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Heida A, Maal-Bared R, Veillette M, Duchaine C, Reynolds KA, Ashraf A, Ogunseye OO, Jung Y, Shulman L, Ikner L, Betancourt W, Hamilton KA, Wilson AM. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) tool for modelling pathogen infection risk to wastewater treatment plant workers. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 260:121858. [PMID: 38936269 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121858] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide vital services to the public by removing contaminants from wastewater prior to environmental discharge or reuse for beneficial purposes. WWTP workers occupationally exposed to wastewater can be at risk of respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases. The study objectives were to: (1) quantify pathogens and pathogen indicators in wastewater aerosols near different WWTP processes/unit operations, (2) develop a QMRA model for multi-pathogen and multi-exposure pathway risks, and (3) create a web-based application to perform and communicate risk calculations for wastewater workers. Case studies for seven different WWTP job tasks were performed investigating infection risk across nine different enteric and respiratory pathogens. It was observed that the ingestion risk among job tasks was highest for "walking the WWTP," which involved exposure from splashing, bioaerosols, and hand-to-mouth contact from touching contaminated surfaces. There was also a notable difference in exposure risk during peak (5:00am-9:00am) and non-peak hours (9:00am- 5:00am), with risks during the peak flow hours of the early morning assumed to be 5 times greater than non-peak hours. N95 respirator usage reduced median respiratory risks by 77 %. The developed tool performs multiple QMRA calculations to estimate WWTP workers' infection risks from accidental ingestion or inhalation of wastewater from multiple pathogens and exposure scenarios, which can inform risk management strategies to protect occupational health. However, more data are needed to reduce uncertainty in model estimates, including comparative data for pathogen concentrations in wastewater during peak and non-peak hours. QMRA tools will increase accessibility of risk models for utilization in decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Heida
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, 502 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; The Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Rasha Maal-Bared
- Bellevue Research and Testing Laboratory, CDM Smith, 14432 SE Eastgate Way Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98007, USA
| | - Marc Veillette
- Department of biochemistry, microbiology and bioinformatics, Université Laval, Canada Research Chair on Bioaerosols, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Department of biochemistry, microbiology and bioinformatics, Université Laval, Canada Research Chair on Bioaerosols, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Kelly A Reynolds
- Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Ahamed Ashraf
- Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Olusola O Ogunseye
- Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Yoonhee Jung
- Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Lester Shulman
- Central Virology Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel; School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Luisa Ikner
- Department of Environmental Science, College of Agricultre, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Walter Betancourt
- Department of Environmental Science, College of Agricultre, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Kerry A Hamilton
- The Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Amanda M Wilson
- Department of Community, Environment, & Policy, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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Li M, Lv Y, Cui D, Xu Y, Lin M, Zhang X, Wang Y, Shen C, Xie J. Development and clinical validation of a one-step pentaplex real-time reverse transcription PCR assay for detection of hepatitis virus B, C, E, Treponema pallidum, and a human housekeeping gene. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:358. [PMID: 37231355 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08240-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the safety of blood transfusion being a major public health concern, the development of a rapid, sensitive, specific, and cost-effective multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of hepatitis B virus(HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), and Treponema pallidum(T. pallidum) in blood is crucial. METHODS Five primer pairs and probes were designed towards conserved regions of target genes and used to establish a one-step pentaplex real-time reverse transcription PCR(qRT-PCR) assay for simultaneous detection of HBV, HCV, HEV, T. pallidum, and RNase P(housekeeping gene), providing sample quality check. The clinical performance of the assay was further determined with 2400 blood samples from blood donors and patients in Zhejiang province, and compared the results with commercial singleplex qPCR and serological assays. RESULTS The 95% limit of detection(LOD) of HBV, HCV, HEV, and T. pallidum were 7.11 copies/µL, 7.65 copies/µL, 8.45 copies/µL, and 9.06 copies/µL, respectively. Moreover, the assay has good specificity and precision. Compared to the singleplex qPCR assay, the novel assay for detecting HBV, HCV, HEV, and T. pallidum presented 100% clinical sensitivity, specificity, and consistency. Several discrepant results between serological and pentaplex qRT-PCR assays were found. Of 2400 blood samples, there were 2(0.08%) HBsAg positive samples, 3(0.13%) anti-HCV positive samples, 29(1.21%) IgM anti-HEV positive samples and 6(0.25%) anti-T. pallidum positive samples proven negative in nucleic acid detection. 1(0.04%) HBV DNA positive sample and 1(0.04%) HEV RNA positive sample were detected negative by serological testing. CONCLUSIONS The developed pentaplex qRT-PCR is the first assay on simultaneous, sensitive, specific, and reproducible detection of HBV, HCV, HEV, T. pallidum, and RNase P in a single tube. It could detect pathogens in blood during the window period of infection and is a good tool for effectively screening blood donors and early clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Li
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yan Lv
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Dawei Cui
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yushan Xu
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Mengjiao Lin
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | | | - Yongjun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Blood Safety Research of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Province Blood Center, Hangzhou, 310052, China
| | - Cuifen Shen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, 313000, China.
| | - Jue Xie
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
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Hu X, Zhou W, Zhang L, Lv J, Yan B, Zhou Y, Hu W, Dong Y, Chen B, Liu M, Cao J, Xu F, Li L. Implementing sequencing-based surveillance in developing countries: findings from a pilot rollout for hepatitis A in China. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1119. [PMID: 34430560 PMCID: PMC8350710 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-1193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Background The emergence of SARS-Cov2 variants has highlighted the need to implement sequencing-based surveillance in developing countries for early response to mutant viruses of concern. However, limited information on how to implement sequencing-based surveillance is available, and the feasibility and performance of this new type of surveillance are still in question. Methods To understand the challenges with the implementation and to promote sequencing-based surveillance, we reported findings from a pilot for hepatitis A (HepA) in five sentinel provinces in China as an example of sequencing-based surveillance implementation. The performance of the surveillance system was evaluated by indicators related to acceptability, data quality, simplicity, utility, and timeliness. We use a scale from 1 to 3 was used to provide a score for each aspect. Results During the pilot, 306 cases of HepA were reported, and 49.79% of samples were available for sequencing. Eleven genomic clusters were found, of which seven clusters were potentially related to a foodborne outbreak oyster based on identical viral sequence and epidemiologic investigations. The greatest strength of the system was its simplicity (Score: 2.63). The acceptability (Score: 2.0) and utility (Score: 2.33) were modest, but data quality (Score: 1.75) and timeliness (Score: 1.75) were the main challenges. Conclusions Overall, the system performed satisfactorily and proved to be useful for virological characterization of cases and early outbreak detection, with a great potential for scale-up. Further efforts are required to address financial and human resource constraints and inadequate support among physicians. Education should be given to health care professionals to improve the data quality. The establishment of decentralized surveillance networks can be an approach to improve timeliness for emerging infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenting Zhou
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Jingjing Lv
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Bingyu Yan
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Dept. of Immunization Program, Division of Immunization Surveillance & Evaluation, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weijun Hu
- Immunization Program Department, Shaanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuanyuan Dong
- Immunization Program Department, Shaanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi'an, China
| | - Biyu Chen
- Hainan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Haikou, China
| | - Man Liu
- Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingyuan Cao
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Fujie Xu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,China Country Office, Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation, Beijing, China
| | - Lanjuan Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Ngamdee T, Yin LS, Vongpunsawad S, Poovorawan Y, Surareungchai W, Lertanantawong B. Target Induced-DNA strand displacement reaction using gold nanoparticle labeling for hepatitis E virus detection. Anal Chim Acta 2020; 1134:10-17. [PMID: 33059855 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
DNA strand displacement is an attractive, enzyme-free target hybridization strategy for nano-biosensing. The target DNA induces a strand displacement reaction by replacing the pre-hybridized strand that is labeled with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Thus, the amount of displaced-AuNP-labeled strand is proportional to the amount of target DNA in the sample. The use of a magnetogenosensing technique to isolate the target DNA allows for a simple, one-pot detection approach, which minimizes possible carry-over contamination and pipetting errors. We sought a proof-of-concept for this technology in its ability to detect DNA-equivalent of hepatitis E virus (HEV), which causes acute viral hepatitis for which rapid and simple diagnostic methods remain limited. Signal detection was done via visual observation, spectrophotometry, and electrochemistry. The sensor demonstrated good sensitivity with detection limits of 10 pM (visual), 10 pM (spectrophotometry) and 1 fM (electrochemical). This sensor also exhibited high specificity for real target amplicons and could discriminate between perfect and mismatched sequences. Lyophilized biosensor reagents stored at 4 °C, 25 °C, and outdoor ambient temperature, were stable for up to 90, 50, and 40 days, respectively. The integration of magnetic separation and target DNA-induced strand displacement reaction in a dry reagent form makes the sensing platform easy-to-use and suitable for field settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatchanun Ngamdee
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
| | - Lee Su Yin
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, Bedong, Kedah, 08100, Malaysia
| | - Sompong Vongpunsawad
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Yong Poovorawan
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Werasak Surareungchai
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand; Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Program, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok, 10140, Thailand
| | - Benchaporn Lertanantawong
- Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Program, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok, 10140, Thailand; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
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Brisebois E, Veillette M, Dion-Dupont V, Lavoie J, Corbeil J, Culley A, Duchaine C. Human viral pathogens are pervasive in wastewater treatment center aerosols. J Environ Sci (China) 2018; 67:45-53. [PMID: 29778173 PMCID: PMC7128102 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2017.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment center (WTC) workers may be vulnerable to diseases caused by viruses, such as the common cold, influenza and gastro-intestinal infections. Although there is a substantial body of literature characterizing the microbial community found in wastewater, only a few studies have characterized the viral component of WTC aerosols, despite the fact that most diseases affecting WTC workers are of viral origin and that some of these viruses are transmitted through the air. In this study, we evaluated in four WTCs the presence of 11 viral pathogens of particular concern in this milieu and used a metagenomic approach to characterize the total viral community in the air of one of those WTCs. The presence of viruses in aerosols in different locations of individual WTCs was evaluated and the results obtained with four commonly used air samplers were compared. We detected four of the eleven viruses tested, including human adenovirus (hAdV), rotavirus, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Herpes Simplex virus type 1 (HSV1). The results of the metagenomic assay uncovered very few viral RNA sequences in WTC aerosols, however sequences from human DNA viruses were in much greater relative abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyne Brisebois
- Université Laval, Pavillon Alexandre Vachon, 1045, ave de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V0A6, Canada; CRIUCPQ, 2725, Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
| | - Marc Veillette
- CRIUCPQ, 2725, Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
| | - Vanessa Dion-Dupont
- Université Laval, Pavillon Alexandre Vachon, 1045, ave de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V0A6, Canada; CRIUCPQ, 2725, Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
| | - Jacques Lavoie
- IRSST, 505 Boulevard de Maisonneuve O, Montréal, QC, H3A 3C2, Canada
| | - Jacques Corbeil
- CRCHU, 2705 Boulevard Laurier, RC-709, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Alexander Culley
- Université Laval, Pavillon Alexandre Vachon, 1045, ave de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V0A6, Canada
| | - Caroline Duchaine
- Université Laval, Pavillon Alexandre Vachon, 1045, ave de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V0A6, Canada; CRIUCPQ, 2725, Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada.
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Ricci A, Allende A, Bolton D, Chemaly M, Davies R, Fernandez Escamez PS, Herman L, Koutsoumanis K, Lindqvist R, Nørrung B, Robertson L, Ru G, Sanaa M, Simmons M, Skandamis P, Snary E, Speybroeck N, Ter Kuile B, Threlfall J, Wahlström H, Di Bartolo I, Johne R, Pavio N, Rutjes S, van der Poel W, Vasickova P, Hempen M, Messens W, Rizzi V, Latronico F, Girones R. Public health risks associated with hepatitis E virus (HEV) as a food-borne pathogen. EFSA J 2017; 15:e04886. [PMID: 32625551 PMCID: PMC7010180 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important infection in humans in EU/EEA countries, and over the last 10 years more than 21,000 acute clinical cases with 28 fatalities have been notified with an overall 10-fold increase in reported HEV cases; the majority (80%) of cases were reported from France, Germany and the UK. However, as infection in humans is not notifiable in all Member States, and surveillance differs between countries, the number of reported cases is not comparable and the true number of cases would probably be higher. Food-borne transmission of HEV appears to be a major route in Europe; pigs and wild boars are the main source of HEV. Outbreaks and sporadic cases have been identified in immune-competent persons as well as in recognised risk groups such as those with pre-existing liver damage, immunosuppressive illness or receiving immunosuppressive treatments. The opinion reviews current methods for the detection, identification, characterisation and tracing of HEV in food-producing animals and foods, reviews literature on HEV reservoirs and food-borne pathways, examines information on the epidemiology of HEV and its occurrence and persistence in foods, and investigates possible control measures along the food chain. Presently, the only efficient control option for HEV infection from consumption of meat, liver and products derived from animal reservoirs is sufficient heat treatment. The development of validated quantitative and qualitative detection methods, including infectivity assays and consensus molecular typing protocols, is required for the development of quantitative microbial risk assessments and efficient control measures. More research on the epidemiology and control of HEV in pig herds is required in order to minimise the proportion of pigs that remain viraemic or carry high levels of virus in intestinal contents at the time of slaughter. Consumption of raw pig, wild boar and deer meat products should be avoided.
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Irshad M, Gupta P, Mankotia DS, Ansari MA. Multiplex qPCR for serodetection and serotyping of hepatitis viruses: A brief review. World J Gastroenterol 2016; 22:4824-4834. [PMID: 27239109 PMCID: PMC4873875 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i20.4824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The present review describes the current status of multiplex quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays developed and used globally for detection and subtyping of hepatitis viruses in body fluids. Several studies have reported the use of multiplex qPCR for the detection of hepatitis viruses, including hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). In addition, multiplex qPCR has also been developed for genotyping HBV, HCV, and HEV subtypes. Although a single step multiplex qPCR assay for all six hepatitis viruses, i.e., A to G viruses, is not yet reported, it may be available in the near future as the technologies continue to advance. All studies use a conserved region of the viral genome as the basis of amplification and hydrolysis probes as the preferred chemistries for improved detection. Based on a standard plot prepared using varying concentrations of template and the observed threshold cycle value, it is possible to determine the linear dynamic range and to calculate an exact copy number of virus in the specimen. Advantages of multiplex qPCR assay over singleplex or other molecular techniques in samples from patients with co-infection include fast results, low cost, and a single step investigation process.
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MESH Headings
- DNA, Viral/blood
- DNA, Viral/genetics
- Hepatitis Viruses/classification
- Hepatitis Viruses/genetics
- Hepatitis Viruses/immunology
- Hepatitis, Viral, Human/blood
- Hepatitis, Viral, Human/diagnosis
- Hepatitis, Viral, Human/genetics
- Hepatitis, Viral, Human/immunology
- Humans
- Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Reproducibility of Results
- Serogroup
- Serologic Tests/methods
- Serotyping
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