Wastewater-Based SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance in Northern New England

Toledo, Diana M; Robbins, Ashlee; Gallagher, Torrey L.; Hershberger, Kenneth Chase; Barney, Rachael E.; Salmela, Sabrina M; Pilcher, Davey; Cervinski, Mark A.; Nerenz, Robert D.; Szczepiórkowski, Zbigniew M.; Tsongalis, Gregory J.; Lefferts, Joel A.; Martin, Isabella W.; Hubbard, Jacqueline A.

doi:10.1128/spectrum.02207-21

Cited by 15 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The procedures used for viral detection have been less studied and standardization is still needed. This work highlighted the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in 11 positive samples (58%) and a higher rate of positivity was detected at 47% for the N gene (9/19) among 19 wastewater samples collected from the WWTP 1 plant and other treatment plants such as the WWTP 3 plant in central Tunis area and the WWTP 4 and WWTP 5 treatment plants in the Sahel area by multiplex real-time RT-PCR for four SARS-CoV-2 specific genes namely E, RdRp, S and N. Our results are concordant with those recorded by the first study on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater that appeared on 30 March 2020 in the Netherlands (58%) (Medema et al, 2020 ), and close to those detected in Brazil (43.63%) (de Sousa et al, 2022 ) and in Northern New England (61.8% samples using RT-qPCR and 68.9% samples using RT-ddPCR) (Toledo et al, 2022 ). However, our results contradict those recorded in Tehran, which revealed that SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detectable in 100% (N test) and 81% (ORF1ab test) of 91 wastewater samples (Amereh et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Detection of Enteroviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in Tunisian Wastewater

et al. 2023

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Monitoring the circulation of enteric viruses in environmental wastewater is a valuable tool for preventing the emergence of waterborne and food-borne diseases in humans. The detection of viruses was performed in five Tunisian wastewater treatment plants, three located in the Grand Tunis City (WWTP 1, WWTP 2, WWTP 3) and two in the Sahel of Tunisia (WWTP 4, WWTP 4), known as very developed and crowded zones, to assess the effectiveness of three biological wastewater treatment procedures namely natural oxidizing lagoons, rotating biodisks procedure, activated sludge procedure, and one tertiary sewage treatment using UV-C 254 reactor for this enteric viruses’ removal. Thus, 242 sewage samples were collected between June 2019 and May 2020 from different lines of wastewater treatment procedures implemented in the five wastewater treatment plants investigated. SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed using real-time multiplex reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (multiplex real-time RT-PCR) and enteroviruses using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The enteroviruses detection showed 93% and 73% respective high frequencies only in the two WWTPs of the Grand Tunis (WWTP 1 and WWTP 2). SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 58% of the all wastewater samples collected from the five studied WWTPs with a respective dominance of N gene (47%), S gene (42%), RdRp gene (42%) and at last E gene (20%). These enteroviruses and SARS-CoV-2 detection were revealed in all steps of the wastewater treatment procedures, so poor virological quality is found at the exit of each biological and tertiary step of treatment investigated. For the first time in Tunisia, these results highlighted the enterovirus and SARS-CoV-2 detection with high rates, and the ineffectiveness of the biological and UV-C254 treatment implemented to remove these viruses. The preliminary results of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in Tunisian wastewater confirmed the wide positivity rate underlined by other works worldwide and allowed showing a move towards integrating wastewater as a way for this virus to spread in different areas and environments. So, this last result about SARS-CoV-2 circulation allowed us to caution about the strong probability of diffusion of this hazardous virus through water and sewage; despite its enveloped character and nature, as a labile and sensitive virus in these environments. Thus, establishing a national surveillance strategy is needed to improve the sanitary quality of treated wastewater and prevent public health problems related to these viruses in treated wastewater.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Detection of Enteroviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in Tunisian Wastewater

et al. 2023

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“…Our data are corroborated by Vogels et al who found similar results from an analysis of 172 nasopharyngeal samples [20]. This slight difference between N1 and N2 primer sets has been corroborated in other studies [21]. Together, the consistently higher sensitivity of filters vs direct extracts combined with the efficiency of filtration make a strong case that filtration is a better method for the detection of SARS CoV-2 in wastewater.…”

Section: Plos Onesupporting

confidence: 91%

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from an enclosed college campus serves as an early warning surveillance system

Kazenelson,

Jefferson,

Rhodes

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of Covid-19, is shed from infected persons in respiratory droplets, feces, and urine. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), our group hypothesized that we could detect SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples collected on a university campus prior to the detection of the virus in individuals on campus. Wastewater samples were collected 3 times a week from 5 locations on the main campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) from July 24, 2020 to December 21, 2020. Post-collection, total RNA was extracted and SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the samples was detected by qPCR. SARS-CoV-2 signal was detected on campus beginning on August 19 as classes began and the signal increased in both intensity and breadth as the Fall semester progressed. A comparison of two RNA extraction methods from wastewater showed that SARS-CoV-2 was detected more frequently on filter samples versus the direct extracts. Aligning our wastewater data with the reported SARS-CoV-2 cases on the campus Covid-19 dashboard showed the virus signal was routinely detected in the wastewater prior to clusters of individual cases being reported. These data support the testing of wastewater for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and may be used as part of a surveillance program for detecting the virus in a community prior to an outbreak occurring and could ultimately be incorporated with other SARS-CoV-2 metrics to better inform public health enabling a quick response to contain or mitigating spread of the virus.

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“…Moreover, as rural communities often lack the resources for broader-scale clinical testing, WBE can help sustain rural community health. Unfortunately, WBE has mainly focused on urban areas and larger cities, leaving rural communities with reduced access to this critical data (11,(17)(18)(19)(20).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological model can forecast COVID-19 outbreaks from wastewater-based surveillance in rural communities

Meadows,

Coats,

Narum

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Wastewater can play a vital role in infectious disease surveillance, especially in underserved communities where it can reduce the equity gap to larger municipalities. However, using wastewater surveillance in a predictive manner remains a challenge. We tested if detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater can predict outbreaks in rural communities. Under the CDC National Wastewater Surveillance program, we monitored several rural communities in Idaho (USA). While high daily variations in wastewater viral load made real-time interpretation difficult, a SEIR model could factor out the data noise and forecast the start of the Omicron outbreak in five of the six cities that were sampled soon after SARS-CoV-2 quantities increased in wastewater. For one city, the model could predict an outbreak 11 days before reported clinical cases began to increase. An epidemiological modeling approach can transform how epidemiologists use wastewater data to provide public health guidance on infectious diseases in rural communities.

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Wastewater-Based SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance in Northern New England

Abstract: Despite vaccination efforts, the delta and omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 have caused global surges of COVID-19. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it is important to find new ways of tracking early signs of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks.

Cited by 15 publications

References 23 publications

Detection of Enteroviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in Tunisian Wastewater

Detection of Enteroviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in Tunisian Wastewater

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from an enclosed college campus serves as an early warning surveillance system

Epidemiological model can forecast COVID-19 outbreaks from wastewater-based surveillance in rural communities

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