Detection of Human Adenovirus and Rotavirus in Untreated Wastewater in Lusaka, Zambia: Opportunity for Establishment of Wastewater Surveillance System for the Community

Abstract

Enteric infections are a major public health concern. Detecting risk areas requires a strong surveillance system for pathogenic viruses in possible sources such as wastewater. To build an environmental surveillance system, we aimed to identify group A rotavirus (RVA) and human adenovirus (HAdV) in wastewater. We also focused on three different methods of viral concentration to determine suitability for a regular surveillance system. We screened 20 wastewater samples for HAdV and RVA using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR). Sixteen posi-tives (18/20) and ten (14/20) positives for HAdV and RVA, respectively, were obtained on qPCR, representing a prevalence of 90% and 70%. Twelve (12) positives were successfully amplified. Bag-mediated filtration system (BMFS) and skimmed milk (SM) flocculation were the most consistent viral concentration methods for HAdV and RVA, respectively. Human adenovirus was identified with nucleotide identity range of 98.48% to 99.53%. Statistical analysis of positives showed that viral burden differed by site (P

Respiratory human adenovirus outbreak captured in wastewater surveillance

“…It has been estimated that 40% of adenovirus cases are asymptomatic, 5 and there is some evidence suggesting winter seasonality. 1,[6][7][8] Although it is not mandatory to report adenovirus cases in the U.S., passive surveillance from 2003-2016 indicated that type 3 (species B) was the most reported followed by types 2 and 1 (both species C). 1 Wastewater surveillance provides an opportunity to shed light on the trends of HAdV infections within and between communities.…”

“…[9][10][11] The Wastewater Sewer Coronavirus Alert Network (WastewaterSCAN) network recently demonstrated a positive correlation between the concentrations of adenovirus types 40/41 in wastewater primary solids and clinical data. 12 Adenovirus species B and C have also been detected in wastewater; 6,8,9 however there is still a lack of evidence that respiratory HAdV levels in wastewater correlate with clinical cases. The signals of many other respiratory viruses have been measured in wastewater and correlated with clinical cases.…”