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Tiwari A, Radu E, Kreuzinger N, Ahmed W, Pitkänen T. Key considerations for pathogen surveillance in wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 945:173862. [PMID: 38876348 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater surveillance (WWS) has received significant attention as a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective tool for monitoring various pathogens in a community. WWS is employed to assess the spatial and temporal trends of diseases and identify their early appearances and reappearances, as well as to detect novel and mutated variants. However, the shedding rates of pathogens vary significantly depending on factors such as disease severity, the physiology of affected individuals, and the characteristics of pathogen. Furthermore, pathogens may exhibit differential fate and decay kinetics in the sewerage system. Variable shedding rates and decay kinetics may affect the detection of pathogens in wastewater. This may influence the interpretation of results and the conclusions of WWS studies. When selecting a pathogen for WWS, it is essential to consider it's specific characteristics. If data are not readily available, factors such as fate, decay, and shedding rates should be assessed before conducting surveillance. Alternatively, these factors can be compared to those of similar pathogens for which such data are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananda Tiwari
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health Security, Kuopio, Finland; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Elena Radu
- Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/226, 1040 Vienna, Austria; Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, 285 Mihai Bravu Avenue, 030304 Bucharest, Romania; University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Department of Virology, 37 Dionisie Lupu Street, 020021 Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Norbert Kreuzinger
- Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/226, 1040 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Environment, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Health Security, Kuopio, Finland; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Helsinki, Finland.
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2
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Langa IM, Lado Ribeiro AR, Ratola N, Gonçalves VMF, Tiritan ME, Ribeiro C. Amphetamine-like substances and synthetic cathinones in Portuguese wastewater influents: Enantiomeric profiling and role of suspended particulate matter. Forensic Sci Int 2024; 361:112128. [PMID: 39002412 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) has been used worldwide to estimate drug consumption routinely. Even though WBE provides valuable data to support legal and health interventions associated to drug use, monitoring studies in Portuguese wastewaters are scarce. Hence, this work aimed to estimate the consumption of some conventional abuse and illicit drugs such as amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MAMP), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and the synthetic cathinones buphedrone (BPD), butylone (BTL), 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone (3,4-DMMC) and 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC), considering not only the liquid phase, but also the suspended particulate matter (SPM). Moreover, the enantiomeric profiling of the samples was studied, exploring for the first time the possible enantioselective sorption of these drugs onto SPM. For that, 24 h composite raw wastewaters were collected from a conventional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Portugal. After extraction, the liquid phase and SPM extracts were derivatized with an enantiomerically pure reagent and then, analysed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analytical method. The results showed a low and non-enantioselective adsorption to SPM at environmental relevant levels. Only (S)-AMP was detected in two SPM samples, whereas AMP, MAMP, MDMA, BPD, and 3,4-DMMC were detected in the liquid phase. AMP was the most frequently found drug with an estimated load up to 166.0 mg day-1 1000 people-1 and mostly found with enrichment of (S)-AMP. Nevertheless, (R)-AMP was also determined, which may be related to the consumption of either the illicit racemic AMP or the medicine (R)-deprenyl. The use of MDMA, MAMP and synthetic cathinones (BPD and 3,4-DMMC) was also suggested in Portugal. Nevertheless, the levels and the consumption estimate of the target chemicals were lower than in other European countries or worldwide. These findings provide the first step to the implementation of WBE monitoring campaigns to assess the status of drug consumption in Portuguese communities, contributing to the understanding of drug use patterns and trends worldwide and helping enforce preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan M Langa
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University Institute of Health Sciences - CESPU, Gandra 4585-116, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Translational Toxicology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Health Sciences (1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU), Gandra 4585-116, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Lado Ribeiro
- LSRE-LCM - Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal; AliCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Nuno Ratola
- AliCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal
| | - Virgínia M F Gonçalves
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University Institute of Health Sciences - CESPU, Gandra 4585-116, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Translational Toxicology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Health Sciences (1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU), Gandra 4585-116, Portugal
| | - Maria Elizabeth Tiritan
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University Institute of Health Sciences - CESPU, Gandra 4585-116, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Translational Toxicology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Health Sciences (1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU), Gandra 4585-116, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Center for marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Port of Leixões Cruise Terminal, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, Matosinhos, Portugal; Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Porto 4050-313, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Ribeiro
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University Institute of Health Sciences - CESPU, Gandra 4585-116, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Translational Toxicology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Health Sciences (1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU), Gandra 4585-116, Portugal.
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3
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Ramos B, Lourenço AB, Monteiro S, Santos R, Cunha MV. Metagenomic profiling of raw wastewater in Portugal highlights microbiota and resistome signatures of public health interest beyond the usual suspects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174272. [PMID: 38925382 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
In response to the rapid emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB) and genes (ARGs), integrated surveillance systems are needed to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within the One Health Era. Wastewater analyses enable biomarker monitoring at the sewershed level, offering timely insights into pathogen circulation and ARB/ARGs trends originating from different compartments. During two consecutive epidemic waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal, taxonomic and functional composition of raw urban wastewater from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) representing one million in equivalent population, located in the main urban areas of the country, were profiled by shotgun metagenomics. Hospital wastewater from two central hospitals located in the WWTPs catchment areas were also sequenced. The resistome and virulome were profiled using metagenomic assemblies without taxonomic constraint, and then specifically characterized for ESKAPE pathogens. Urban and hospital wastewater exhibited specific microbiota signatures, Pseudomonadota dominated in the first and Bacteroidota in the latter. Correlation network analyses highlighted 85 (out of top 100) genera co-occurring across samples. The most frequent ARGs were classified in the multidrug, tetracyclines, and Macrolides, Lincosamides, Streptogramins (MLS) classes. Links established between AMR determinants and bacterial hosts evidenced that the diversity and abundance of ARGs is not restricted to ESKAPE, being also highly predominant among emergent enteropathogens, like Aeromonas and Aliarcobacter, or in the iron (II) oxidizer Acidovorax. The Aliarcobacter genus accumulated high abundance of sulphonamides and polymyxins ARGs, while Acinetobacter and Aeromonas hosted the highest abundance of ARGs against beta-lactams. Other bacteria (e.g. Clostridioides, Francisella, Vibrio cholerae) and genes (e.g. vanA-type vancomycin resistance) of public health interest were detected, with targeted monitoring efforts being needed to establish informative baseline data. Altogether, results highlight that wastewater monitoring is a valuable component of pathogen and AMR surveillance in healthy populations, providing a community-representative snapshot of public health trends beyond priority pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Ramos
- Pathogen Biology & Global Health Laboratory, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Artur B Lourenço
- Pathogen Biology & Global Health Laboratory, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Silvia Monteiro
- Laboratório de Águas, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Department of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering (DECN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Bobadela, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Santos
- Laboratório de Águas, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Department of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering (DECN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Bobadela, Portugal
| | - Mónica V Cunha
- Pathogen Biology & Global Health Laboratory, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Anastopoulou Z, Kotsiri Z, Chorti-Tripsa E, Fokas R, Vantarakis A. Urban Wastewater-Based Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Virus: A Two-Year Study Conducted in City of Patras, Greece. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2024:10.1007/s12560-024-09601-7. [PMID: 38829460 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-024-09601-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology, during the COVID-19 pandemic years, has been applied as a complementary approach, worldwide, for tracking SARS-CoV-2 virus into the community and used as an early warning of the prevalence of COVID-19 infection. The present study presents the results of the 2-year surveillance project, in the city of Patras, Greece. The purpose of the study was to monitor SARS-CoV-2 and implement WBE as an early warning method of monitoring Public Health impact. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 was determined and quantified in 310 samples using RT-qPCR assays. For the years 2022 and 2023, 93.5% and 78.7% of samples were found positive, respectively. Comparison of detection methods have been conducted to select the method with the highest recovery of the viral load. A seasonal variation of the virus was recorded, showing a recession in summer months confirming the country's epidemiological data as indicated by positive correlation of wastewater viral load with registered cases of COVID-19 infections during these years (p < 0.05) and moreover sealed with a significant negative correlation observed with Daily Average (p < 0.01) and Daily Maximum Temperature (p < 0.01). More research was carried out to elucidate a possible association of physicochemical characteristics of wastewater with viral load showing positive correlation with Chlorides (p < 0.01) advocating possible increased use of chlorine-based disinfectants and Electrical Conductivity (p < 0.01) indicates that wastewater during periods of increased infections is more heavily loaded with ions from chemical and biological pollutants. No correlation found with rainfall and physicochemical indicators, such as COD, BOD5, Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen, and Total Suspended Solids. According to the findings, WBE represents a useful tool in the management of epidemics based on an environmental approach and it can also shed light on the interacting parameters that capture Public Health since any infections that may lead to epidemics lead to a parallel change in the use of pharmaceuticals, antimicrobials, disinfectants, and microbial load in urban wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoi Anastopoulou
- Department of Medicine, Environmental Microbiology Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
| | - Zoi Kotsiri
- Department of Medicine, Environmental Microbiology Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Chorti-Tripsa
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, Greece
| | - Rafail Fokas
- Department of Medicine, Environmental Microbiology Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Apostolos Vantarakis
- Department of Medicine, Environmental Microbiology Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
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5
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Pasha ABT, Kotlarz N, Holcomb D, Reckling S, Kays J, Bailey E, Guidry V, Christensen A, Berkowitz S, Engel LS, de Los Reyes F, Harris A. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from a shared septic system and sub-sewershed sites to expand COVID-19 disease surveillance. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2024; 22:978-992. [PMID: 38935450 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2024.303] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology has expanded as a tool for collecting COVID-19 surveillance data, but there is limited information on the feasibility of this form of surveillance within decentralized wastewater systems (e.g., septic systems). This study assessed SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater samples from a septic system servicing a mobile home park (66 households) and from two pumping stations serving a similarly sized (71 households) and a larger (1,000 households) neighborhood within a nearby sewershed over 35 weeks in 2020. Also, raw wastewater from a hospital in the same sewershed was sampled. The mobile home park samples had the highest detection frequency (39/39 days) and mean concentration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (2.7 × 107 gene copies/person/day for the N1) among the four sampling sites. N1 gene and N2 gene copies were highly correlated across mobile home park samples (Pearson's r = 0.93, p < 0.0001). In the larger neighborhood, new COVID-19 cases were reported every week during the sampling period; however, we detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 12% of the corresponding wastewater samples. The results of this study suggest that sampling from decentralized wastewater infrastructure can be used for continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Tanvir Pasha
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University (NC State), 915 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Nadine Kotlarz
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - David Holcomb
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stacie Reckling
- Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Judith Kays
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University (NC State), 915 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | | | - Virginia Guidry
- Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Ariel Christensen
- Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Steven Berkowitz
- Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Lawrence S Engel
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Francis de Los Reyes
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University (NC State), 915 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Angela Harris
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University (NC State), 915 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA E-mail:
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Williams RC, Farkas K, Garcia-Delgado A, Adwan L, Kevill JL, Cross G, Weightman AJ, Jones DL. Simultaneous detection and characterization of common respiratory pathogens in wastewater through genomic sequencing. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 256:121612. [PMID: 38642537 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121612] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 has given insight into the evolution and epidemiology of the virus and its variant lineages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Expanding this approach to include a range of respiratory pathogens can better inform public health preparedness for potential outbreaks and epidemics. Here, we simultaneously sequenced 38 pathogens including influenza viruses, coronaviruses and bocaviruses, to examine the abundance and seasonality of respiratory pathogens in urban wastewater. We deployed a targeted bait capture method and short-read sequencing (Illumina Respiratory Virus Oligos Panel; RVOP) on composite wastewater samples from 8 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and one associated hospital site. By combining seasonal sampling with whole genome sequencing, we were able to concurrently detect and characterise a range of common respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, adenovirus and parainfluenza virus. We demonstrated that 38 respiratory pathogens can be detected at low abundances year-round, that hospital pathogen diversity is higher in winter vs. summer sampling events, and that significantly more viruses are detected in raw influent compared to treated effluent samples. Finally, we compared detection sensitivity of RT-qPCR vs. next generation sequencing for SARS-CoV-2, enteroviruses, influenza A/B, and respiratory syncytial viruses. We conclude that both should be used in combination; RT-qPCR allowed accurate quantification, whilst genomic sequencing detected pathogens at lower abundance. We demonstrate the valuable role of wastewater genomic surveillance and its contribution to the field of wastewater-based epidemiology, gaining rapid understanding of the seasonal presence and persistence for common respiratory pathogens. By simultaneously monitoring seasonal trends and early warning signs of many viruses circulating in communities, public health agencies can implement targeted prevention and rapid response plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C Williams
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK.
| | - Kata Farkas
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Alvaro Garcia-Delgado
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Latifah Adwan
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Jessica L Kevill
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Gareth Cross
- Science Evidence Advice Division, Health and Social Services Group, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ, UK
| | - Andrew J Weightman
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Davey L Jones
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch WA 6150, Australia
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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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Singh R, Ryu J, Park SS, Kim S, Kim K. Monitoring viruses and beta-lactam resistance genes through wastewater surveillance during a COVID-19 surge in Suwon, South Korea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171223. [PMID: 38417514 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171223] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
The present study reports data on a long-term campaign for monitoring SARS-CoV-2, norovirus, hepatitis A virus, and beta-lactam resistance genes in wastewater samples from a wastewater treatment plant during COVID-19 surge in Suwon, South Korea. Real-time digital PCR (RT-dPCR) assays indicated 100 % occurrence of all but hepatitis A virus and blaNDM gene in influent wastewater samples. CDC-N1 assay detected SARS-CoV-2 in all influent samples with an average log-transformed concentration of 5.1 ± 0.39 and the highest level at 6.02 gene copies/L. All samples were also positive for norovirus throughout the study with a mean concentration 5.67 ± 0.65 log10 gene copies/L. On the contrary, all treated wastewater (effluent) tested negative for both viruses' genetic materials. Furthermore, plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases (PABLs) genes blaDHA, blaACC, and blaFOX, extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) genes blaTEM and blaCTX, and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (blaKPC) gene were measured at average concentrations of 7.05 ± 0.26, 5.60 ± 0.35, 7.82 ± 0.43, 8.38 ± 0.20, 7.64 ± 0.29, and 7.62 ± 0.41 log10 gene copies/L wastewater, respectively. Beta-lactam resistance genes showed strong correlations (r), the highest being 0.86 for blaKPC - blaFOX, followed by 0.82 for blaTEM - blaCTX and 0.79 for blaTEM - blaDHA. SARS-CoV-2 RNA occurrence in the wastewater was strongly associated (r = 0.796) with COVID-19 cases in the catchment during the initial study period of six months. A positive association of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA with the prevalence of COVID-19 cases showed a promising role of community-scale monitoring of pathogens to provide considerable early signals of infection dynamics. High concentrations of beta-lactam resistance genes in wastewater indicated a high concern for one of the biggest global health threats in South Korea and the need to find control measures. Moreover, antibiotic-resistance genes in treated wastewater flowing through water bodies and agricultural environments indicate further dissemination of antibiotic resistance traits and increasing microbial antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendra Singh
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Jaewon Ryu
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Sung Soo Park
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Sungpyo Kim
- Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong City 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Keugtae Kim
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Dongguk University, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
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Reis AC, Pinto D, Monteiro S, Santos R, Martins JV, Sousa A, Páscoa R, Lourinho R, Cunha MV. Systematic SARS-CoV-2 S-gene sequencing in wastewater samples enables early lineage detection and uncovers rare mutations in Portugal. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:170961. [PMID: 38367735 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170961] [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: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
As the COVID-19 pandemic reached its peak, many countries implemented genomic surveillance systems to track the evolution and transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Transition from the pandemic to the endemic phase prioritized alternative testing strategies to maintain effective epidemic surveillance at the population level, with less intensive sequencing efforts. One such promising approach was Wastewater-Based Surveillance (WBS), which offers non-invasive, cost-effective means for analysing virus trends at the sewershed level. From 2020 onwards, wastewater has been recognized as an instrumental source of information for public health, with national and international authorities exploring options to implement national wastewater surveillance systems and increasingly relying on WBS as early warning of potential pathogen outbreaks. In Portugal, several pioneer projects joined the academia, water utilities and Public Administration around WBS. To validate WBS as an effective genomic surveillance strategy, it is crucial to collect long term performance data. In this work, we present one year of systematic SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance in Portugal, representing 35 % of the mainland population. We employed two complementary methods for lineage determination - allelic discrimination by RT-PCR and S-gene sequencing. This combination allowed us to monitor variant evolution in near-real-time and identify low-frequency mutations. Over the course of this year-long study, spanning from May 2022 to April 2023, we successfully tracked the dominant Omicron sub-lineages, their progression and evolution, which aligned with concurrent clinical surveillance data. Our results underscore the effectiveness of WBS as a tracking system for virus variants, with the ability to unveil mutations undetected via massive sequencing of clinical samples from Portugal, demonstrating the ability of WBS to uncover new mutations and detect rare genetic variants. Our findings emphasize that knowledge of the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 at the population level can be extended far beyond via the combination of routine clinical genomic surveillance with wastewater sequencing and genotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C Reis
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Daniela Pinto
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Monteiro
- Laboratório de Análises, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; CERIS - Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; DECN - Department of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Santos
- Laboratório de Análises, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; CERIS - Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; DECN - Department of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | - Mónica V Cunha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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10
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Toribio-Avedillo D, Gómez-Gómez C, Sala-Comorera L, Galofré B, Muniesa M. Adapted methods for monitoring influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus in sludge and wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170636. [PMID: 38331285 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170636] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater-based surveillance constitutes a valuable methodology for the continuous monitoring of viral circulation, with the capacity to function as an early warning system. It holds particular significance in scenarios where respiratory viruses exhibit overlapping clinical presentations, as occurs with SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus (IV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and allows seasonal virus outbreaks to be distinguished from COVID-19 peaks. Furthermore, sewage sludge, given it harbors concentrated human waste from a large population, serves as a substantial reservoir for pathogen detection. To effectively integrate wastewater-based epidemiology into infectious disease surveillance, the detection methods employed in wastewater samples must be adapted to the distinct characteristics of sludge matrices. In this study, we adapted and applied protocols for the detection of IV and RSV in sewage sludge, comparing their performance with the results obtained in wastewater. To assess the efficiency of these protocols, sludge and wastewater samples were spiked with IV and RSV RNA, either free or incorporated in lentiviral particles. Samples were concentrated using the aluminum hydroxide adsorption-precipitation method before viral RNA extraction. Absolute virus quantification was carried out by RT-qPCR, including an internal control to monitor potential inhibitory factors. Recovery efficiencies for both free IV and RSV RNA were 60 % in sludge, and 75 % and 71 % respectively in wastewater, whereas the values for IV and RSV RNA in lentiviral particles were 16 % and 10 % in sludge and 21 % and 17 % in wastewater respectively. Additionally, the protocol enabled the quantification of naturally occurring IV and RSV in wastewater and sludge samples collected from two wastewater treatment plants during the winter months, thus affirming the efficacy of the employed methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Toribio-Avedillo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643 Annex, Floor 0, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Gómez-Gómez
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643 Annex, Floor 0, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Sala-Comorera
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643 Annex, Floor 0, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belén Galofré
- Aigües de Barcelona, Empresa Metropolitana de Gestió del Cicle Integral de l'Aigua, General Batet 1-7, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Maite Muniesa
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643 Annex, Floor 0, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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11
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Anupong S, Chadsuthi S, Hongsing P, Hurst C, Phattharapornjaroen P, Rad S.M. AH, Fernandez S, Huang AT, Vatanaprasan P, Saethang T, Luk-in S, Storer RJ, Ounjai P, Devanga Ragupathi NK, Kanthawee P, Ngamwongsatit N, Badavath VN, Thuptimdang W, Leelahavanichkul A, Kanjanabuch T, Miyanaga K, Cui L, Nanbo A, Shibuya K, Kupwiwat R, Sano D, Furukawa T, Sei K, Higgins PG, Kicic A, Singer AC, Chatsuwan T, Trowsdale S, Abe S, Ishikawa H, Amarasiri M, Modchang C, Wannigama DL. Exploring indoor and outdoor dust as a potential tool for detection and monitoring of COVID-19 transmission. iScience 2024; 27:109043. [PMID: 38375225 PMCID: PMC10875567 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109043] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the potential of using SARS-CoV-2 viral concentrations in dust as an additional surveillance tool for early detection and monitoring of COVID-19 transmission. Dust samples were collected from 8 public locations in 16 districts of Bangkok, Thailand, from June to August 2021. SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in dust were quantified, and their correlation with community case incidence was assessed. Our findings revealed a positive correlation between viral concentrations detected in dust and the relative risk of COVID-19. The highest risk was observed with no delay (0-day lag), and this risk gradually decreased as the lag time increased. We observed an overall decline in viral concentrations in public places during lockdown, closely associated with reduced human mobility. The effective reproduction number for COVID-19 transmission remained above one throughout the study period, suggesting that transmission may persist in locations beyond public areas even after the lockdown measures were in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suparinthon Anupong
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sudarat Chadsuthi
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
| | - Parichart Hongsing
- Mae Fah Luang University Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand
- School of Integrative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand
| | - Cameron Hurst
- Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, Charles Darwin University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Statistics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen
- Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ali Hosseini Rad S.M.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago 9010, New Zealand
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Stefan Fernandez
- Department of Virology, U.S. Army Medical Directorate, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Angkana T. Huang
- Department of Virology, U.S. Army Medical Directorate, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Thammakorn Saethang
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sirirat Luk-in
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Robin James Storer
- Office of Research Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Puey Ounjai
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Naveen Kumar Devanga Ragupathi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Biofilms and Antimicrobial Resistance Consortium of ODA Receiving Countries, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Division of Microbial Interactions, Department of Research and Development, Bioberrys Healthcare and Research Centre, Vellore 632009, India
| | - Phitsanuruk Kanthawee
- Public Health Major, School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
| | - Natharin Ngamwongsatit
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Vishnu Nayak Badavath
- School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Hyderabad 509301, India
| | - Wanwara Thuptimdang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Asada Leelahavanichkul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Translational Research in Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit (TRIRU), Department of Microbiology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Talerngsak Kanjanabuch
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Kidney Metabolic Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Dialysis Policy and Practice Program (DiP3), School of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Peritoneal Dialysis Excellence Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kazuhiko Miyanaga
- Division of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Longzhu Cui
- Division of Bacteriology, School of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Asuka Nanbo
- The National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kenji Shibuya
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rosalyn Kupwiwat
- Department of Dermatology. Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital. Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Frontier Sciences for Advanced Environment, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Takashi Furukawa
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Minato City, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Kazunari Sei
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Minato City, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Paul G. Higgins
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Anthony Kicic
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands WA 6009, Australia
- Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands WA 6009, Australia
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley WA 6102, Australia
| | | | - Tanittha Chatsuwan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sam Trowsdale
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Shuichi Abe
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Ishikawa
- Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Kamiyanagi, Yamagata 990-2212, Japan
| | - Mohan Amarasiri
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Minato City, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Charin Modchang
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Centre of Excellence in Mathematics, MHESI, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Thailand Center of Excellence in Physics, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, 328 Si Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Dhammika Leshan Wannigama
- Biofilms and Antimicrobial Resistance Consortium of ODA Receiving Countries, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
- Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Kamiyanagi, Yamagata 990-2212, Japan
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Pathogen Hunter’s Research Collaborative Team, Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
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12
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Cutrupi F, Cadonna M, Postinghel M, Foladori P. SARS-CoV-2 removal in municipal wastewater treatment plants: Focus on conventional activated sludge, membrane bioreactor and anaerobic digestion. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167434. [PMID: 37774861 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167434] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
This work focuses on the removal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the various stages of a full-scale municipal WWTP characterised by two biological processes in parallel: (i) conventional activated sludge (CAS) and (ii) membrane bioreactor (MBR). The monitoring was carried out during the Omicron wave in 2022, a period characterised by a high concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in influent wastewater. The average concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in influent wastewater was 3.7 × 104 GU/L. In the primary sedimentation, the removal of SARS-CoV-2 was not appreciable. The largest log removal value of SARs-CoV-2 occurred in the biological stages, with 1.8 ± 0.9 and 2.2 ± 0.7 logs in CAS and MBR systems. The mean concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in the CAS and MBR effluents were 6.8 × 102 GU/L and 6.4 × 102 GU/L, respectively. The MBR effluent showed more negative samples, because small particles are retained by membrane and cake layer. The analysis of the different types of sludge confirmed the accumulation of SARS-CoV-2 in primary (5.2 × 104 GU/L) and secondary sludge (3.5 × 104 GU/L), due to the affinity of enveloped viruses towards biosolids. A SARS-CoV-2 concentration in the digested sludge equal to 4.8 × 104 GU/L denotes a negligible reduction in the mesophilic anaerobic digester at temperature of 31-33 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Cutrupi
- Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A) - University of Trento, via Edmund Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all' Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Maria Cadonna
- ADEP - Agenzia per la Depurazione, Autonomous Province of Trento, via Gilli, n. 3, 38121 Trento, Italy
| | - Mattia Postinghel
- ADEP - Agenzia per la Depurazione, Autonomous Province of Trento, via Gilli, n. 3, 38121 Trento, Italy
| | - Paola Foladori
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering (DICAM) - University of Trento, via Mesiano, n. 77, 38123 Trento, Italy.
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Baz Lomba JA, Pires J, Myrmel M, Arnø JK, Madslien EH, Langlete P, Amato E, Hyllestad S. Effectiveness of environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 as an early-warning system: Update of a systematic review during the second year of the pandemic. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2024; 22:197-234. [PMID: 38295081 PMCID: wh_2023_279 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this updated systematic review was to offer an overview of the effectiveness of environmental surveillance (ES) of SARS-CoV-2 as a potential early-warning system (EWS) for COVID-19 and new variants of concerns (VOCs) during the second year of the pandemic. An updated literature search was conducted to evaluate the added value of ES of SARS-CoV-2 for public health decisions. The search for studies published between June 2021 and July 2022 resulted in 1,588 publications, identifying 331 articles for full-text screening. A total of 151 publications met our inclusion criteria for the assessment of the effectiveness of ES as an EWS and early detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants. We identified a further 30 publications among the grey literature. ES confirms its usefulness as an EWS for detecting new waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection with an average lead time of 1-2 weeks for most of the publication. ES could function as an EWS for new VOCs in areas with no registered cases or limited clinical capacity. Challenges in data harmonization and variant detection require standardized approaches and innovations for improved public health decision-making. ES confirms its potential to support public health decision-making and resource allocation in future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Antonio Baz Lomba
- Department of Infection Control and Preparedness, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway E-mail:
| | - João Pires
- Department of Infection Control and Preparedness, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; ECDC fellowship Programme, Public Health Microbiology path (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Solna, Sweden
| | - Mette Myrmel
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Virology Unit, Norwegian University of Life Science (NMBU), Oslo, Norway
| | - Jorunn Karterud Arnø
- Department of Infection Control and Preparedness, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elisabeth Henie Madslien
- Department of Infection Control and Preparedness, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Petter Langlete
- Department of Infection Control and Preparedness, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ettore Amato
- Department of Infection Control and Preparedness, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Susanne Hyllestad
- Department of Infection Control and Preparedness, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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14
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Teixeira AM, Vaz-Moreira I, Calderón-Franco D, Weissbrodt D, Purkrtova S, Gajdos S, Dottorini G, Nielsen PH, Khalifa L, Cytryn E, Bartacek J, Manaia CM. Candidate biomarkers of antibiotic resistance for the monitoring of wastewater and the downstream environment. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 247:120761. [PMID: 37918195 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Urban wastewater treatment plants (UWTPs) are essential for reducing the pollutants load and protecting water bodies. However, wastewater catchment areas and UWTPs emit continuously antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with recognized impacts on the downstream environments. Recently, the European Commission recommended to monitor antibiotic resistance in UWTPs serving more than 100 000 population equivalents. Antibiotic resistance monitoring in environmental samples can be challenging. The expected complexity of these systems can jeopardize the interpretation capacity regarding, for instance, wastewater treatment efficiency, impacts of environmental contamination, or risks due to human exposure. Simplified monitoring frameworks will be essential for the successful implementation of analytical procedures, data analysis, and data sharing. This study aimed to test a set of biomarkers representative of ARG contamination, selected based on their frequent human association and, simultaneously, rare presence in pristine environments. In addition to the 16S rRNA gene, ten potential biomarkers (intI1, sul1, ermB, ermF, aph(3'')-Ib, qacEΔ1, uidA, mefC, tetX, and crAssphage) were monitored in DNA extracts (n = 116) from raw wastewater, activated sludge, treated wastewater, and surface water (upstream and downstream of UWTPs) samples collected in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Each biomarker was sensitive enough to measure decreases (on average by up to 2.5 log-units gene copy/mL) from raw wastewater to surface water, with variations in the same order of magnitude as for the 16S rRNA gene. The use of the 10 biomarkers allowed the typing of water samples whose origin or quality could be predicted in a blind test. The results show that, based on appropriate biomarkers, qPCR can be used for a cost-effective and technically accessible approach to monitoring wastewater and the downstream environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Margarida Teixeira
- CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua de Diogo Botelho 1327, Porto 4169-005, Portugal
| | - Ivone Vaz-Moreira
- CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua de Diogo Botelho 1327, Porto 4169-005, Portugal
| | - David Calderón-Franco
- Department of Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology Section, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, Delft, HZ 2629, the Netherlands
| | - David Weissbrodt
- Department of Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology Section, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, Delft, HZ 2629, the Netherlands; Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim 7034, Norway
| | - Sabina Purkrtova
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, 5 Technická, Prague 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - Stanislav Gajdos
- Department of Water Technology and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, 5 Technická, Prague 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - Giulia Dottorini
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Center for Microbial Communities, Aalborg University, Aalborg 9220, Denmark
| | - Per Halkjær Nielsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Center for Microbial Communities, Aalborg University, Aalborg 9220, Denmark
| | - Leron Khalifa
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, The Volcani Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O Box 15159, Rishon Lezion 7528809, Israel
| | - Eddie Cytryn
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, The Volcani Institute, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O Box 15159, Rishon Lezion 7528809, Israel
| | - Jan Bartacek
- Department of Water Technology and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, 5 Technická, Prague 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - Célia M Manaia
- CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua de Diogo Botelho 1327, Porto 4169-005, Portugal.
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15
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Robalo A, Brandão J, Shibata T, Solo-Gabriele H, Santos R, Monteiro S. Detection of enteric viruses and SARS-CoV-2 in beach sand. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165836. [PMID: 37517729 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165836] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Beach sand harbors a diverse group of microbial organisms that may be of public health concern. Nonetheless, little is known about the presence and distribution of viruses in beach sand. In this study, the first objective was to evaluate the presence of seven viruses (Aichi virus, enterovirus, hepatitis A virus, human adenovirus, norovirus, rotavirus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) in sands collected at public beaches. The second objective was to assess the spatial distribution of enteric viruses in beach sand. To that end, 27 beach sand samples from different beaches in Portugal were collected between November 2018 and August 2020 and analyzed for the presence of viruses. At seven beaches, samples were collected in the supratidal and intertidal zones. Results show that viruses were detected in 89 % (24/27) of the sand samples. Aichi virus was the most prevalent (74 %). Noroviruses were present in 19 % of the samples (norovirus GI - 15 %, norovirus GII - 4 %). Human adenovirus and enterovirus were detected in 48 % and 22 % of the samples, respectively. Hepatitis A virus and rotavirus were not detected. Similarly, SARS-CoV-2 in beach sand collected during the initial stages of the pandemic was also not detected. The detection of three or more viruses occurred in 15 % of the samples. Concentrations of viruses were as high as 7.2 log copies (cp)/g of sand. Enteric viruses were found in higher prevalence in sand collected from the supratidal zone compared to the intertidal zone. Human adenovirus was detected in 43 % of the supratidal and 14 % in the intertidal samples and Aichi virus in 57 % and 86 % of the intertidal and supratidal areas, respectively. Our findings suggest that beach sand can be a reservoir of enteric viruses, suggesting that it might be a vehicle for disease transmission, particularly for children, the elderly, and immunocompromised users.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Robalo
- Laboratorio Analises, Técnico Lisboa, Universidade Lisboa, Portugal
| | - J Brandão
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - T Shibata
- Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA; Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - H Solo-Gabriele
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - R Santos
- Laboratorio Analises, Técnico Lisboa, Universidade Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares, Técnico Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - S Monteiro
- Laboratorio Analises, Técnico Lisboa, Universidade Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares, Técnico Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
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16
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Zhan Q, Solo-Gabriele HM, Sharkey ME, Amirali A, Beaver CC, Boone MM, Comerford S, Cooper D, Cortizas EM, Cosculluela GA, Currall BB, Grills GS, Kobetz E, Kumar N, Laine J, Lamar WE, Lyu J, Mason CE, Reding BD, Roca MA, Schürer SC, Shukla BS, Solle NS, Suarez MM, Stevenson M, Tallon JJ, Thomas C, Vidović D, Williams SL, Yin X, Zarnegarnia Y, Babler KM. Correlative analysis of wastewater trends with clinical cases and hospitalizations through five dominant variant waves of COVID-19. ACS ES&T WATER 2023; 3:2849-2862. [PMID: 38487696 PMCID: PMC10936583 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.3c00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been utilized to track community infections of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by detecting RNA of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), within samples collected from wastewater. The correlations between community infections and wastewater measurements of the RNA can potentially change as SARS-CoV-2 evolves into new variations by mutating. This study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and indicators of human waste in wastewater from two sewersheds of different scales (University of Miami (UM) campus and Miami-Dade County Central District wastewater treatment plant (CDWWTP)) during five internally defined COVID-19 variant dominant periods (Initial, Pre-Delta, Delta, Omicron and Post-Omicron wave). SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantities were compared against COVID-19 clinical cases and hospitalizations to evaluate correlations with wastewater SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Although correlations between documented clinical cases and hospitalizations were high, prevalence for a given wastewater SARS-CoV-2 level varied depending upon the variant analyzed. The correlative relationship was significantly steeper (more cases per level found in wastewater) for the Omicron-dominated period. For hospitalization, the relationships were steepest for the Initial wave, followed by the Delta wave with flatter slopes during all other waves. Overall results were interpreted in the context of SARS-CoV-2 virulence and vaccination rates among the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyu Zhan
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA
| | - Helena Maria Solo-Gabriele
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA
| | - Mark E. Sharkey
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, 33136 FL USA
| | - Ayaaz Amirali
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA
| | - Cynthia C. Beaver
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Melinda M. Boone
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Samuel Comerford
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, 33136 FL USA
| | | | - Elena M. Cortizas
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Gabriella A. Cosculluela
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA
| | - Benjamin B. Currall
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - George S. Grills
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Erin Kobetz
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, 33136 FL USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Naresh Kumar
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Jennifer Laine
- Environmental Health and Safety, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Walter E. Lamar
- Division of Occupational Health, Safety & Compliance, University of Miami Health System, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Jiangnan Lyu
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Christopher E. Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, NY 10021 USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- The WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Brian D. Reding
- Environmental Health and Safety, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Matthew A. Roca
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA
| | - Stephan C. Schürer
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicines, Miami, FL 33136 USA
- Institute for Data Science & Computing, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA
| | - Bhavarth S. Shukla
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, 33136 FL USA
| | - Natasha Schaefer Solle
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, 33136 FL USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Maritza M. Suarez
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, 33136 FL USA
| | - Mario Stevenson
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA
| | - John J. Tallon
- Facilities and Operations, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA
| | - Collette Thomas
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA
| | - Dušica Vidović
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicines, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Sion L. Williams
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Xue Yin
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA
| | - Yalda Zarnegarnia
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Kristina Marie Babler
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA
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17
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Wannigama DL, Amarasiri M, Hongsing P, Hurst C, Modchang C, Chadsuthi S, Anupong S, Phattharapornjaroen P, Rad S. M. AH, Fernandez S, Huang AT, Vatanaprasan P, Jay DJ, Saethang T, Luk-in S, Storer RJ, Ounjai P, Devanga Ragupathi NK, Kanthawee P, Sano D, Furukawa T, Sei K, Leelahavanichkul A, Kanjanabuch T, Hirankarn N, Higgins PG, Kicic A, Singer AC, Chatsuwan T, Trowsdale S, Abe S, McLellan AD, Ishikawa H. COVID-19 monitoring with sparse sampling of sewered and non-sewered wastewater in urban and rural communities. iScience 2023; 26:107019. [PMID: 37351501 PMCID: PMC10250052 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Equitable SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in low-resource communities lacking centralized sewers is critical as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) progresses. However, large-scale studies on SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater from low-and middle-income countries is limited because of economic and technical reasons. In this study, wastewater samples were collected twice a month from 186 urban and rural subdistricts in nine provinces of Thailand mostly having decentralized and non-sewered sanitation infrastructure and analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA variants using allele-specific RT-qPCR. Wastewater SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration was used to estimate the real-time incidence and time-varying effective reproduction number (Re). Results showed an increase in SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater from urban and rural areas 14-20 days earlier than infected individuals were officially reported. It also showed that community/food markets were "hot spots" for infected people. This approach offers an opportunity for early detection of transmission surges, allowing preparedness and potentially mitigating significant outbreaks at both spatial and temporal scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhammika Leshan Wannigama
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Biofilms and Antimicrobial Resistance Consortium of ODA receiving countries, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Pathogen Hunter’s Research Collaborative Team, Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Mohan Amarasiri
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Kitasato, Sagamihara-Minami, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Parichart Hongsing
- Mae Fah Luang University Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand
- School of Integrative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand
| | - Cameron Hurst
- Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, Charles Darwin University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Statistics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Charin Modchang
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Centre of Excellence in Mathematics, MHESI, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Thailand Center of Excellence in Physics, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, 328 Si Ayutthaya Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sudarat Chadsuthi
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
| | - Suparinthon Anupong
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen
- Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ali Hosseini Rad S. M.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago 9010, New Zealand
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Stefan Fernandez
- Department of Virology, U.S. Army Medical Directorate, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Angkana T. Huang
- Department of Virology, U.S. Army Medical Directorate, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Dylan John Jay
- Pathogen Hunter’s Research Collaborative Team, Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Thammakorn Saethang
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sirirat Luk-in
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Robin James Storer
- Office of Research Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Puey Ounjai
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Naveen Kumar Devanga Ragupathi
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Phitsanuruk Kanthawee
- Public Health major, School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand
| | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Frontier Sciences for Advanced Environment, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Takashi Furukawa
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Kitasato, Sagamihara-Minami, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Kazunari Sei
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Kitasato, Sagamihara-Minami, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Asada Leelahavanichkul
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
- Translational Research in Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit (TRIRU), Department of Microbiology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Talerngsak Kanjanabuch
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Kidney Metabolic Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Dialysis Policy and Practice Program (DiP3), School of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Peritoneal Dialysis Excellence Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nattiya Hirankarn
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Paul G. Higgins
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research, Partner site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Anthony Kicic
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | | | - Tanittha Chatsuwan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sam Trowsdale
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Shuichi Abe
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Alexander D. McLellan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago 9010, New Zealand
| | - Hitoshi Ishikawa
- Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Kamiyanagi, Yamagata 990-2212, Japan
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18
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Ciannella S, González-Fernández C, Gomez-Pastora J. Recent progress on wastewater-based epidemiology for COVID-19 surveillance: A systematic review of analytical procedures and epidemiological modeling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:162953. [PMID: 36948304 PMCID: PMC10028212 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), whose causative agent is the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a pandemic. This virus is predominantly transmitted via respiratory droplets and shed via sputum, saliva, urine, and stool. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been able to monitor the circulation of viral pathogens in the population. This tool demands both in-lab and computational work to be meaningful for, among other purposes, the prediction of outbreaks. In this context, we present a systematic review that organizes and discusses laboratory procedures for SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantification from a wastewater matrix, along with modeling techniques applied to the development of WBE for COVID-19 surveillance. The goal of this review is to present the current panorama of WBE operational aspects as well as to identify current challenges related to it. Our review was conducted in a reproducible manner by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for systematic reviews. We identified a lack of standardization in wastewater analytical procedures. Regardless, the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) approach was the most reported technique employed to detect and quantify viral RNA in wastewater samples. As a more convenient sample matrix, we suggest the solid portion of wastewater to be considered in future investigations due to its higher viral load compared to the liquid fraction. Regarding the epidemiological modeling, the data-driven approach was consistently used for the prediction of variables associated with outbreaks. Future efforts should also be directed toward the development of rapid, more economical, portable, and accurate detection devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Ciannella
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409, TX, USA.
| | - Cristina González-Fernández
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409, TX, USA; Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros, s/n, 39005 Santander, Spain.
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19
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Silva SJRD, Kohl A, Pena L, Pardee K. Clinical and laboratory diagnosis of monkeypox (mpox): Current status and future directions. iScience 2023; 26:106759. [PMID: 37206155 PMCID: PMC10183700 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence and rapid spread of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) to non-endemic countries has brought this once obscure pathogen to the forefront of global public health. Given the range of conditions that cause similar skin lesions, and because the clinical manifestation may often be atypical in the current mpox outbreak, it can be challenging to diagnose patients based on clinical signs and symptoms. With this perspective in mind, laboratory-based diagnosis assumes a critical role for the clinical management, along with the implementation of countermeasures. Here, we review the clinical features reported in mpox patients, the available laboratory tests for mpox diagnosis, and discuss the principles, advances, advantages, and drawbacks of each assay. We also highlight the diagnostic platforms with the potential to guide ongoing clinical response, particularly those that increase diagnostic capacity in low- and middle-income countries. With the outlook of this evolving research area, we hope to provide a resource to the community and inspire more research and the development of diagnostic alternatives with applications to this and future public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alain Kohl
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Lindomar Pena
- Department of Virology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), 50670-420 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Keith Pardee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto ON M5S 3M2, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto ON M5S 3G8, Canada
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20
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Trigo-Tasende N, Vallejo JA, Rumbo-Feal S, Conde-Pérez K, Vaamonde M, López-Oriona Á, Barbeito I, Nasser-Ali M, Reif R, Rodiño-Janeiro BK, Fernández-Álvarez E, Iglesias-Corrás I, Freire B, Tarrío-Saavedra J, Tomás L, Gallego-García P, Posada D, Bou G, López-de-Ullibarri I, Cao R, Ladra S, Poza M. Wastewater early warning system for SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and variants in a Coruña, Spain. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27877-3. [PMID: 37286834 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27877-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology has been widely used as a cost-effective method for tracking the COVID-19 pandemic at the community level. Here we describe COVIDBENS, a wastewater surveillance program running from June 2020 to March 2022 in the wastewater treatment plant of Bens in A Coruña (Spain). The main goal of this work was to provide an effective early warning tool based in wastewater epidemiology to help in decision-making at both the social and public health levels. RT-qPCR procedures and Illumina sequencing were used to weekly monitor the viral load and to detect SARS-CoV-2 mutations in wastewater, respectively. In addition, own statistical models were applied to estimate the real number of infected people and the frequency of each emerging variant circulating in the community, which considerable improved the surveillance strategy. Our analysis detected 6 viral load waves in A Coruña with concentrations between 103 and 106 SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies/L. Our system was able to anticipate community outbreaks during the pandemic with 8-36 days in advance with respect to clinical reports and, to detect the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in A Coruña such as Alpha (B.1.1.7), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529 and BA.2) in wastewater with 42, 30, and 27 days, respectively, before the health system did. Data generated here helped local authorities and health managers to give a faster and more efficient response to the pandemic situation, and also allowed important industrial companies to adapt their production to each situation. The wastewater-based epidemiology program developed in our metropolitan area of A Coruña (Spain) during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic served as a powerful early warning system combining statistical models with mutations and viral load monitoring in wastewater over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Trigo-Tasende
- University of A Coruña (UDC) - Microbiome and Health group (meiGAbiome), Institute of Biomedical Research (INIBIC) - University Hospital of A Coruña (CHUAC) - Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology (CICA) - Spanish Network for Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC-ISCIII), Campus da Zapateira, 15008, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Juan A Vallejo
- University of A Coruña (UDC) - Microbiome and Health group (meiGAbiome), Institute of Biomedical Research (INIBIC) - University Hospital of A Coruña (CHUAC) - Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology (CICA) - Spanish Network for Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC-ISCIII), Campus da Zapateira, 15008, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Soraya Rumbo-Feal
- University of A Coruña (UDC) - Microbiome and Health group (meiGAbiome), Institute of Biomedical Research (INIBIC) - University Hospital of A Coruña (CHUAC) - Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology (CICA) - Spanish Network for Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC-ISCIII), Campus da Zapateira, 15008, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Kelly Conde-Pérez
- University of A Coruña (UDC) - Microbiome and Health group (meiGAbiome), Institute of Biomedical Research (INIBIC) - University Hospital of A Coruña (CHUAC) - Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology (CICA) - Spanish Network for Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC-ISCIII), Campus da Zapateira, 15008, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Manuel Vaamonde
- Research Group MODES, Research Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC), University of A Coruña (UDC), Campus de Elviña, 15071 , A Coruña, Spain
| | - Ángel López-Oriona
- Research Group MODES, Research Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC), University of A Coruña (UDC), Campus de Elviña, 15071 , A Coruña, Spain
| | - Inés Barbeito
- Research Group MODES, Research Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC), University of A Coruña (UDC), Campus de Elviña, 15071 , A Coruña, Spain
| | - Mohammed Nasser-Ali
- University of A Coruña (UDC) - Microbiome and Health group (meiGAbiome), Institute of Biomedical Research (INIBIC) - University Hospital of A Coruña (CHUAC) - Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology (CICA) - Spanish Network for Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC-ISCIII), Campus da Zapateira, 15008, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Rubén Reif
- Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Bruno K Rodiño-Janeiro
- BFlow, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) and Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Campus Vida, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Elisa Fernández-Álvarez
- University of A Coruña (UDC), Research Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC), Database Laboratory, Campus de Elviña, 15071, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Iago Iglesias-Corrás
- University of A Coruña (UDC), Research Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC), Database Laboratory, Campus de Elviña, 15071, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Borja Freire
- University of A Coruña (UDC), Research Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC), Database Laboratory, Campus de Elviña, 15071, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Javier Tarrío-Saavedra
- Research Group MODES, Research Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC), University of A Coruña (UDC), Campus de Elviña, 15071 , A Coruña, Spain
| | - Laura Tomás
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, 36312, Vigo, Spain
| | - Pilar Gallego-García
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, 36312, Vigo, Spain
| | - David Posada
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, 36312, Vigo, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Immunology, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
| | - Germán Bou
- University of A Coruña (UDC) - Microbiome and Health group (meiGAbiome), Institute of Biomedical Research (INIBIC) - University Hospital of A Coruña (CHUAC) - Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology (CICA) - Spanish Network for Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC-ISCIII), Campus da Zapateira, 15008, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Ignacio López-de-Ullibarri
- Research Group MODES, Research Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC), University of A Coruña (UDC), Campus de Elviña, 15071 , A Coruña, Spain
| | - Ricardo Cao
- Research Group MODES, Research Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC), University of A Coruña (UDC), Campus de Elviña, 15071 , A Coruña, Spain
| | - Susana Ladra
- University of A Coruña (UDC), Research Center for Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC), Database Laboratory, Campus de Elviña, 15071, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Margarita Poza
- University of A Coruña (UDC) - Microbiome and Health group (meiGAbiome), Institute of Biomedical Research (INIBIC) - University Hospital of A Coruña (CHUAC) - Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology (CICA) - Spanish Network for Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC-ISCIII), Campus da Zapateira, 15008, A Coruña, Spain.
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21
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Silva AR, Mesquita DP, Salomé Duarte M, Lado Ribeiro AR, Pereira MFR, Madalena Alves M, Monteiro S, Santos R, Cunha MV, Jorge S, Vieira J, Vilaça J, Lopes LC, Carvalho M, Brito C, Martins A, Pereira L. Exploring the correlations between epi indicators of COVID-19 and the concentration of pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater treatment plants in Northern Portugal. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 10:100315. [PMID: 37193121 PMCID: PMC10171898 DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2023.100315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus led to changes in the lifestyle and human behaviour, which resulted in different consumption patterns of some classes of pharmaceuticals including curative, symptom-relieving, and psychotropic drugs. The trends in the consumption of these compounds are related to their concentrations in wastewater systems, since incompletely metabolised drugs (or their metabolites back transformed into the parental form) may be detected and quantified by analytical methods. Pharmaceuticals are highly recalcitrant compounds and conventional activated sludge processes implemented in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are ineffective at degrading these substances. As a results, these compounds end up in waterways or accumulate in the sludge, being a serious concern given their potential effects on ecosystems and public health. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the presence of pharmaceuticals in water and sludge to assist in the search for more effective processes. In this work, eight pharmaceuticals from five therapeutic classes were analysed in wastewater and sludge samples collected in two WWTP located in the Northern Portugal, during the third COVID-19 epidemic wave in Portugal. The two WWTP demonstrated a similar pattern with respect to the concentration levels in that period. However, the drugs loads reaching each WWTP were dissimilar when normalising the concentrations to the inlet flow rate. Acetaminophen (ACET) was the compound detected at highest concentrations in aqueous samples of both WWTP (98. 516 μg L - 1 in WWTP2 and 123. 506 μg L - 1in WWTP1), indicating that this drug is extensively used without the need of a prescription, known of general public knowledge as an antipyretic and analgesic agent to treat pain and fever. The concentrations determined in the sludge samples were below 1.65 µg g - 1 in both WWTP, the highest value being found for azithromycin (AZT). This result may be justified by the physico-chemical characteristics of the compound that favour its adsorption to the sludge surface through ionic interactions. It was not possible to establish a clear relationship between the incidence of COVID-19 cases in the sewer catchment and the concentration of drugs detected in the same period. However, looking at the data obtained, the high incidence of COVID-19 in January 2021 is in line with the high concentration of drugs detected in the aqueous and sludge samples but prediction of drug load from viral load data was unfeasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana R Silva
- CEB, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal
- LABBELS -Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães 4800-122, Portugal
| | - Daniela P Mesquita
- CEB, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal
- LABBELS -Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães 4800-122, Portugal
| | - M Salomé Duarte
- CEB, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal
- LABBELS -Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães 4800-122, Portugal
| | - Ana R Lado Ribeiro
- LSRE-LCM - Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal
| | - M Fernando R Pereira
- LSRE-LCM - Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal
| | - M Madalena Alves
- CEB, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal
- LABBELS -Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães 4800-122, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Monteiro
- Laboratório de Análises de Águas, Técnico Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Santos
- Laboratório de Análises de Águas, Técnico Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mónica V Cunha
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - António Martins
- AdP VALOR- Serviços Ambientais, S.A, Portugal
- Água do Algarve, S.A, Portugal
| | - Luciana Pereira
- CEB, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal
- LABBELS -Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães 4800-122, Portugal
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22
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Gao Z, Gao M, Chen CH, Zhou Y, Zhan ZH, Ren Y. Knowledge graph of wastewater-based epidemiology development: A data-driven analysis based on research topics and trends. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:28373-28382. [PMID: 36662433 PMCID: PMC9867605 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25237-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has contributed significantly to the monitoring of drug use and transmission of viruses that has been published in numerous research papers. In this paper, we used LitStraw, a self-developed text extraction tool, to extract, analyze, and construct knowledge graphs from nearly 900 related papers in PDF format collected in Web of Science from 2000 to 2021 to analyze the research hotspots and development trends of WBE. The results showed a growing number of WBE publications in multidisciplinary cross-collaboration, with more publications and close collaboration between the USA, Australia, China, and European countries. The keywords of illicit drugs and pharmaceuticals still maintain research hotness, but the specific research hotspots change significantly, among which the research hotspots of new psychoactive substances, biomarkers, and stability show an increasing trend. In addition, judging the spread of COVID-19 by the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage has become the focus since 2020. This work can show the development of WBE more clearly by constructing a knowledge graph and also provide new ideas for the paper mining analysis methods in different fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihan Gao
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Higher Education Mega Center, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Gao
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chun-Hua Chen
- School of Software Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yifan Zhou
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Zhan
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Higher Education Mega Center, 510006, Guangzhou, China.
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, 510006, Guangzhou, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institution, 510006, Guangzhou, China.
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23
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Daza-Torres ML, Montesinos-López JC, Kim M, Olson R, Bess CW, Rueda L, Susa M, Tucker L, García YE, Schmidt AJ, Naughton CC, Pollock BH, Shapiro K, Nuño M, Bischel HN. Model training periods impact estimation of COVID-19 incidence from wastewater viral loads. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159680. [PMID: 36306854 PMCID: PMC9597566 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been deployed broadly as an early warning tool for emerging COVID-19 outbreaks. WBE can inform targeted interventions and identify communities with high transmission, enabling quick and effective responses. As the wastewater (WW) becomes an increasingly important indicator for COVID-19 transmission, more robust methods and metrics are needed to guide public health decision-making. This research aimed to develop and implement a mathematical framework to infer incident cases of COVID-19 from SARS-CoV-2 levels measured in WW. We propose a classification scheme to assess the adequacy of model training periods based on clinical testing rates and assess the sensitivity of model predictions to training periods. A testing period is classified as adequate when the rate of change in testing is greater than the rate of change in cases. We present a Bayesian deconvolution and linear regression model to estimate COVID-19 cases from WW data. The effective reproductive number is estimated from reconstructed cases using WW. The proposed modeling framework was applied to three Northern California communities served by distinct WW treatment plants. The results showed that training periods with adequate testing are essential to provide accurate projections of COVID-19 incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Daza-Torres
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
| | | | - Minji Kim
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Rachel Olson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - C Winston Bess
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Lezlie Rueda
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Mirjana Susa
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Linnea Tucker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Yury E García
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Alec J Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Colleen C Naughton
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, United States
| | - Brad H Pollock
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Karen Shapiro
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Miriam Nuño
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Heather N Bischel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
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24
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Tan KS, Ang AXY, Tay DJW, Somani J, Ng AJY, Peng LL, Chu JJH, Tambyah PA, Allen DM. Detection of hospital environmental contamination during SARS-CoV-2 Omicron predominance using a highly sensitive air sampling device. Front Public Health 2023; 10:1067575. [PMID: 36703815 PMCID: PMC9873263 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1067575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives The high transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 has exposed weaknesses in our infection control and detection measures, particularly in healthcare settings. Aerial sampling has evolved from passive impact filters to active sampling using negative pressure to expose culture substrate for virus detection. We evaluated the effectiveness of an active air sampling device as a potential surveillance system in detecting hospital pathogens, for augmenting containment measures to prevent nosocomial transmission, using SARS-CoV-2 as a surrogate. Methods We conducted air sampling in a hospital environment using the AerosolSenseTM air sampling device and compared it with surface swabs for their capacity to detect SARS-CoV-2. Results When combined with RT-qPCR detection, we found the device provided consistent SARS-CoV-2 detection, compared to surface sampling, in as little as 2 h of sampling time. The device also showed that it can identify minute quantities of SARS-CoV-2 in designated "clean areas" and through a N95 mask, indicating good surveillance capacity and sensitivity of the device in hospital settings. Conclusion Active air sampling was shown to be a sensitive surveillance system in healthcare settings. Findings from this study can also be applied in an organism agnostic manner for surveillance in the hospital, improving our ability to contain and prevent nosocomial outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Sen Tan
- Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Department of Otolaryngology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,*Correspondence: Kai Sen Tan ✉
| | - Alicia Xin Yu Ang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Douglas Jie Wen Tay
- Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jyoti Somani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alexander Jet Yue Ng
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Li Lee Peng
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Justin Jang Hann Chu
- Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Collaborative and Translation Unit for Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Paul Anantharajah Tambyah
- Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Michael Allen
- Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore,David Michael Allen ✉
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25
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Gao Z, Li P, Lin H, Lin W, Ren Y. Biomarker selection strategies based on compound stability in wastewater-based epidemiology. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:5516-5529. [PMID: 36418835 PMCID: PMC9684832 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24268-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The specific compositions of human excreta in sewage can be used as biomarkers to indicate the disease prevalence, health status, and lifestyle of the population living in the investigated catchment. It is important for guiding and evaluating public health policies as well as promoting human health development. Among several parameters of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), the decay of biomarkers during transportation in sewer and storage plays a crucial role in the back-calculation of population consumption. In this paper, we summarized the stability data of common biomarkers in storage at different temperatures and in-sewer transportation. Among them, cardiovascular drugs and antidiabetic drugs are very stable which can be used as biomarkers; most of the illicit drugs are stable except for cocaine, heroin, and tetrahydrocannabinol which could be substituted by their metabolites as biomarkers. There are some losses for part of antibiotics and antidepressants even in frozen storage. Rapid detection of contagious viruses is a new challenge for infectious disease control. With the deeper and broader study of biomarkers, it is expected that the reliable application of the WBE will be a useful addition to epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihan Gao
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ping Li
- Datansha Branch of Guangzhou Sewage Treatment Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, 510163, China
| | - Han Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Wenting Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institution, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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26
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Kumar M. Spectrum of environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 fragments: Questions, quests, and conquest. CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH 2022; 30:100401. [PMID: 36339883 PMCID: PMC9617644 DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2022.100401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This works examines the entire spectrum of 'Environmental Surveillance (EnvSurv)' of SARS-CoV-2 fragments i.e. the questions, quests, and conquests of the technology since early year 2020. The prime focus of the present work to document the journey with achieved objectives and remaining ambitions associated with the technology. Despite the EnvSurv may be regarded as the techniques, which rather achieved more than expected, will it win the struggle for its existence or lose its way once the pandemic and fear associated with it completely fades. Pertaining to this discussions, major researched topics were investigated, followed by enlisting of ten bullets of the past experiences along with corresponding challenges, and finally key targets for the techniques are enlisted. The article targets to be a simple guide of the journey of EnvSur in terms of its effectiveness for treatment, infectivity, monitoring & estimation (TIME) till date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Kumar
- Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, Enery Agcres, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
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27
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Islam A, Hossen F, Rahman A, Sultana KF, Hasan MN, Haque A, Sosa-Hernández JE, Oyervides-Muñoz MA, Parra-Saldívar R, Ahmed T, Islam T, Dhama K, Sangkham S, Bahadur NM, Reza HM, Jakariya, Al Marzan A, Bhattacharya P, Sonne C, Ahmed F. An opinion on Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring (WBEM) with Clinical Diagnostic Test (CDT) for detecting high-prevalence areas of community COVID-19 Infections. CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH 2022; 31:100396. [PMID: 36320818 PMCID: PMC9612100 DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2022.100396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring (WBEM) is an efficient surveillance tool during the COVID-19 pandemic as it meets all requirements of a complete monitoring system including early warning, tracking the current trend, prevalence of the disease, detection of genetic diversity as well asthe up-surging SARS-CoV-2 new variants with mutations from the wastewater samples. Subsequently, Clinical Diagnostic Test is widely acknowledged as the global gold standard method for disease monitoring, despite several drawbacks such as high diagnosis cost, reporting bias, and the difficulty of tracking asymptomatic patients (silent spreaders of the COVID-19 infection who manifest nosymptoms of the disease). In this current reviewand opinion-based study, we first propose a combined approach) for detecting COVID-19 infection in communities using wastewater and clinical sample testing, which may be feasible and effective as an emerging public health tool for the long-term nationwide surveillance system. The viral concentrations in wastewater samples can be used as indicatorsto monitor ongoing SARS-CoV-2 trends, predict asymptomatic carriers, and detect COVID-19 hotspot areas, while clinical sampleshelp in detecting mostlysymptomaticindividuals for isolating positive cases in communities and validate WBEM protocol for mass vaccination including booster doses for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aminul Islam
- COVID-19 Diagnostic Lab, Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
- Advanced Molecular Lab, Department of Microbiology, President Abdul Hamid Medical College, Karimganj, Kishoreganj, Bangladesh
| | - Foysal Hossen
- COVID-19 Diagnostic Lab, Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
| | - Arifur Rahman
- COVID-19 Diagnostic Lab, Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
| | - Khandokar Fahmida Sultana
- COVID-19 Diagnostic Lab, Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Nayeem Hasan
- Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
- Joint Rohingya Response Program, Food for the Hungry, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
| | - Atiqul Haque
- Key Lab of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonoses of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur-5200, Bangladesh
| | | | | | | | - Tanvir Ahmed
- Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
| | | | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar-243 122, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sarawut Sangkham
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Muang District, 56000, Phayao, Thailand
| | - Newaz Mohammed Bahadur
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Noakhali Science and TechnologyUniversity, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
| | - Hasan Mahmud Reza
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Jakariya
- Department of Environmental Science and Management, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka-1229, Bangladesh
| | - Abdullah Al Marzan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh
| | - Prosun Bhattacharya
- COVID-19 Research@KTH, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 10B, SE 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Firoz Ahmed
- COVID-19 Diagnostic Lab, Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh
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28
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Eryildiz B, Yavuzturk Gul B, Koyuncu I. A sustainable approach for the removal methods and analytical determination methods of antiviral drugs from water/wastewater: A review. JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING 2022; 49:103036. [PMID: 35966450 PMCID: PMC9359512 DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.103036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In the last years, antiviral drugs especially used for the treatment of COVID-19 have been considered emerging contaminants because of their continuous occurrence and persistence in water/wastewater even at low concentrations. Furthermore, as compared to antiviral drugs, their metabolites and transformation products of these pharmaceuticals are more persistent in the environment. They have been found in environmental matrices all over the world, demonstrating that conventional treatment technologies are unsuccessful for removing them from water/wastewater. Several approaches for degrading/removing antiviral drugs have been studied to avoid this contamination. In this study, the present level of knowledge on the input sources, occurrence, determination methods and, especially, the degradation and removal methods of antiviral drugs are discussed in water/wastewater. Different removal methods, such as conventional treatment methods (i.e. activated sludge), advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), adsorption, membrane processes, and combined processes, were evaluated. In addition, the antiviral drugs and these metabolites, as well as the transformation products created as a result of treatment, were examined. Future perspectives for removing antiviral drugs, their metabolites, and transformation products were also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahriye Eryildiz
- Istanbul Technical University, Environmental Engineering Department, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
- National Research Center on Membrane Technologies, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bahar Yavuzturk Gul
- National Research Center on Membrane Technologies, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ismail Koyuncu
- Istanbul Technical University, Environmental Engineering Department, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
- National Research Center on Membrane Technologies, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
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29
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One-Year Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Natural and Drinking Water. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11101133. [PMID: 36297189 PMCID: PMC9609174 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101133] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been detected in wastewater from several countries, monitoring its presence in other water matrices is still limited. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of this virus in natural and drinking water over one year of monitoring (2021). A survey of viral RNA was carried out by RT-qPCR in concentrated samples of surface water, groundwater, and drinking water from different regions of Portugal. SARS-CoV-2 RNA—quantified in genomic copies per liter (gc/L) of sampled water—was not detected in groundwater, but was detected and quantified in samples of surface water (two out of 43; 8035 and 23,757 gc/L) and in drinking water (one out of 43 samples; 7463 gc/L). The study also detected and quantified Norovirus RNA, intending to confirm the use of this enteric virus to assess variations in fecal matter throughout the sampling campaign. The samples positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA also had the highest concentrations of Norovirus RNA—including the drinking water sample, which proved negative for fecal enteric bacteria (FIB). These results indicate that, to protect human health, it is advisable to continue monitoring these viruses, and noroviruses as fecal indicators (FI) as well—especially in low-flow water bodies that receive wastewater.
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30
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Wastewater surveillance in smaller college communities may aid future public health initiatives. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0270385. [PMID: 36112629 PMCID: PMC9481015 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over 570 million cases and over 6 million deaths worldwide. Predominant clinical testing methods, though invaluable, may create an inaccurate depiction of COVID-19 prevalence due to inadequate access, testing, or most recently under-reporting because of at-home testing. These concerns have created a need for unbiased, community-level surveillance. Wastewater-based epidemiology has been used for previous public health threats, and more recently has been established as a complementary method of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. Here we describe the application of wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in two university campus communities located in rural Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. This cost-effective approach is especially well suited to rural areas where limited access to testing may worsen the spread of COVID-19 and quickly exhaust the capacity of local healthcare systems. Our work demonstrates that local universities can leverage scientific resources to advance public health equity in rural areas and enhance their community involvement.
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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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Monteiro S, Rente D, Cunha MV, Marques TA, Cardoso E, Vilaça J, Coelho N, Brôco N, Carvalho M, Santos R. Discrimination and surveillance of infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 in wastewater using cell culture and RT-qPCR. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 815:152914. [PMID: 34999067 PMCID: PMC8733236 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.152914] [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: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA has been extensively detected in raw wastewater in studies exploring wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for early warning purposes. Nonetheless, only a few limited studies investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in treated wastewaters to determine the potential health risks across the water cycle. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 has been done mostly by RT-qPCR and ddPCR, which only provides information on the presence of nucleic acids rather than information on potential infectivity. In this study, we set to develop and evaluate the use of viability RT-qPCR for the selective discrimination and surveillance of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in secondary-treated wastewater. Enzymatic (nuclease) and viability dye (Reagent D) pretreatments were applied to infer infectivity through RT-qPCR using porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) as a CoV surrogate. Infectivity tests were first performed on PEDV purified RNA, then on infectious and heat-inactivated PEDV, and finally on heat inactivated PEDV spiked in concentrated secondary-treated wastewater. The two viability RT-qPCR methods were then applied to 27 secondary-treated wastewater samples positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA at the outlet of five large urban wastewater treatment plants in Portugal. Reagent D pretreatment showed similar behavior to cell culture for heat-inactivated PEDV and both viability RT-qPCR methods performed comparably to VERO E6 cell culture for SARS-CoV-2 present in secondary-treated wastewater, eliminating completely the RT-qPCR signal. Our study demonstrated the lack of infectious SARS-CoV-2 viral particles on secondary-treated wastewater through the application of two pretreatment methods for the rapid inference of infectivity through RT-qPCR, showing their potential application in environmental screening. This study addressed a knowledge gap on the public health risks of SARS-CoV-2 across the water cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Monteiro
- Laboratorio de Análises, Tecnico Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Daniela Rente
- Laboratorio de Análises, Tecnico Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mónica V Cunha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago A Marques
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, The Observatory, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9LZ, Scotland; Centro de Estatística e Aplicações, Departamento de Biologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Eugénia Cardoso
- Águas do Tejo Atlântico, Fábrica de Águas de Alcântara, Avenida de Ceuta, 1300-254 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Vilaça
- SIMDOURO, ETAR de Gaia Litoral, 4400-356 Canidelo, Portugal
| | | | - Nuno Brôco
- AdP VALOR, Serviços Ambientais, S.A., Rua Visconde de Seabra, 3, 1700-421 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Marta Carvalho
- AdP VALOR, Serviços Ambientais, S.A., Rua Visconde de Seabra, 3, 1700-421 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Santos
- Laboratorio de Análises, Tecnico Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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Maida CM, Amodio E, Mazzucco W, La Rosa G, Lucentini L, Suffredini E, Palermo M, Andolina G, Iaia FR, Merlo F, Chiarelli MG, Siragusa A, Vitale F, Tramuto F. Wastewater-based epidemiology for early warning of SARS-COV-2 circulation: A pilot study conducted in Sicily, Italy. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 242:113948. [PMID: 35279536 PMCID: PMC8898702 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence of the use of wastewater-based epidemiology to integrate conventional monitoring assessing disease symptoms and signs of viruses in a specific territory. We present the results of SARS-CoV-2 environmental surveillance activity in wastewater samples collected between September 2020 and July 2021 in 9 wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) located in central and western Sicily, serving over 570,000 residents. The presence of SARS-CoV-2, determined in 206 wastewater samples using RT-qPCR assays, was correlated with the notified and geo-referenced cases on the areas served by the WTPs in the same study period. Overall, 51% of wastewater samples were positive. Samples were correlated with 33,807 SARS-CoV-2 cases, reported in 4 epidemic waves, with a cumulative prevalence of 5.9% among Sicilian residents. The results suggest that the daily prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 active cases was statistically significant and higher in areas with SARS-CoV-2 positive wastewater samples. According to these findings, the proposed method achieves a good sensitivity profile (78.3%) in areas with moderate or high viral circulation (≥133 cases/100,000 residents) and may represent a useful tool in the management of epidemics based on an environmental approach, although it is necessary to improve the accuracy of the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Massimo Maida
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology Unit and Regional Reference Laboratory of Western Sicily for the Emergence of COVID-19, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Via del Vespro 133, 90127, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Emanuele Amodio
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Walter Mazzucco
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology Unit and Regional Reference Laboratory of Western Sicily for the Emergence of COVID-19, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Via del Vespro 133, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Luca Lucentini
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Mario Palermo
- Regional Health Authority of Sicily, Via Vaccaro 5, 90145, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gina Andolina
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Rita Iaia
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Merlo
- Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA Sicilia), UOC "Reporting Ambientale, Salute e Ambiente", Complesso Roosevelt, Viale Cristoforo Colombo snc, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - Massimo Giuseppe Chiarelli
- Local Water Plant Management (Acque di Caltanissetta S.p.A.), Corso Vittorio Emanuele 61, 93100, Caltanissetta, Italy
| | - Angelo Siragusa
- AMAP, Local Wastewater Plant Management (Amap SpA), Via Volturno 2, 90138, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Vitale
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology Unit and Regional Reference Laboratory of Western Sicily for the Emergence of COVID-19, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Via del Vespro 133, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio Tramuto
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology Unit and Regional Reference Laboratory of Western Sicily for the Emergence of COVID-19, University Hospital "P. Giaccone", Via del Vespro 133, 90127, Palermo, Italy
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Monteiro S, Rente D, Cunha MV, Marques TA, Cardoso E, Álvaro P, Vilaça J, Ribeiro J, Silva M, Coelho N, Brôco N, Carvalho M, Santos R. Recovery of SARS-CoV-2 from large volumes of raw wastewater is enhanced with the inuvai R180 system. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 304:114296. [PMID: 34923418 PMCID: PMC8673751 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114296] [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: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a powerful tool to complement syndromic surveillance. Although detection of SARS-CoV-2 in raw wastewater may be prompted with good recoveries during periods of high community prevalence, in the early stages of population outbreaks concentration procedures are required to overcome low viral concentrations. Several methods have become available for the recovery of SARS-CoV-2 from raw wastewater, generally involving filtration. However, these methods are limited to small sample volumes, possibly missing the early stages of virus circulation, and restrained applicability across different water matrices. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the performance of three methods enabling the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 from large volumes of wastewater: i) hollow fiber filtration using the inuvai R180, with an enhanced elution protocol and polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation; ii) PEG precipitation; and iii) skimmed milk flocculation. The performance of the three approaches was evaluated in wastewater from multiple wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) with distinct singularities, according to: i) effective volume; ii) percentage of recovery; iii) extraction efficiency; iv) inhibitory effect; and v) the limits of detection and quantification. The inuvai R180 system had the best performance, with detection of spiked control across all samples, with average recovery percentages of 68% for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), with low variability. Mean recoveries for PEG precipitation and skimmed milk flocculation were 9% and 14%, respectively. The inuvai R180 enables the scalability of volumes without negative impact on the costs, time for analysis, and recovery/inhibition. Moreover, hollow fiber ultrafilters favor the concentration of different microbial taxonomic groups. Such combined features make this technology attractive for usage in environmental waters monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Monteiro
- Laboratorio de Análises, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Daniela Rente
- Laboratorio de Análises, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mónica V Cunha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago A Marques
- Centre for Research Into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, The Observatory, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9LZ, Scotland, UK; Centro de Estatística e Aplicações, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Eugénia Cardoso
- Águas Do Tejo Atlântico, Fábrica de Águas de Alcântara, Avenida de Ceuta, 1300-254, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro Álvaro
- Águas Do Tejo Atlântico, Fábrica de Águas de Alcântara, Avenida de Ceuta, 1300-254, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Vilaça
- SIMDOURO, ETAR de Gaia Litoral, 4400-356, Canidelo, Portugal
| | - Jorge Ribeiro
- SIMDOURO, ETAR de Gaia Litoral, 4400-356, Canidelo, Portugal
| | - Marco Silva
- Águas Do Norte, Lugar de Gaído, 4755-045, Barcelos, Portugal
| | - Norberta Coelho
- Águas Do Norte, Lugar de Gaído, 4755-045, Barcelos, Portugal
| | - Nuno Brôco
- AdP VALOR, Serviços Ambientais, S.A., Rua Visconde de Seabra, 3, 1700-421, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Marta Carvalho
- AdP VALOR, Serviços Ambientais, S.A., Rua Visconde de Seabra, 3, 1700-421, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Santos
- Laboratorio de Análises, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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