SARS‐CoV‐2 and wastewater: What does it mean for non‐human primates?

Abstract

In most of our lifetimes, we have not faced a global pandemic such as the novel coronavirus disease 2019. The world has changed as a result. However, it is not only humans who are affected by a pandemic of this scale. Our closest relatives, the non‐human primates (NHPs) who encounter researchers, sanctuary/zoo employees, and tourists, are also potentially at risk of contracting the virus from humans due to similar genetic susceptibility. “Anthropozoonosis”—the transmission of diseases from humans to other species—has occurred historically, resulting in infection of NHPs with human pathogens that have led to disastrous outbreaks. Recent studies have assessed the susceptibility of NHPs and predict that catarrhine primates and some lemurs are potentially highly susceptible to infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) virus. There is accumulating evidence that a new factor to consider with the spread of the virus is fecal‐oral transmission. The virus has been detected in the watersheds of countries with underdeveloped infrastructure where raw sewage enters the environment directly without processing. This may expose NHPs, and other animals, to SARS‐CoV‐2 through wastewater contact. Here, we address these concerns and discuss recent evidence. Overall, we suggest that the risk of transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 via wastewater is low. Nonetheless, tracking of viral RNA in wastewater does provide a unique testing approach to help protect NHPs at zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. A One Health approach going forward is perhaps the best way to protect these animals from a novel virus, the same way that we would protect ourselves.

Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast

“…However, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been speculation about the role of sewage and surface waters for environmental transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (Jones et al, 2020). Infectious virus particles discharged into the environment could pose a risk for humans who come in contact with receiving waters, and there is even a theoretical risk of zooanthroponotic spillover into animals (Mathavarajah et al, 2021a(Mathavarajah et al, , 2021b. Under experimental conditions, infectious SARS-CoV-2 particles can remain stable in river water for several days, particularly at lower temperatures (Sala-Comorera et al, 2021).…”

“…For example, in the UK raw sewage was discharged directly into rivers on 200,000 separate occasions in 2019 (Carver, 2021). This release of microbial pathogens in effluent could pose a theoretical risk of spillover into wildlife vectors (Mathavarajah et al, 2021a(Mathavarajah et al, , 2021b and be an infection risk to humans who come in contact with receiving waters (Jones et al, 2020). The infectious nature of SARS-CoV-2 in human faeces and wastewater, however, remains controversial (Pedersen et al, 2021), and may change as new variants of the virus evolve.…”

Perspectives on SARS-CoV-2 Cases in Zoological Institutions

“…Water analysis may also prove useful for mass surveillance strategies. Wastewater can be routinely tested for viral RNA to monitor the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in staff and animals in a facility [85].…”

Shedding light on the toxicity of SARS-CoV-2-derived peptide in non-target COVID-19 organisms: A study involving inbred and outbred mice

“…However, in mammals (non-humans), studies have focused on the susceptibility of different species to viral infection and their roles in the dissemination of COVID-19 ( Shi et al, 2020 , Tiwari et al, 2020 , Rockx et al, 2020 , Audino et al, 2021 , Mathavarajah et al, 2021a , Mathavarajah et al, 2021b , Gryseels et al, 2021 , Delahay et al, 2021 , Patel et al, 2021 , Melo et al, 2022 ). Although Rhea et al (2021) ) have recently demonstrated that intravenously injected radioiodinated S1 (I-S1) (S1 subunit of Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2) readily crossed the blood-brain barrier in male mice, was taken up by brain regions, and entered the parenchymal brain space, the consequences of this translocation have not been evaluated and therefore remain unknown.…”