical review of WBT. The workshop employed a consensus approach to create this framework as a set of 11 questions derived from primarily public health guidance. This study retrospectively applied these questions to SARS-CoV-2 monitoring programs covering the emergent phase of the pandemic (3/2020-2/2022 (n = 53)). Of note, 43% of answers highlight a lack of reported information to assess. Therefore, a systematic framework would at a minimum structure the communication of ethical considerations for applications of WBT. Consistent application of an ethical review will also assist in developing a practice of updating approaches and techniques to reflect the concerns held by both those practicing and those being monitored by WBT supported programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin
A. Bowes
- Biodesign
Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Center on
Forced Displacement, Boston University, 111 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Amanda Darling
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1145 Perry Street, 415 Durham Hall; Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Erin M. Driver
- Biodesign
Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Devrim Kaya
- School of
Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 105 26th St, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
- School of
Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego and Imperial Valley, California 92182, United States
| | - Rasha Maal-Bared
- Quality
Assurance and Environment, EPCOR Water Services Inc., EPCOR Tower, 2000−10423 101
Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5H 0E7, Canada
| | - Lisa M. Lee
- Department
of Population Health Sciences and Division of Scholarly Integrity
and Research Compliance, Virginia Tech, 300 Turner St. NW, Suite 4120 (0497), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Kenneth Goodman
- Institute
for Bioethics and Health Policy, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33101, United States
| | - Sangeet Adhikari
- Biodesign
Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Srijan Aggarwal
- Department
of Civil, Geological, and Environmental Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, United States
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, 3255 Patrick F. Taylor Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Zuzana Bohrerova
- The Ohio
State University, Department of Civil, Environmental
and Geodetic Engineering, 2070 Neil Avenue, 470 Hitchcock Hall, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Alasdair Cohen
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1145 Perry Street, 415 Durham Hall; Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Department
of Population Health Sciences, Virginia
Tech, 205 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Claire Duvallet
- Biobot
Analytics, Inc., 501
Massachusetts Avenue; Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Rasha A. Elnimeiry
- Public
Health Outbreak Coordination, Informatics, Surveillance (PHOCIS) Office—Surveillance
Section, Division of Disease Control and Health Statistics, Washington State Department of Health, 111 Israel Rd SE, Tumwater, Washington 98501, United States
| | - Justin M. Hutchison
- Department
of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Kansas, 1530 W 15th St, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Vikram Kapoor
- School
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management, University of Texas at San Antonio, 1 UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Ishi Keenum
- Complex
Microbial Systems Group, National Institute
of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Fangqiong Ling
- Department
of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Deborah Sills
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 17837, United States
| | - Ananda Tiwari
- Department
of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Agnes Sjöberginkatu 2,
P.O. Box 66, FI 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Expert
Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for
Health and Welfare, FI 70600 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Peter Vikesland
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1145 Perry Street, 415 Durham Hall; Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Ryan Ziels
- Department
of Civil Engineering, The University of
British Columbia, 6250
Applied Science Ln #2002, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Cresten Mansfeldt
- Department
of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 428, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Environmental
Engineering Program, University of Colorado
Boulder, UCB 607, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
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13
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Wadi VS, Daou M, Zayed N, AlJabri M, Alsheraifi HH, Aldhaheri SS, Abuoudah M, Alhammadi M, Aldhuhoori M, Lopes A, Alalawi A, Yousef AF, Hasan SW, Alsafar H. Long-term study on wastewater SARS-CoV-2 surveillance across United Arab Emirates. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 887:163785. [PMID: 37149161 PMCID: PMC10156646 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163785] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) demonstrates an efficient tool to monitor and predict SARS-CoV-2 community distribution. Many countries across the world have adopted the technique, however, most of these studies were conducted for a short duration with a limited sampling size. In this study, long-term reliability and quantification of wastewater SARS-CoV-2 surveillance is reported via analyzing 16,858 samples collected from 453 different locations across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from May 2020 to June 2022. The collected composite samples were first incubated at 60 °C followed by filtration, concentration, and then RNA extraction using commercially available kits. The extracted RNA was then analyzed by one-step RT-qPCR and RT-ddPCR, and the data was compared to the reported clinical cases. The average positivity rate in the wastewater samples was found to be 60.61 % (8.41-96.77 %), however, the positivity rate obtained from the RT-ddPCR was significantly higher than the RT-qPCR suggesting higher sensitivity of RT-ddPCR. Time-lagged correlation analysis indicated an increase in positive cases in the wastewater samples when the clinical positive cases declined suggesting that wastewater data are highly affected by the unreported asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic and recovering individuals. The weekly SARS-CoV-2 viral count in the wastewater samples are positively correlated with the diagnosed new clinical cases throughout the studied period and the studied locations. Viral count in wastewater peaked approximately one to two weeks prior to the peaks appearing in active clinical cases indicating that wastewater viral concentrations are effective in predicting clinical cases. Overall, this study further confirms the long-term sensitivity and robust approach of WBE to detect trends in SARS-CoV-2 spread and helps contribute to pandemic management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay S Wadi
- Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mariane Daou
- Department of Biology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Noora Zayed
- Center for Biotechnology (BTC), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maryam AlJabri
- Center for Biotechnology (BTC), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hamad H Alsheraifi
- Center for Biotechnology (BTC), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Saeed S Aldhaheri
- Center for Biotechnology (BTC), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Miral Abuoudah
- Center for Biotechnology (BTC), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammad Alhammadi
- Emirates Bio-Research Center, Ministry of Interior, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Malika Aldhuhoori
- Emirates Bio-Research Center, Ministry of Interior, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Alvaro Lopes
- Emirates Bio-Research Center, Ministry of Interior, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdulrahman Alalawi
- Department of Health, Safety and Environment, Department of Energy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmed F Yousef
- Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Department of Biology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shadi W Hasan
- Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Habiba Alsafar
- Center for Biotechnology (BTC), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Emirates Bio-Research Center, Ministry of Interior, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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14
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König AW, Ariano SS, Joksimovic D. Analysis of sampling strategies for pulse loads of SARS-CoV-2: implications for wastewater-based epidemiology. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 88:1039-1057. [PMID: 37651336 PMCID: wst_2023_233 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
A faecal transport model was applied to a 11.3 km2 wastewater servicing area in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to explore the role that different wastewater sampling campaigns have on estimating the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a population of 60,000. A stochastic wastewater and water quality model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of 11 sampling campaigns during periods of high and low COVID-19 infection among the population, tested using virtual sampling during dry-weather flow. The virtual sampling campaigns were based on the most common automatic sampler programming capabilities and widely used wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) sampling campaigns reported in the literature. Sampling campaigns differ in weighting method (time, volume, or flow-weighted sampling), sample count, collection period, or sample time. Results suggest that grab samples should be avoided and/or that sampling campaigns with the greatest sample counts and durations are the most robust at capturing COVID-19 infection among the population. Most surprisingly, changes to the weighting method were negligible indicating that a greater number of samples, and larger sample volumes are preferred. This work suggests that investment in flow monitoring equipment for flow- or volume-weighted sampling will not improve WBE results, and that standard time based sampling is sufficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Wilhelm König
- Institute of Urban Water Management and Landscape Water Engineering, Graz University of Technolog, Stremayrgasse 10/1, Graz 8010, Austria E-mail:
| | - Sarah Sydney Ariano
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 0E8, Canada
| | - Darko Joksimovic
- Department of Civil Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
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15
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Kumblathan T, Liu Y, Qiu Y, Pang L, Hrudey SE, Le XC, Li XF. An efficient method to enhance recovery and detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 130:139-148. [PMID: 37032030 PMCID: PMC9554329 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater surveillance (WS) of SARS-CoV-2 currently requires multiple steps and suffers low recoveries and poor sensitivity. Here, we report an improved analytical method with high sensitivity and recovery to quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater. To improve the recovery, we concentrated SARS-CoV-2 viral particles and RNA from both the solid and aqueous phases of wastewater using an electronegative membrane (EM). The captured viral particles and RNA on the EM were incubated in our newly developed viral inactivation and RNA preservation (VIP) buffer. Subsequently, the RNA was concentrated on magnetic beads and inhibitors removed by washing. Without eluting, the RNA on the magnetic beads was directly detected using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus (SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a noninfectious viral coat) spiked to wastewater samples showed an improved recovery of 80%. Analysis of 120 wastewater samples collected twice weekly between May 2021 and February 2022 from two wastewater treatment plants showed 100% positive detection, which agreed with the results independently obtained by a provincial public health laboratory. The concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in these wastewater samples ranged from 2.4×102 to 2.9×106 copies per 100 mL of wastewater. Our method's capability of detecting trace and diverse concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in complex wastewater samples is attributed to the enhanced recovery of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and efficient removal of PCR inhibitors. The improved method for the recovery and detection of viral RNA in wastewater is important for wastewater surveillance, complementing clinical diagnostic tests for public health protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Kumblathan
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Yanming Liu
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Yuanyuan Qiu
- Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Lilly Pang
- Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2G3, Canada; Public Health Laboratory, Alberta Precision Laboratories, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Steve E Hrudey
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - X Chris Le
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Xing-Fang Li
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada.
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16
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Belmonte-Lopes R, Barquilha CER, Kozak C, Barcellos DS, Leite BZ, da Costa FJOG, Martins WL, Oliveira PE, Pereira EHRA, Filho CRM, de Souza EM, Possetti GRC, Vicente VA, Etchepare RG. 20-Month monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater of Curitiba, in Southern Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:76687-76701. [PMID: 37243767 PMCID: PMC10224667 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27926-x] [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: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the collapse of healthcare systems and led to the development and application of several approaches of wastewater-based epidemiology to monitor infected populations. The main objective of this study was to carry out a SARS-CoV-2 wastewater based surveillance in Curitiba, Southern Brazil Sewage samples were collected weekly for 20 months at the entrance of five treatment plants representing the entire city and quantified by qPCR using the N1 marker. The viral loads were correlated with epidemiological data. The correlation by sampling points showed that the relationship between the viral loads and the number of reported cases was best described by a cross-correlation function, indicating a lag between 7 and 14 days amidst the variables, whereas the data for the entire city presented a higher correlation (0.84) with the number of positive tests at lag 0 (sampling day). The results also suggest that the Omicron VOC resulted in higher titers than the Delta VOC. Overall, our results showed that the approach used was robust as an early warning system, even with the use of different epidemiological indicators or changes in the virus variants in circulation. Therefore, it can contribute to public decision-makers and health interventions, especially in vulnerable and low-income regions with limited clinical testing capacity. Looking toward the future, this approach will contribute to a new look at environmental sanitation and should even induce an increase in sewage coverage rates in emerging countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Belmonte-Lopes
- Graduate Program On Pathology, Parasitology, and Microbiology, Federal University of Paraná, 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
- Basic Pathology Department, Biological Sciences Sector, Microbiological Collections of Paraná Network, Room 135/136. 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
- Basic Pathology Department, Federal University of Paraná, 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
| | - Carlos E R Barquilha
- Graduate Program On Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hydraulics and Sanitation Department, Federal University of Paraná, 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
- Hydraulics and Sanitation Department, Federal University of Paraná, 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
| | - Caroline Kozak
- Environment Department, Maringa State University, SESI Block, 1800 Ângelo Moreira da Fonseca AvenueRoom 15, Parque Danielle, Umuarama, PR, 87506-370, Brazil
| | - Demian S Barcellos
- Hydraulics and Sanitation Department, Federal University of Paraná, 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Z Leite
- Research and Innovation Management, Paraná Sanitation Company (SANEPAR), 1376 Eng. Rebouças St, Rebouças, Curitiba, PR, 80215-900, Brazil
| | - Fernanda J O Gomes da Costa
- Research and Innovation Management, Paraná Sanitation Company (SANEPAR), 1376 Eng. Rebouças St, Rebouças, Curitiba, PR, 80215-900, Brazil
| | - William L Martins
- Basic Pathology Department, Federal University of Paraná, 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
| | - Pâmela E Oliveira
- Hydraulics and Sanitation Department, Federal University of Paraná, 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
| | - Edy H R A Pereira
- Hydraulics and Sanitation Department, Federal University of Paraná, 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
| | - Cesar R Mota Filho
- Sanitary and Environmental Engineering Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), 6627 Antonio Carlos Avenue, Block 1, Room 4529, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Emanuel M de Souza
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Federal University of Paraná, 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
| | - Gustavo R C Possetti
- Research and Innovation Management, Paraná Sanitation Company (SANEPAR), 1376 Eng. Rebouças St, Rebouças, Curitiba, PR, 80215-900, Brazil
| | - Vania A Vicente
- Basic Pathology Department, Biological Sciences Sector, Microbiological Collections of Paraná Network, Room 135/136. 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
- Basic Pathology Department, Federal University of Paraná, 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil
| | - Ramiro G Etchepare
- Hydraulics and Sanitation Department, Federal University of Paraná, 100 Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos Avenue, Curitiba, PR, 81530-000, Brazil.
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17
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Ciannella S, González-Fernández C, Gomez-Pastora J. Recent progress on wastewater-based epidemiology for COVID-19 surveillance: A systematic review of analytical procedures and epidemiological modeling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:162953. [PMID: 36948304 PMCID: PMC10028212 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), whose causative agent is the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a pandemic. This virus is predominantly transmitted via respiratory droplets and shed via sputum, saliva, urine, and stool. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been able to monitor the circulation of viral pathogens in the population. This tool demands both in-lab and computational work to be meaningful for, among other purposes, the prediction of outbreaks. In this context, we present a systematic review that organizes and discusses laboratory procedures for SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantification from a wastewater matrix, along with modeling techniques applied to the development of WBE for COVID-19 surveillance. The goal of this review is to present the current panorama of WBE operational aspects as well as to identify current challenges related to it. Our review was conducted in a reproducible manner by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for systematic reviews. We identified a lack of standardization in wastewater analytical procedures. Regardless, the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) approach was the most reported technique employed to detect and quantify viral RNA in wastewater samples. As a more convenient sample matrix, we suggest the solid portion of wastewater to be considered in future investigations due to its higher viral load compared to the liquid fraction. Regarding the epidemiological modeling, the data-driven approach was consistently used for the prediction of variables associated with outbreaks. Future efforts should also be directed toward the development of rapid, more economical, portable, and accurate detection devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Ciannella
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409, TX, USA.
| | - Cristina González-Fernández
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409, TX, USA; Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros, s/n, 39005 Santander, Spain.
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18
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Bowes DA, Darling A, Driver EM, Kaya D, Maal-Bared R, Lee LM, Goodman K, Adhikari S, Aggarwal S, Bivins A, Bohrerova Z, Cohen A, Duvallet C, Elnimeiry RA, Hutchison JM, Kapoor V, Keenum I, Ling F, Sills D, Tiwari A, Vikesland P, Ziels R, Mansfeldt C. Structured Ethical Review for Wastewater-Based Testing. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.06.12.23291231. [PMID: 37398480 PMCID: PMC10312843 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.12.23291231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based testing (WBT) for SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly expanded over the past three years due to its ability to provide a comprehensive measurement of disease prevalence independent of clinical testing. The development and simultaneous application of the field blurred the boundary between measuring biomarkers for research activities and for pursuit of public health goals, both areas with well-established ethical frameworks. Currently, WBT practitioners do not employ a standardized ethical review process (or associated data management safeguards), introducing the potential for adverse outcomes for WBT professionals and community members. To address this deficiency, an interdisciplinary group developed a framework for a structured ethical review of WBT. The workshop employed a consensus approach to create this framework as a set of 11-questions derived from primarily public health guidance because of the common exemption of wastewater samples to human subject research considerations. This study retrospectively applied the set of questions to peer- reviewed published reports on SARS-CoV-2 monitoring campaigns covering the emergent phase of the pandemic from March 2020 to February 2022 (n=53). Overall, 43% of the responses to the questions were unable to be assessed because of lack of reported information. It is therefore hypothesized that a systematic framework would at a minimum improve the communication of key ethical considerations for the application of WBT. Consistent application of a standardized ethical review will also assist in developing an engaged practice of critically applying and updating approaches and techniques to reflect the concerns held by both those practicing and being monitored by WBT supported campaigns. Abstract Figure Synopsis Development of a structured ethical review facilitates retrospective analysis of published studies and drafted scenarios in the context of wastewater-based testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin A. Bowes
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, 85287
- Center on Forced Displacement, Boston University, 111 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215
| | - Amanda Darling
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1145 Perry Street; 415 Durham Hall; Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Erin M. Driver
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, 85287
| | - Devrim Kaya
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 105 26th St, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego and Imperial Valley, CA
| | - Rasha Maal-Bared
- Quality Assurance and Environment, EPCOR Water Services Inc., EPCOR Tower, 2000–10423 101 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, CA
| | - Lisa M. Lee
- Department of Population Health Sciences and Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance, Virginia Tech, 300 Turner St. NW, Suite 4120 (0497), Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Kenneth Goodman
- Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Sangeet Adhikari
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, 85287
| | - Srijan Aggarwal
- Department of Civil, Geological, and Environmental Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1764 Tanana Loop, Fairbanks, AK 99775
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, 3255 Patrick F. Taylor Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
| | - Zuzana Bohrerova
- The Ohio State University, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, 2070 Neil Avenue, 470 Hitchcock Hall, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Alasdair Cohen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1145 Perry Street; 415 Durham Hall; Blacksburg, VA 24061
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, 205 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Claire Duvallet
- Biobot Analytics, Inc., 501 Massachusetts Avenue; Cambridge, MA; 02139
| | - Rasha A. Elnimeiry
- Public Health Outbreak Coordination, Informatics, Surveillance (PHOCIS) Office – Surveillance Section, Division of Disease Control and Health Statistics, Washington State Department of Health, 111 Israel Rd SE, Tumwater, WA 98501
| | - Justin M. Hutchison
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Kansas, 1530 W 15th St, Lawrence, KS 66045
| | - Vikram Kapoor
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management, University of Texas at San Antonio, 1 UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249
| | - Ishi Keenum
- Complex Microbial Systems Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
| | - Fangqiong Ling
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130
| | - Deborah Sills
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, 17837
| | - Ananda Tiwari
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Agnes Sjöberginkatu 2 P.O. Box 66 FI 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Peter Vikesland
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1145 Perry Street; 415 Durham Hall; Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Ryan Ziels
- Department of Civil Engineering, the University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Ln #2002, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
| | - Cresten Mansfeldt
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 428, Boulder, CO 80309
- Environmental Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 607, Boulder, CO 80309
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19
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Hernández-Terrones LM, Carrillo-Reyes J, Ayala-Godoy JA, Guerrero-Ruiz E, Vargas LMG, Prado-Guevara BA, Rodríguez-Abraham MF, Buitrón G. Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater: A surveillance tool to foresee infection's evolution in the Mexican Caribbean. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2023; 95:e10859. [PMID: 37002800 DOI: 10.1002/wer.10859] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The study aims to determine SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage of Cancun wastewater treatment plants, the main touristic destination of Mexico, and to estimate the infected persons during the sampling period. SARS-CoV-2 RNA traces were detected in the inlet of the five plants during almost all the sampling months. However, there is no presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA traces in the effluent of the five WWTPs during the study period. ANOVA analysis showed differences in the concentrations of RNA traces of SARS-CoV-2 between the sample dates, but no differences were found from one WWTP to another. Estimated infected individuals by Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation are higher (between 77% and 91%) than the cases reported by the health authority. Wastewater monitoring and the estimation of infected individuals are a helpful tool, because estimation provides early warning signs on how broadly SARS-CoV-2 is circulating in the city, and led to the authorities to take measures wisely. PRACTITIONER POINTS: There is no presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA traces in the effluent of the facilities, suggesting the effectiveness of treatment. Surveillance of viral RNA concentrations at treatment plants revealed presence in the influent of five plants Estimated infected individuals by MCMC simulation are higher than cases reported by health authority Environmental surveillance approach in wastewater influent is helpful to identify the clusters and to take informed decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julián Carrillo-Reyes
- Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Jairo A Ayala-Godoy
- Statistical Institute and Computerized Information Systems, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Eugenio Guerrero-Ruiz
- Department of Basic Sciences and Engineering, Universidad del Caribe, Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | | | | | | | - Germán Buitrón
- Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
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20
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Prado T, Rey-Benito G, Miagostovich MP, Sato MIZ, Rajal VB, Filho CRM, Pereira AD, Barbosa MRF, Mannarino CF, da Silva AS. Wastewater-based epidemiology for preventing outbreaks and epidemics in Latin America - Lessons from the past and a look to the future. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 865:161210. [PMID: 36581294 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an approach with the potential to complement clinical surveillance systems. Using WBE, it is possible to carry out an early warning of a possible outbreak, monitor spatial and temporal trends of infectious diseases, produce real-time results and generate representative epidemiological information in a territory, especially in areas of social vulnerability. Despite the historical uses of this approach, particularly in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and for other pathogens, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic that occurred an exponential increase in environmental surveillance programs for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, with many experiences and developments in the field of public health using data for decision making and prioritizing actions to control the pandemic. In Latin America, WBE was applied in heterogeneous contexts and with emphasis on populations that present many socio-environmental inequalities, a condition shared by all Latin American countries. This manuscript addresses the concepts and applications of WBE in public health actions, as well as different experiences in Latin American countries, and discusses a model to implement this surveillance system at the local or national level. We emphasize the need to implement this sentinel surveillance system in countries that want to detect the early entry and spread of new pathogens and monitor outbreaks or epidemics of infectious agents in their territories as a complement of public health surveillance systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Prado
- Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21040-360, Brazil.
| | - Gloria Rey-Benito
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), 525 23rd St NW, Washington, DC 20037, United States of America.
| | - Marize Pereira Miagostovich
- Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Maria Inês Zanoli Sato
- Department of Environmental Analysis, Environmental Company of the São Paulo State (CETESB), Av. Prof. Frederico Hermann Jr., 345, São Paulo CEP 05459-900, Brazil
| | - Veronica Beatriz Rajal
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) and Facultad de Ingeniería, UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta 4400, Argentina; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Science Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Cesar Rossas Mota Filho
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Alyne Duarte Pereira
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Mikaela Renata Funada Barbosa
- Department of Environmental Analysis, Environmental Company of the São Paulo State (CETESB), Av. Prof. Frederico Hermann Jr., 345, São Paulo CEP 05459-900, Brazil
| | - Camille Ferreira Mannarino
- Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Agnes Soares da Silva
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), 525 23rd St NW, Washington, DC 20037, United States of America.
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21
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Lucansky V, Samec M, Burjanivova T, Lukacova E, Kolkova Z, Holubekova V, Turyova E, Hornakova A, Zaborsky T, Podlesniy P, Reizigova L, Dankova Z, Novakova E, Pecova R, Calkovska A, Halasova E. Comparison of the methods for isolation and detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in municipal wastewater. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1116636. [PMID: 36960362 PMCID: PMC10028190 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1116636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is a causative agent responsible for the current global pandemic situation known as COVID-19. Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 include a wide range of symptoms from mild (i.e., cough, fever, dyspnea) to severe pneumonia-like respiratory symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated to be detectable in the stool of COVID-19 patients. Waste-based epidemiology (WBE) has been shown as a promising approach for early detection and monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in the local population performed via collection, isolation, and detection of viral pathogens from environmental sources. Methods In order to select the optimal protocol for monitoring the COVID-19 epidemiological situation in region Turiec, Slovakia, we (1) compared methods for SARS-CoV-2 separation and isolation, including virus precipitation by polyethylene glycol (PEG), virus purification via ultrafiltration (Vivaspin®) and subsequent isolation by NucleoSpin RNA Virus kit (Macherey-Nagel), and direct isolation from wastewater (Zymo Environ Water RNA Kit); (2) evaluated the impact of water freezing on SARS- CoV-2 separation, isolation, and detection; (3) evaluated the role of wastewater filtration on virus stability; and (4) determined appropriate methods including reverse transcription-droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) (targeting the same genes, i.e., RdRp and gene E) for quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples. Results (1) Usage of Zymo Environ Water RNA Kit provided superior quality of isolated RNA in comparison with both ultracentrifugation and PEG precipitation. (2) Freezing of wastewater samples significantly reduces the RNA yield. (3) Filtering is counterproductive when Zymo Environ Water RNA Kit is used. (4) According to the specificity and sensitivity, the RT-ddPCR outperforms RT-qPCR. Discussion The results of our study suggest that WBE is a valuable early warning alert and represents a non-invasive approach to monitor viral pathogens, thus protects public health on a regional and national level. In addition, we have shown that the sensitivity of testing the samples with a nearer detection limit can be improved by selecting the appropriate combination of enrichment, isolation, and detection methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Lucansky
- Biomedical Centre Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin (JFMED CU), Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Marek Samec
- Department of Pathophysiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Tatiana Burjanivova
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Eva Lukacova
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Kolkova
- Biomedical Centre Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin (JFMED CU), Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Veronika Holubekova
- Biomedical Centre Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin (JFMED CU), Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Eva Turyova
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Andrea Hornakova
- Biomedical Centre Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin (JFMED CU), Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Tibor Zaborsky
- RÚVZ (Regional Office of Public Health), Martin, Slovakia
| | - Petar Podlesniy
- Centro Investigacion Biomedica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lenka Reizigova
- Center for Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Health Care and Social Work, Trnava University, Trnava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Dankova
- Biobank for Cancer and Rare Diseases, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin (JFMED CU), Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Elena Novakova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Renata Pecova
- Department of Pathophysiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Andrea Calkovska
- Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Erika Halasova
- Biomedical Centre Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin (JFMED CU), Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
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Cruz MC, Sanguino-Jorquera D, Aparicio González M, Irazusta VP, Poma HR, Cristóbal HA, Rajal VB. Sewershed surveillance as a tool for smart management of a pandemic in threshold countries. Case study: Tracking SARS-CoV-2 during COVID-19 pandemic in a major urban metropolis in northwestern Argentina. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 862:160573. [PMID: 36460114 PMCID: PMC9705263 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology is an economical and effective tool for monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study we proposed sampling campaigns that addressed spatial-temporal trends within a metropolitan area. This is a local study of detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater during the onset, rise, and decline of COVID-19 cases in Salta city (Argentina) over the course of a twenty-one-week period (13 Aug to 30 Dec) in 2020. Wastewater samples were gathered from 13 sewer manholes specific to each sewershed catchment, prior to convergence or mixing with other sewer lines, resulting in samples specific to individual catchments with defined areas. The 13 sewershed catchments selected comprise 118,832 connections to the network throughout the city, representing 84.7 % (534,747 individuals) of the total population. The number of COVID19-related exposure and symptoms cases in each area were registered using an application developed for smartphones by the provincial government. Geographical coordinates provided by the devices were recorded, and consequently, it was possible to geolocalise all app-cases and track them down to which of the 13 sampling catchments belonged. RNA fragments of SARS-CoV-2 were detected in every site since the beginning of the monitoring, anticipating viral circulation in the population. Over the course of the 21-week study, the concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 ranged between 1.77 × 104 and 4.35 × 107 genome copies/L. There was a correspondence with the highest viral load in wastewater and the peak number of cases reported by the app for each catchment. The associations were evaluated with correlation analysis. The viral loads of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater were a feasible means to describe the trends of COVID-19 infections. Surveillance at sewershed scale, provided reliable and strategic information that could be used by local health stakeholders to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Cecilia Cruz
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa), Av. Bolivia 5150, 4400 Salta, Argentina.
| | - Diego Sanguino-Jorquera
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa), Av. Bolivia 5150, 4400 Salta, Argentina
| | - Mónica Aparicio González
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa), Av. Bolivia 5150, 4400 Salta, Argentina
| | - Verónica Patricia Irazusta
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa), Av. Bolivia 5150, 4400 Salta, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, UNSa, Salta, Argentina
| | - Hugo Ramiro Poma
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa), Av. Bolivia 5150, 4400 Salta, Argentina
| | - Héctor Antonio Cristóbal
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa), Av. Bolivia 5150, 4400 Salta, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, UNSa, Salta, Argentina
| | - Verónica Beatriz Rajal
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa), Av. Bolivia 5150, 4400 Salta, Argentina; Facultad de Ingeniería, UNSa, Salta, Argentina; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
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23
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Câmara AB, Bonfante J, da Penha MG, Cassini STA, de Pinho Keller R. Detecting SARS-CoV-2 in sludge samples: A systematic review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160012. [PMID: 36368397 PMCID: PMC9643039 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This paper aims to review the main sludge concentration methods used for SARS-CoV-2 detection in sewage sludge samples, discussing the main methods and sample volume related to increased viral load. In addition, we aim to evaluate the countries associated with increased positivity rates for SARS-CoV-2 in sludge samples. METHODS This systematic methodology was registered in PROSPERO and followed the PRISMA guidelines. The search was carried out in the SciELO, PubMed/MEDLINE, Lilacs, and Google Scholar databases in January-March 2022. Quantitative studies with conclusive results were included in this review. Concentration methods (polyethylene glycol (PEG), PEG + NaCl, gravity thickening, skimmed milk flocculation, ultrafiltration, filtration using charged filters, primary sedimentation, and anaerobic digestion), as well as detection methods (RTqPCR and reverse transcription droplet digital PCR assay) were evaluated in this review. The SPSS v23 software program was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS PEG (with or without NaCl addition) and gravity thickening were the most used sludge concentration methods to detect SARS-CoV-2. The main method associated with increased viral load (>2,02 × 10^4 copies/mL) was PEG + NaCl (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test). The average positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 in sludge samples was 61 %, and a correlation was found between the sludge volume and the viral load (ro 0.559, p = 0.03, Spearman correlation). CONCLUSION The sludge volume may influence the SARS-CoV-2 load since the virus can adhere to solid particles in these samples. Other factors may be associated with SARS-CoV-2 load, including the methods used; especially PEG + NaCl may result in a high viral load detected in sludge, and may provide a suitable pH for SARS-CoV-2 recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Barros Câmara
- Sanitation Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 515, Goiabeiras, 29075051 Vitória, ES, Brazil.
| | - Júlia Bonfante
- Sanitation Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 515, Goiabeiras, 29075051 Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Marília Gueler da Penha
- Sanitation Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 515, Goiabeiras, 29075051 Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Sérvio Túlio Alves Cassini
- Sanitation Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 515, Goiabeiras, 29075051 Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Regina de Pinho Keller
- Sanitation Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ave. Fernando Ferrari, 515, Goiabeiras, 29075051 Vitória, ES, Brazil
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24
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Alahdal HM, Ameen F, AlYahya S, Sonbol H, Khan A, Alsofayan Y, Alahmari A. Municipal wastewater viral pollution in Saudi Arabia: effect of hot climate on COVID-19 disease spreading. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:25050-25057. [PMID: 34138435 PMCID: PMC8210523 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14809-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The viral RNA of SARS-Coronavirus-2 is known to be contaminating municipal wastewater. We aimed to assess if COVID-19 disease is spreading through wastewater. We studied the amount of viral RNA in raw sewage and the efficiency of the sewage treatment to remove the virus. Sewage water was collected before and after the activated sludge process three times during summer 2020 from three different sewage treatment plants. The sewage treatment was efficient in removing SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. Each sewage treatment plant gathered wastewater from one hospital, of which COVID-19 admissions were used to describe the level of disease occurrence in the area. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA-specific target genes (N1, N2, and E) was confirmed using RT-qPCR analysis. However, hospital admission did not correlate significantly with viral RNA. Moreover, viral RNA loads were relatively low, suggesting that sewage might preserve viral RNA in a hot climate only for a short time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadil M Alahdal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fuad Ameen
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Sami AlYahya
- National Center for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hana Sonbol
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anas Khan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Global Center for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 11461, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yousef Alsofayan
- Global Center for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 11461, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Alahmari
- Global Center for Mass Gatherings Medicine, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 11461, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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25
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Li X, Zhang S, Sherchan S, Orive G, Lertxundi U, Haramoto E, Honda R, Kumar M, Arora S, Kitajima M, Jiang G. Correlation between SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration in wastewater and COVID-19 cases in community: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 441:129848. [PMID: 36067562 PMCID: PMC9420035 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been considered as a promising approach for population-wide surveillance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Many studies have successfully quantified severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA concentration in wastewater (CRNA). However, the correlation between the CRNA and the COVID-19 clinically confirmed cases in the corresponding wastewater catchments varies and the impacts of environmental and other factors remain unclear. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to identify the correlation between CRNA and various types of clinically confirmed case numbers, including prevalence and incidence rates. The impacts of environmental factors, WBE sampling design, and epidemiological conditions on the correlation were assessed for the same datasets. The systematic review identified 133 correlation coefficients, ranging from -0.38 to 0.99. The correlation between CRNA and new cases (either daily new, weekly new, or future cases) was stronger than that of active cases and cumulative cases. These correlation coefficients were potentially affected by environmental and epidemiological conditions and WBE sampling design. Larger variations of air temperature and clinical testing coverage, and the increase of catchment size showed strong negative impacts on the correlation between CRNA and COVID-19 case numbers. Interestingly, the sampling technique had negligible impact although increasing the sampling frequency improved the correlation. These findings highlight the importance of viral shedding dynamics, in-sewer decay, WBE sampling design and clinical testing on the accurate back-estimation of COVID-19 case numbers through the WBE approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Li
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Shuxin Zhang
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Samendrdra Sherchan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Gorka Orive
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo de la Universidad 7, Vitoria-Gasteiz 01006, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Unax Lertxundi
- Bioaraba Health Research Institute; Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Araba Mental Health Network, Araba Psychiatric Hospital, Pharmacy Service, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, Japan
| | - Ryo Honda
- Faculty of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Manish Kumar
- Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Sudipti Arora
- Dr. B. Lal Institute of Biotechnology, Jaipur, India
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Guangming Jiang
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
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26
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Bonanno Ferraro G, Veneri C, Mancini P, Iaconelli M, Suffredini E, Bonadonna L, Lucentini L, Bowo-Ngandji A, Kengne-Nde C, Mbaga DS, Mahamat G, Tazokong HR, Ebogo-Belobo JT, Njouom R, Kenmoe S, La Rosa G. A State-of-the-Art Scoping Review on SARS-CoV-2 in Sewage Focusing on the Potential of Wastewater Surveillance for the Monitoring of the COVID-19 Pandemic. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2022; 14:315-354. [PMID: 34727334 PMCID: PMC8561373 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-021-09498-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread throughout the world. Several studies have shown that detecting SARS-CoV-2 in untreated wastewater can be a useful tool to identify new outbreaks, establish outbreak trends, and assess the prevalence of infections. On 06 May 2021, over a year into the pandemic, we conducted a scoping review aiming to summarize research data on SARS-CoV-2 in sewage. Papers dealing with raw sewage collected at wastewater treatment plants, sewer networks, septic tanks, and sludge treatment facilities were included in this review. We also reviewed studies on sewage collected in community settings such as private or municipal hospitals, healthcare facilities, nursing homes, dormitories, campuses, airports, aircraft, and cruise ships. The literature search was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Web Science Core Collection. This comprehensive research yielded 1090 results, 66 of which met the inclusion criteria and are discussed in this review. Studies from 26 countries worldwide have investigated the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage of different origin. The percentage of positive samples in sewage ranged from 11.6 to 100%, with viral concentrations ranging from ˂LOD to 4.6 × 108 genome copies/L. This review outlines the evidence currently available on wastewater surveillance: (i) as an early warning system capable of predicting COVID-19 outbreaks days or weeks before clinical cases; (ii) as a tool capable of establishing trends in current outbreaks; (iii) estimating the prevalence of infections; and (iv) studying SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity. In conclusion, as a cost-effective, rapid, and reliable source of information on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in the population, wastewater surveillance can enhance genomic and epidemiological surveillance with independent and complementary data to inform public health decision-making during the ongoing pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bonanno Ferraro
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - P Mancini
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - M Iaconelli
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - E Suffredini
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - L Bonadonna
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - L Lucentini
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - A Bowo-Ngandji
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - C Kengne-Nde
- Research Monitoring and Planning Unit, National Aids Control Committee, Douala, Cameroon
| | - D S Mbaga
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - G Mahamat
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - H R Tazokong
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - J T Ebogo-Belobo
- Medical Research Centre, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - R Njouom
- Virology Department, Centre Pasteur of Cameroon, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - S Kenmoe
- Virology Department, Centre Pasteur of Cameroon, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - G La Rosa
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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27
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Angga MS, Malla B, Raya S, Kitano A, Xie X, Saitoh H, Ohnishi N, Haramoto E. Development of a magnetic nanoparticle-based method for concentrating SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 848:157613. [PMID: 35901898 PMCID: PMC9310541 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Several virus concentration methods have been developed to increase the detection sensitivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater, as part of applying wastewater-based epidemiology. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation method, a method widely used for concentrating viruses in wastewater, has some limitations, such as long processing time. In this study, Pegcision, a PEG-based method using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), was applied to detect SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, with several modifications to increase its sensitivity and throughput. An enveloped virus surrogate, Pseudomonas phage φ6, and a non-enveloped virus surrogate, coliphage MS2, were seeded into wastewater samples and quantified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction to assess the recovery performance of the Pegcision. Neither increasing MNP concentration nor reducing the reaction time to 10 min affected the recovery, while adding polyacrylic acid as a polyanion improved the detection sensitivity. The performance of the Pegcision was further compared to that of the PEG precipitation method based on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and surrogate viruses, including indigenous pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), in wastewater samples (n = 27). The Pegcision showed recovery of 14.1 ± 6.3 % and 1.4 ± 1.0 % for φ6 and MS2, respectively, while the PEG precipitation method showed recovery of 20.4 ± 20.2 % and 18.4 ± 21.9 % (n = 27 each). Additionally, comparable PMMoV concentrations were observed between the Pegcision (7.9 ± 0.3 log copies/L) and PEG precipitation methods (8.0 ± 0.2 log copies/L) (P > 0.05) (n = 27). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was successfully detected in 11 (41 %) each of 27 wastewater samples using the Pegcision and PEG precipitation methods. The Pegcision showed comparable performance with the PEG precipitation method for SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration, suggesting its applicability as a virus concentration method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Made Sandhyana Angga
- Department of Engineering, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan
| | - Bikash Malla
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan
| | - Sunayana Raya
- Department of Engineering, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan
| | - Ayame Kitano
- Yokohama R&D Center, JNC Corporation, 5-1 Okawa, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8605, Japan.
| | - Xiaomao Xie
- Yokohama R&D Center, JNC Corporation, 5-1 Okawa, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8605, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Saitoh
- Yokohama R&D Center, JNC Corporation, 5-1 Okawa, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8605, Japan.
| | - Noriyuki Ohnishi
- Corporate Research and Development Division, JNC Corporation, 5-1 Goikaigan, Ichihara, Chiba 290-8551, Japan.
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan.
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Ahmed W, Smith WJM, Metcalfe S, Jackson G, Choi PM, Morrison M, Field D, Gyawali P, Bivins A, Bibby K, Simpson SL. Comparison of RT-qPCR and RT-dPCR Platforms for the Trace Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater. ACS ES&T WATER 2022; 2:1871-1880. [PMID: 36380768 PMCID: PMC8848507 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
We compared reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and RT digital PCR (RT-dPCR) platforms for the trace detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in low-prevalence COVID-19 locations in Queensland, Australia, using CDC N1 and CDC N2 assays. The assay limit of detection (ALOD), PCR inhibition rates, and performance characteristics of each assay, along with the positivity rates with the RT-qPCR and RT-dPCR platforms, were evaluated by seeding known concentrations of exogenous SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. The ALODs using RT-dPCR were approximately 2-5 times lower than those using RT-qPCR. During sample processing, the endogenous (n = 96) and exogenous (n = 24) SARS-CoV-2 wastewater samples were separated, and RNA was extracted from both wastewater eluates and pellets (solids). The RT-dPCR platform demonstrated a detection rate significantly greater than that of RT-qPCR for the CDC N1 and CDC N2 assays in the eluate (N1, p = 0.0029; N2, p = 0.0003) and pellet (N1, p = 0.0015; N2, p = 0.0067) samples. The positivity results also indicated that for the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, including the eluate and pellet samples may further increase the detection sensitivity using RT-dPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO
Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Wendy J. M. Smith
- CSIRO
Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Suzanne Metcalfe
- CSIRO
Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Greg Jackson
- Water
Unit, Health Protection Branch, Prevention Division, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Phil M. Choi
- Water
Unit, Health Protection Branch, Prevention Division, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Mary Morrison
- Water
Unit, Health Protection Branch, Prevention Division, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Daniel Field
- Water
Unit, Health Protection Branch, Prevention Division, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Pradip Gyawali
- Institute
of Environmental Science and Research Ltd. (ESR), Porirua 5240, New Zealand
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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Adelodun B, Kumar P, Odey G, Ajibade FO, Ibrahim RG, Alamri SAM, Alrumman SA, Eid EM, Kumar V, Adeyemi KA, Arya AK, Bachheti A, Oliveira MLS, Choi KS. A safe haven of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment: Prevalence and potential transmission risks in the effluent, sludge, and biosolids. GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS 2022; 13:101373. [PMID: 37521134 PMCID: PMC8861126 DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2022.101373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which has caused millions of death globally is recognized to be unstable and recalcitrant in the environment, especially in the way it has been evolving to form new and highly transmissible variants. Of particular concerns are human-environment interactions and the handling and reusing the environmental materials, such as effluents, sludge, or biosolids laden with the SARS-CoV-2 without adequate treatments, thereby suggesting potential transmission and health risks. This study assesses the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in effluents, sludge, and biosolids. Further, we evaluate the environmental, ecological, and health risks of reusing these environmental materials by wastewater/sludge workers and farmers. A systematic review of literature from the Scopus database resulted in a total of 21 articles (11 for effluents, 8 for sludge, and 2 for biosolids) that met the criteria for meta-analysis, which are then subdivided into 30 meta-analyzed studies. The prevalence of SAR-CoV-2 RNA in effluent and sludge based on random-effect models are 27.51 and 1012.25, respectively, with a 95% CI between 6.14 and 48.89 for the effluent, and 104.78 and 1019.71 for the sludge. However, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the biosolids based on the fixed-effect model is 30.59, with a 95% CI between 10.10 and 51.08. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in environmental materials indicates the inefficiency in some of the treatment systems currently deployed to inactivate and remove the novel virus, which could be a potential health risk concern to vulnerable wastewater workers in particular, and the environmental and ecological issues for the population at large. This timely review portends the associated risks in handling and reusing environmental materials without proper and adequate treatments.
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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 240003, Nigeria
| | - Pankaj 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
| | - 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
| | | | - Saad A M Alamri
- Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61321, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sulaiman A Alrumman
- Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61321, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ebrahem M Eid
- Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61321, Saudi Arabia
- Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Agro-ecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar 249404, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Khalid Adeola Adeyemi
- Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, South Korea
| | - Ashish Kumar Arya
- Department of Environmental Science, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) Deharadun, 248002 Uttarakhand, India
| | - Archana Bachheti
- Department of Environmental Science, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) Deharadun, 248002 Uttarakhand, India
| | - Marcos L S Oliveira
- Department of Civil and Environmental, Universidad De La Costa, Calle 58 #55-66, 080002 Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - 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
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30
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de Freitas Bueno R, Claro ICM, Augusto MR, Duran AFA, Camillo LDMB, Cabral AD, Sodré FF, Brandão CCS, Vizzotto CS, Silveira R, de Melo Mendes G, Arruda AF, de Brito NN, Machado BAS, Duarte GRM, de Lourdes Aguiar-Oliveira M. Wastewater-based epidemiology: A Brazilian SARS-COV-2 surveillance experience. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2022; 10:108298. [PMID: 35873721 PMCID: PMC9295330 DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2022.108298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Since 2020, developed countries have rapidly shared both publicly and academically relevant wastewater surveillance information. Data on SARS-CoV-2 circulation is pivotal for guiding public health policies and improving the COVID-19 pandemic response. Conversely, low- and middle-income countries, such as Latin America and the Caribbean, showed timid activities in the Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) context. In these countries, isolated groups perform viral wastewater monitoring, and the data are unevenly shared or accessible to health agencies and the scientific community. This manuscript aims to highlight the relevance of a multiparty effort involving research, public health, and governmental agencies to support usage of WBE methodology to its full potential during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a joint One Health surveillance approach. Thus, in this study, we explored the results obtained from wastewater surveillance in different regions of Brazil as a part of the COVID-19 Wastewater Monitoring Network ANA (National Water Agency), MCTI (Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovations) and MS (Ministry of Health). Over the epidemiological weeks of 2021 and early 2022, viral RNA concentrations in wastewater followed epidemiological trends and variations. The highest viral loads in wastewater samples were detected during the second Brazilian wave of COVID-19. Corroborating international reports, our experience demonstrated usefulness of the WBE approach in viral surveillance. Wastewater surveillance allows hotspot identification, and therefore, early public health interventions. In addition, this methodology allows tracking of asymptomatic and oligosymptomatic individuals, who are generally underreported, especially in emerging countries with limited clinical testing capacity. Therefore, WBE undoubtedly contributes to improving public health responses in the context of this pandemic, as well as other sanitary emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo de Freitas Bueno
- Federal University of ABC. Center of Engineering, Modelling and Applied Social Sciences (CECS), Santo Andre, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ieda Carolina Mantovani Claro
- Federal University of ABC. Center of Engineering, Modelling and Applied Social Sciences (CECS), Santo Andre, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matheus Ribeiro Augusto
- Federal University of ABC. Center of Engineering, Modelling and Applied Social Sciences (CECS), Santo Andre, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adriana Feliciano Alves Duran
- Federal University of ABC. Center of Engineering, Modelling and Applied Social Sciences (CECS), Santo Andre, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Aline Diniz Cabral
- Federal University of ABC. Center of Engineering, Modelling and Applied Social Sciences (CECS), Santo Andre, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Carla Simone Vizzotto
- University of Brasilia, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Rafaella Silveira
- University of Brasilia. Institute of Chemistry, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
- University of Brasilia, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Bruna Aparecida Souza Machado
- University Center SENAI/CIMATEC. SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | - Maria de Lourdes Aguiar-Oliveira
- Laboratory of Respiratory Viruses and Measles, National/MoH and International/WHO Reference Laboratory in COVID-19, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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31
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Castro GB, Bernegossi AC, Sousa BJDO, De Lima E Silva MR, Silva FRD, Freitas BLS, Ogura AP, Corbi JJ. Global occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental aquatic matrices and its implications for sanitation and vulnerabilities in Brazil and developing countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:2160-2199. [PMID: 34310248 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2021.1949437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This paper includes a systematic review of the SARS-CoV-2 occurrence in environmental aquatic matrices and a critical sanitation analysis. We discussed the interconnection of sanitation services (wastewater, water supply, solid waste, and stormwater drainage) functioning as an important network for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in waters. We collected 98 studies containing data of the SARS-CoV-2 occurrence in aquatic matrices around the world, of which 40% were from developing countries. Alongside a significant number of people infected by the virus, developing countries face socioeconomic deficiencies and insufficient public investment in infrastructure. Therefore, our study focused on highlighting solutions to provide sanitation in developing countries, considering the virus control in waters by disinfection techniques and sanitary measures, including alternatives for the vulnerable communities. The need for multilateral efforts to improve the universal coverage of sanitation services demands urgent attention in a pandemic scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gleyson B Castro
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Aline C Bernegossi
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno José de O Sousa
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Fernando R Da Silva
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Luíza S Freitas
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Allan P Ogura
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
- PPG-SEA and CRHEA/SHS, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliano J Corbi
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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32
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Roman MD, Sava C, Iluțiu-Varvara DA, Mare R, Pruteanu LL, Pică EM, Jäntschi L. Biological Activated Sludge from Wastewater Treatment Plant before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11323. [PMID: 36141596 PMCID: PMC9517470 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the related measures brought a change in daily life that affected the characteristics of the municipal wastewater and further, of the biological activated sludge. The activated sludge process is the most widely used biological wastewater treatment process in developed areas. In this paper, we aim to show the situation of specific investigations concerning the variation of the physicochemical parameters and biological composition of the activated sludge from one conventional wastewater treatment plant from a metropolitan area. The investigations were carried out for three years: 2019, 2020 and 2021. The results showed the most representative taxa of microorganisms: Microtrix, Aspidisca cicada, Vorticella convallaria, Ciliata free of the unknown and Epistylis and Rotifers. Even if other microorganisms were found in the sludge flocs, their small presence did not influence in any way the quality of the activated sludge and of the wastewater treatment process. That is why we conclude that protozoa (especially Flagellates and Ciliates) and rotifers were the most important. Together with the values and variation of the physicochemical parameters, they indicated a good, healthy, and stable activated sludge, along with an efficient purifying treatment process, no matter the loading conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius-Daniel Roman
- Faculty of Building Services Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cornel Sava
- Faculty of Engineering Materials and the Environment, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Dana-Adriana Iluțiu-Varvara
- Faculty of Building Services Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Roxana Mare
- Faculty of Building Services Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Lavinia-Lorena Pruteanu
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, North University Center at Baia Mare, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 76 Victoriei Street, 430122 Baia Mare, Romania
| | - Elena Maria Pică
- Faculty of Engineering Materials and the Environment, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 28 Memorandumului Street, 400114 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Lorentz Jäntschi
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 103-105 Bd. Muncii, 400641 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Institute for Doctoral Studies, Babes-Bolyai University, 1 M. Kogălniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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33
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Zhang W, Dong T, Ai J, Fu Q, Zhang N, He H, Wang Q, Wang D. Mechanistic insights into the generation and control of Cl-DBPs during wastewater sludge chlorination disinfection process. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107389. [PMID: 35843072 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107389] [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: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Chlorination disinfection has been widely used to kill the pathogenic microorganisms in wastewater sludge during the special Covid-19 period, but sludge chlorination might cause the generation of harmful disinfection byproducts (DBPs). In this work, the transformation of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and mechanisms of Cl-DBPs generation during sludge disinfection by sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) were investigated using multispectral analysis in combination with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). The microorganism Escherichia coli (E. coli) was effectively inactivated by active chlorine generated from NaClO. However, a high diversity of Cl-DBPs were produced with the addition of NaClO into sludge, causing the increase of acute toxicity on Q67 luminous bacteria of chlorinated EPS. A variety of N-containing molecular formulas were produced after chlorination, but N-containing DBPs were not detected, which might be the indicative of the dissociation of -NH2 groups after Cl-DBPs generated. Additionally, the release of N-containing compounds was increased in alkaline environment caused by NaClO addition, resulted in more Cl-DBPs generation via nucleophilic substitutions. Whereas, less N-compounds and Cl-DBPs were detected after EPS chlorination under acidic environment, leading to lower cell cytotoxicity. Therefore, N-containing compounds of lignin derivatives in sludge were the major Cl-DBPs precursors, and acidic environment could control the release of N-compounds by eliminating the dissociation of functional groups in lignin derivatives, consequently reducing the generation and cytotoxicity of Cl-DBPs. This study highlights the importance to control the alkalinity of sludge to reduce Cl-DBPs generation prior to chlorination disinfection process, and ensure the safety of subsequential disposal for wastewater sludge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijun Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Tianyi Dong
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Ai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China.
| | - Qinglong Fu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Hang He
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Qilin Wang
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
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34
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Fahrenfeld NL, Morales Medina WR, D'Elia S, Deshpande AS, Ehasz G. Year-long wastewater monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 signals in combined and separate sanitary sewers. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2022; 94:e10768. [PMID: 35918060 PMCID: PMC9350404 DOI: 10.1002/wer.10768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 wastewater-based epidemiology has been performed in catchments of various sizes and sewer types with many short-term studies available and multi-seasonal studies emerging. The objective of this study was to compare weekly observations of SARS-CoV-2 genes in municipal wastewater across multiple seasons for different systems as a factor of sewer type (combined, separate sanitary) and system size. Sampling occurred following the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 cases in the study region (June 2020) and continued through the third wave (May 2021), the period during which clinical testing was widely available and different variants dominated clinical cases. The strongest correlations were observed between wastewater N1 concentrations and the cumulative clinical cases reported in the 2 weeks prior to wastewater sampling, followed by the week prior, new cases, and the week after wastewater sampling. Sewer type and size did not necessarily explain the strength of the correlations, indicating that other non-sewer factors may be impacting the observations. In-system sampling results for the largest system sampled are presented for 1 month. Removing wet weather days from the data sets improved even the flow-normalized correlations for the systems, potentially indicating that interpreting results during wet weather events may be more complicated than simply accounting for dilution. PRACTITIONER POINTS: SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater correlated best with total clinical cases reported in 2 weeks before wastewater sampling at the utility level. Study performed when clinical testing was widespread during the year after the first COVID-19 wave in the region. Sewer type and size did not necessarily explain correlation strength between clinical cases and wastewater-based epidemiology results. Removing wet weather days improved correlations for 3/4 utilities studied, including both separate sanitary and combined sewers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L. Fahrenfeld
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringRutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - William R. Morales Medina
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsRutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Present address:
American WaterDelranNew JerseyUSA
| | - Stephanie D'Elia
- Department of Biochemistry and MicrobiologyRutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Aishwarya S. Deshpande
- Department of Biochemistry and MicrobiologyRutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Genevieve Ehasz
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringRutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
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35
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Fahrenfeld NL, Morales Medina WR, D'Elia S, Deshpande AS, Ehasz G. Year-long wastewater monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 signals in combined and separate sanitary sewers. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2022; 94:e10768. [PMID: 35918060 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 wastewater-based epidemiology has been performed in catchments of various sizes and sewer types with many short-term studies available and multi-seasonal studies emerging. The objective of this study was to compare weekly observations of SARS-CoV-2 genes in municipal wastewater across multiple seasons for different systems as a factor of sewer type (combined, separate sanitary) and system size. Sampling occurred following the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 cases in the study region (June 2020) and continued through the third wave (May 2021), the period during which clinical testing was widely available and different variants dominated clinical cases. The strongest correlations were observed between wastewater N1 concentrations and the cumulative clinical cases reported in the 2 weeks prior to wastewater sampling, followed by the week prior, new cases, and the week after wastewater sampling. Sewer type and size did not necessarily explain the strength of the correlations, indicating that other non-sewer factors may be impacting the observations. In-system sampling results for the largest system sampled are presented for 1 month. Removing wet weather days from the data sets improved even the flow-normalized correlations for the systems, potentially indicating that interpreting results during wet weather events may be more complicated than simply accounting for dilution. PRACTITIONER POINTS: SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater correlated best with total clinical cases reported in 2 weeks before wastewater sampling at the utility level. Study performed when clinical testing was widespread during the year after the first COVID-19 wave in the region. Sewer type and size did not necessarily explain correlation strength between clinical cases and wastewater-based epidemiology results. Removing wet weather days improved correlations for 3/4 utilities studied, including both separate sanitary and combined sewers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Fahrenfeld
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - William R Morales Medina
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Stephanie D'Elia
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Aishwarya S Deshpande
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Genevieve Ehasz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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36
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Herazo MS, Nani G, Zurita F, Nakase C, Zamora S, Herazo LCS, Betanzo-Torres EA. A Review of the Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater: Transmission Risks in Mexico. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:8354. [PMID: 35886204 PMCID: PMC9324675 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The appearance of SARS-CoV-2 represented a new health threat to humanity and affected millions of people; the transmission of this virus occurs through different routes, and one of them recently under debate in the international community is its possible incorporation and spread by sewage. Therefore, the present work's research objectives are to review the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater throughout the world and to analyze the coverage of wastewater treatment in Mexico to determine if there is a correlation between the positive cases of COVID-19 and the percentages of treated wastewater in Mexico as well as to investigate the evidence of possible transmission by aerosol sand untreated wastewater. Methodologically, a quick search of scientific literature was performed to identify evidence the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (ribonucleic acid) in wastewater in four international databases. The statistical information of the positive cases of COVID-19 was obtained from data from the Health Secretary of the Mexican Government and the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The information from the wastewater treatment plants in Mexico was obtained from official information of the National Water Commission of Mexico. The results showed sufficient evidence that SARS-CoV-2 remains alive in municipal wastewater in Mexico. Our analysis indicates that there is a low but significant correlation between the percentage of treated water and positive cases of coronavirus r = -0.385, with IC (95%) = (-0.647, -0.042) and p = 0.030; this result should be taken with caution because wastewater is not a transmission mechanism, but this finding is useful to highlight the need to increase the percentage of treated wastewater and to do it efficiently. In conclusions, the virus is present in untreated wastewater, and the early detection of SAR-CoV-2 could serve as a bioindicator method of the presence of the virus. This could be of great help to establish surveillance measures by zones to take preventive actions, which to date have not been considered by the Mexican health authorities. Unfortunately, wastewater treatment systems in Mexico are very fragile, and coverage is limited to urban areas and non-existent in rural areas. Furthermore, although the probability of contagion is relatively low, it can be a risk for wastewater treatment plant workers and people who are close to them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayerlin Sandoval Herazo
- Department of Engineering in Business Management, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Misantla, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico; (M.S.H.); (G.N.)
- Wetland and Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, Division of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Misantla, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Graciela Nani
- Department of Engineering in Business Management, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Misantla, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico; (M.S.H.); (G.N.)
- Wetland and Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, Division of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Misantla, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Florentina Zurita
- Research Center in Environmental Quality, Centro Universitario de la Ciénega, Universidad de Guadalajara, Av. Universidad 1115, Ocotlán 4782, Jalisco, Mexico;
| | - Carlos Nakase
- Public Works Department, University of Local Government of Martínez de la Torre, Veracruz 93605, Veracruz, Mexico;
| | - Sergio Zamora
- Faculty of Engineering, Construction and Habitation, Universidad Veracruzana, Bv. Adolfo Ruíz Cortines 455, Costa Verde, Boca del Rio 94294, Veracruz, Mexico;
| | - Luis Carlos Sandoval Herazo
- Wetland and Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, Division of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Misantla, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres
- Estancia Postdoctoral CONACYT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) Tecnológico Nacional de México Campus Misantla, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico
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Tanimoto Y, Ito E, Miyamoto S, Mori A, Nomoto R, Nakanishi N, Oka N, Morimoto T, Iwamoto T. SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater Was Highly Correlated With the Number of COVID-19 Cases During the Fourth and Fifth Pandemic Wave in Kobe City, Japan. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:892447. [PMID: 35756040 PMCID: PMC9223763 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.892447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated respiratory infections, has been detected in the feces of patients. Therefore, determining SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in sewage may help to predict the number of infected people within the area. In this study, we quantified SARS-CoV-2 RNA copy number using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR with primers and probes targeting the N gene, which allows the detection of both wild-type and variant strain of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage samples from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Kobe City, Japan, during the fourth and fifth pandemic waves of COVID-19 between February 2021 and October 2021. The wastewater samples were concentrated via centrifugation, yielding a pelleted solid fraction and a supernatant, which was subjected to polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA was significantly and frequently detected in the solid fraction than in the PEG-precipitated fraction. In addition, the copy number in the solid fraction was highly correlated with the number of COVID-19 cases in the WWTP basin (WWTP-A: r = 0.8205, p < 0.001; WWTP-B: r = 0.8482, p < 0.001). The limit of capturing COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people was 0.75 cases in WWTP-A and 1.20 cases in WWTP-B, respectively. Quantitative studies of RNA in sewage can be useful for administrative purposes related to public health, including issuing warnings and implementing preventive measures within sewage basins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiko Tanimoto
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kobe Institute of Health, Kobe City, Japan
| | - Erika Ito
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kobe Institute of Health, Kobe City, Japan
| | - Sonoko Miyamoto
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kobe Institute of Health, Kobe City, Japan
| | - Ai Mori
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kobe Institute of Health, Kobe City, Japan
| | - Ryohei Nomoto
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kobe Institute of Health, Kobe City, Japan
| | - Noriko Nakanishi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kobe Institute of Health, Kobe City, Japan
| | - Naohiro Oka
- Planning Division, Sewage Works Department, Public Construction Projects Bureau, Kobe City, Japan
| | - Takao Morimoto
- Planning Division, Sewage Works Department, Public Construction Projects Bureau, Kobe City, Japan
| | - Tomotada Iwamoto
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kobe Institute of Health, Kobe City, Japan
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Extensive Wastewater-Based Epidemiology as a Resourceful Tool for SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance in a Low-to-Middle-Income Country through a Successful Collaborative Quest: WBE, Mobility, and Clinical Tests. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14121842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged healthcare systems worldwide. Efforts in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) cannot keep stride with infection rates, especially during peaks. A strong international collaboration between Arizona State University (ASU), Tec de Monterrey (TEC), and Servicios de Agua y Drenaje de Monterrey (Local Water Utilities) is acting to integrate wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) of SARS-CoV-2 in the region as a complementary approach to aid the healthcare system. Wastewater was collected from four sewer catchments in the Monterrey Metropolitan area in Mexico (pop. 4,643,232) from mid-April 2020 to February 2021 (44 weeks, n = 644). Raw wastewater was filtered and filter-concentrated, the RNA was extracted using columns, and the Charité/Berlin protocol was used for the RT-qPCR. The viral loads obtained between the first (June 2020) and second waves (February 2021) of the pandemic were similar; in contrast, the clinical cases were fewer during the first wave, indicating poor coverage. During the second wave of the pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 quantification in wastewater increased 14 days earlier than the COVID-19 clinical cases reported. This is the first long-term WBE study in Mexico and demonstrates its value in pandemic management.
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Ramírez-Chavarría RG, Castillo-Villanueva E, Alvarez-Serna BE, Carrillo-Reyes J, Ramírez-Zamora RM, Buitrón G, Alvarez-Icaza L. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification-based electrochemical sensor for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2022; 10:107488. [PMID: 35251932 PMCID: PMC8883760 DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2022.107488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The current pandemic COVID-19 caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has generated different economic, social and public health problems. Moreover, wastewater-based epidemiology could be a predictor of the virus rate of spread to alert on new outbreaks. To assist in epidemiological surveillance, this work introduces a simple, low-cost and affordable electrochemical sensor to specifically detect N and ORF1ab genes of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The proposed sensor works based on screen-printed electrodes acting as a disposable test strip, where the reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) reaction takes place. Electrochemical detection relies upon methylene blue as a redox intercalator probe, to provide a diffusion-controlled current encoding the presence and concentration of RT-LAMP products, namely amplicons or double-stranded DNA. We test the performance of the sensor by testing real wastewater samples using end-point and time course measurements. Results show the ability of the electrochemical test strip to specifically detect and quantify RT-LAMP amplicons below to ~ 2.5 × 10-6 ng/μL exhibiting high reproducibility. In this sense, our RT-LAMP electrochemical sensor is an attractive, efficient and powerful tool for rapid and reliable wastewater-based epidemiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth Castillo-Villanueva
- Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
| | - Bryan E Alvarez-Serna
- Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
| | - Julián Carrillo-Reyes
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Procesos Avanzados de Tratamiento de Aguas, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, México
| | | | - Germán Buitrón
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Procesos Avanzados de Tratamiento de Aguas, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, México
| | - Luis Alvarez-Icaza
- Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
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Owen C, Wright-Foulkes D, Alvarez P, Delgado H, Durance EC, Wells GF, Poretsky R, Shrestha A. Reduction and discharge of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Chicago-area water reclamation plants. FEMS MICROBES 2022; 3:xtac015. [PMID: 37332512 PMCID: PMC10117756 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtac015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA is commonly excreted in the feces and urine of infected individuals and is, therefore, detected in wastewaters where infection is present in the surrounding population. Water reclamation plants (WRPs) that treat these wastewaters commonly discharge treated effluents into the surrounding environment, yet little is known about the removal or persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA through wastewater treatment systems and potential for eventual release into the environment. We collected 361 24-hour composite influent and effluent samples from seven WRPs in the Greater Chicago Area in Illinois. Samples were collected over a period of 21 weeks for three large WRPs (with design max flows of 1.89-2.32 billion gallons per day and serving a combined population of 4.62 million people) and 11 weeks for four smaller WRPs (with design max flows of 96.3-186 million gallons per day and serving a combined population of >0.5 million people). A total of two of the larger WRPs implemented seasonal disinfection (using UV light or chlorination/dechlorination) for 8 weeks of this sampling period. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was quantified in the influent and effluent samples by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) of the N1 and N2 targets of the nucleocapsid (N) gene. Although SARS-CoV-2 RNA was regularly detected in influent and effluent from all WRPs, viral RNA concentrations in the effluent samples were considerably lower, with mean effluent: influent gene copy concentration ratios ranging from 1:160 to 1:2.95 between WRPs. Samples collected while disinfection was active vs. inactive did not show any significant difference in the portion of RNA persisting through the treatment process (P > .05).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Owen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
| | - Dorothy Wright-Foulkes
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
| | - Prisila Alvarez
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
| | - Haidy Delgado
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
| | - Eva C Durance
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
| | - George F Wells
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
| | - Rachel Poretsky
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
| | - Abhilasha Shrestha
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
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Effect of Time and Temperature on SARS-CoV-2 in Municipal Wastewater Conveyance Systems. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14091373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 is becoming a widespread public health metric, but little is known about pre-analytical influences on these measurements. We examined SARS-CoV-2 loads from two sewer service areas with different travel times that were within the same metropolitan area. Throughout the one-year study, case rates were nearly identical between the two service areas allowing us to compare differences in empirical concentrations relative to conveyance system characteristics and wastewater treatment plant parameters. We found time did not have a significant effect on degradation of SARS-CoV-2 when using average transit times (22 vs. 7.5 h) (p = 0.08), or under low flow conditions when transit times are greater (p = 0.14). Flow increased rather than decreased SARS-CoV-2 case-adjusted concentrations, but this increase was only significant in one service area. Warmer temperatures (16.8–19.8 °C) compared with colder (8.4–12.3 °C) reduced SARS-CoV-2 case-adjusted loads by ~50% in both plants (p < 0.05). Decreased concentrations in warmer temperatures may be an important factor to consider when comparing seasonal dynamics. Oxygen demand and suspended solids had no significant effect on SARS-CoV-2 case-adjusted loads overall. Understanding wastewater conveyance system influences prior to sample collection will improve comparisons of regional or national data for SARS-CoV-2 community infections.
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Thongpradit S, Prasongtanakij S, Srisala S, Kumsang Y, Chanprasertyothin S, Boonkongchuen P, Pitidhammabhorn D, Manomaipiboon P, Somchaiyanon P, Chandanachulaka S, Hirunrueng T, Ongphiphadhanakul B. A Simple Method to Detect SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater at Low Virus Concentration. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2022:4867626. [PMID: 35242195 PMCID: PMC8888108 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4867626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Since its initial appearance in December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread globally. Wastewater surveillance has been demonstrated as capable of identifying infection clusters early. The purpose of this study was to investigate a quick and simple method to detect SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Thailand during the early stages of the second outbreak wave when the prevalence of the disease and the virus concentration in wastewater were low. Methods Wastewater samples were collected from a hospital caring for patients with COVID-19 and from 35 markets, two of which were associated with recently reported COVID-19 cases. Then, samples were concentrated by membrane filtering prior to SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR. Results SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the wastewater samples from the hospital; the Ct values for the N, ORF1ab, and S genes progressively increased as the number of patients admitted to the treatment floor decreased. Notably, the ORF1ab and S genes were still detectable in wastewater even when only one patient with COVID-19 remained at the hospital. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the wastewater samples from fresh market where COVID-19 cases were reported. Conclusions Our findings suggest that wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 is sensitive and can detect the virus even in places with a high ambient temperature and relatively low prevalence of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supranee Thongpradit
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand
| | - Somsak Prasongtanakij
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand
| | - Supanart Srisala
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand
| | - Yothin Kumsang
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand
| | | | - Pairoj Boonkongchuen
- Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Salaya, Samut Prakan, Thailand
| | - Dhanesh Pitidhammabhorn
- Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Salaya, Samut Prakan, Thailand
| | | | | | | | | | - Boonsong Ongphiphadhanakul
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand
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43
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The Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the Environment: Lessons from Wastewater. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14040599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Wastewater has historically been an important source of enteric pathogens, as well as a source of unconventational or unexpected pathogens, including those present in the respiratory tract, saliva, urine, and blood. This is the case with SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the most recent pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in wastewater across various geographical regions prior to, and during, the report of cases. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is usually performed using molecular techniques targeting specific genomic regions. High-throughput sequencing techniques, both untargeted and targeted or amplicon-based, are also being applied in combination with molecular techniques for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants to determine the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relatedness. The identification of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater has a number of epidemiological, biological, and ecological applications, which can be incorporated into future outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics.
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Patrício Silva AL, Tubić A, Vujić M, Soares AMVM, Duarte AC, Barcelò D, Rocha-Santos T. Implications of COVID-19 pandemic on environmental compartments: Is plastic pollution a major issue? JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 5:100041. [PMID: 36743854 PMCID: PMC8702633 DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2021.100041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 anthropause has impacted human activities and behaviour, resulting in substantial environmental and ecological changes. It has assisted in restoring the ecological systems by improving, for instance, air and water quality and decreasing the anthropogenic pressure on wildlife and natural environments. Notwithstanding, such improvements recessed back, even to a greater extent, when considering increased medical waste, hazardous disinfectants and other chemical compounds, and plastic waste disposal or mismanagement. This work critically reviews the short- and long-term implications of measures against COVID-19 spreading, namely on human activities and different environmental compartments. Furthermore, this paper highlights strategies towards environmental restoration, as the recovery of the lost environment during COVID-19 lockdown suggests that the environmental degradation caused by humans can be reversible. Thus, we can no longer delay concerted international actions to address biodiversity, sustainable development, and health emergencies to ensure environmental resilience and equitable recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L Patrício Silva
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Aleksandra Tubić
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, Novi Sad 21000, Serbia
| | - Maja Vujić
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, Novi Sad 21000, Serbia
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Armando C Duarte
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Damià Barcelò
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, H2O Building, Emili Grahit 101, Girona 17003, Spain
- Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - Teresa Rocha-Santos
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal
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Gwenzi W. Wastewater, waste, and water-based epidemiology (WWW-BE): A novel hypothesis and decision-support tool to unravel COVID-19 in low-income settings? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150680. [PMID: 34599955 PMCID: PMC8481624 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Traditional wastewater-based epidemiology (W-BE) relying on SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in wastewater is attractive for understanding COVID-19. Yet traditional W-BE based on centralized wastewaters excludes putative SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs such as: (i) wastewaters from shared on-site sanitation facilities, (ii) solid waste including faecal sludge from non-flushing on-site sanitation systems, and COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE), (iii) raw/untreated water, and (iv) drinking water supply systems in low-income countries (LICs). A novel hypothesis and decision-support tool based on Wastewater (on-site sanitation, municipal sewer systems), solid Waste, and raw/untreated and drinking Water-based epidemiology (WWW-BE) is proposed for understanding COVID-19 in LICs. The WWW-BE conceptual framework, including components and principles is presented. Evidence on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and its proxies in wastewaters, solid materials/waste (papers, metals, fabric, plastics), and raw/untreated surface water, groundwater and drinking water is discussed. Taken together, wastewaters from municipal sewer and on-site sanitation systems, solid waste such as faecal sludge and COVID-19 PPE, raw/untreated surface water and groundwater, and drinking water systems in LICs act as potential reservoirs that receive and harbour SARS-CoV-2, and then transmit it to humans. Hence, WWW-BE could serve a dual function in estimating the prevalence and potential transmission of COVID-19. Several applications of WWW-BE as a hypothesis and decision support tool in LICs are discussed. WWW-BE aggregates data from various infected persons in a spatial unit, hence, putatively requires less resources (analytical kits, personnel) than individual diagnostic testing, making it an ideal decision-support tool for LICs. The novelty, and a critique of WWW-BE versus traditional W-BE are presented. Potential challenges of WWW-BE include: (i) biohazards and biosafety risks, (ii) lack of expertise, analytical equipment, and accredited laboratories, and (iii) high uncertainties in estimates of COVID-19 cases. Future perspectives and research directions including key knowledge gaps and the application of novel and emerging technologies in WWW-BE are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willis Gwenzi
- Biosystems and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Food Systems, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
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López-Maldonado J, Rivera F, Castañeda-Zaldívar F. Numerical and experimental evaluation of the general performance in a modular electrochemical reactor and its feasibility for electro-chlorination purposes: Effect of the different electrode assembly configurations. Chem Eng Res Des 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Hrudey SE, Conant B. The devil is in the details: emerging insights on the relevance of wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 to public health. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2022; 20:246-270. [PMID: 35100171 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2021.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The severe health consequences and global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have necessitated the rapid development of surveillance programs to inform public health responses. Efforts to support surveillance capacity have included an unprecedented global research response into the use of genetic signals of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater following the initial demonstration of the virus' detectability in wastewater in early 2020. The confirmation of fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 from asymptomatic, infected and recovering individuals further supports the potential for wastewater analysis to augment public health conventional surveillance techniques based on clinical testing of symptomatic individuals. We have reviewed possible capabilities projected for wastewater surveillance to support pandemic management, including independent, objective and cost-effective data generation that complements and addresses attendant limitations of clinical surveillance, early detection (i.e., prior to clinical reporting) of infection, estimation of disease prevalence, tracking of trends as possible indicators of success or failure of public health measures (mask mandates, lockdowns, vaccination, etc.), informing and engaging the public about pandemic trends, an application within sewer networks to identify infection hotspots, monitoring for presence or changes in infections from institutions (e.g., long-term care facilities, prisons, educational institutions and vulnerable industrial plants) and tracking of appearance/progression of viral variants of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve E Hrudey
- Analytical & Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G3, Canada E-mail:
| | - Bernadette Conant
- Canadian Water Network, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue W, Waterloo ON N2L 3G1, Canada
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Sangkham S. A review on detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater in light of the current knowledge of treatment process for removal of viral fragments. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 299:113563. [PMID: 34488114 PMCID: PMC8373619 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The entire globe is affected by the novel disease of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV), which is formally recognised as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced this disease as a global pandemic. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in unprocessed wastewater has become a cause of worry due to these emerging pathogens in the process of wastewater treatment, as reported in the present study. This analysis intends to interpret the fate, environmental factors and route of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, along with its eradication by treating the wastewater for controlling and preventing its further spread. Different recovery estimations of the virus have been depicted by the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater through the viral concentration techniques. Most frequently used viral concentration techniques include polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation, ultrafiltration, electronegative membrane, and ultracentrifugation, after which the detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA are done in wastewater samples through quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) holds the key responsibility of eliminating pathogens prior to the discharge of wastewater into surface water bodies. The removal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA at the treatment stage is dependent on the operations of wastewater treatment systems during the outbreak of the virus; particularly, in the urban and extensively populated regions. Efficient primary, secondary and tertiary methods of wastewater treatment and disinfection can reduce or inactivate SARS-CoV-2 RNA before being drained out. Nonetheless, further studies regarding COVID-19-related disinfectants, environment conditions and viral concentrations in each treatment procedure, implications on the environment and regular monitoring of transmission need to be done urgently. Hence, monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 RNA in samples of wastewater under the procedure of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) supplement the real-time data pertaining to the investigation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the community, regional and national levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarawut Sangkham
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Muang District, Phayao, 56000, Thailand.
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Kumblathan T, Liu Y, Uppal GK, Hrudey SE, Li XF. Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for Community Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2: Progress and Challenges. ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU 2021; 1:18-31. [PMID: 37579255 PMCID: PMC8340581 DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.1c00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is useful for the surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in communities, complementing clinical diagnostic testing of individuals. In this Review, we summarize recent progress and highlight remaining challenges in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater systems for community and environmental surveillance. Very low concentrations of viral particles and RNA present in the complicated wastewater and sewage sample matrix require efficient sample processing and sensitive detection. We discuss advantages and limitations of available methods for wastewater sample processing, including collection, separation, enrichment, RNA extraction, and purification. Efficient extraction of the viral RNA and removal of interfering sample matrices are critical to the subsequent reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. We emphasize the importance of implementing appropriate controls and method validation, which include the use of surrogate viruses for assessing extraction efficiency and normalization against measurable chemical and biological components in wastewater. Critical analysis of the published studies reveals imperative research needs for the development, validation, and standardization of robust and sensitive methods for quantitative detection of viral RNA and proteins in wastewater for WBE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gursharan K. Uppal
- Division of Analytical and
Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology,
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University
of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2G3
| | - Steve E. Hrudey
- Division of Analytical and
Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology,
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University
of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2G3
| | - Xing-Fang Li
- Division of Analytical and
Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology,
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University
of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2G3
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Liu Z, Skowron K, Grudlewska-Buda K, Wiktorczyk-Kapischke N. The existence, spread, and strategies for environmental monitoring and control of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental media. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 795:148949. [PMID: 34252782 PMCID: PMC8262394 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most influential infectious disease to emerge in the early 21st century. The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a great many deaths and has had a negative impact on the world's economic development. The etiological agent of COVID-19 is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2, which is highly infectious and variable, can be transmitted through different environmental media (gaseous, liquid, and solid). There are many unanswered questions surrounding this virus. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the latest global COVID-19 epidemic situation, SARS-CoV-2 variants, the progress in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine use, and the existence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in gaseous, liquid, and solid media, with particular emphasis on the prevention and control of further spread of the disease. This review aims to help people worldwide to become more familiar with the transmission characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental media, so as targeted measures to fight the epidemic, reduce deaths, and restore the economy can be implemented under the pressure of global SARS-CoV-2 vaccine shortages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongchuang Liu
- Green Intelligence Environmental School, Yangtze Normal University, 16 Juxian Rd. Lidu, Fuling District of Chongqing, China; Chongqing Multiple-source Technology Engineering Research Center for Ecological Environment Monitoring, Yangtze Normal University, 16 Juxian Rd. Lidu, Fuling District of Chongqing, China.
| | - Krzysztof Skowron
- Department of Microbiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum of L. Rydygier in Bydgoszcz, 9 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Street, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Grudlewska-Buda
- Department of Microbiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum of L. Rydygier in Bydgoszcz, 9 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Street, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Natalia Wiktorczyk-Kapischke
- Department of Microbiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum of L. Rydygier in Bydgoszcz, 9 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Street, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
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