Environmental Science & Technology Letters,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
11(6), P. 526 - 532
Published: May 20, 2024
Prospective
influenza
A
(IAV)
RNA
monitoring
at
190
wastewater
treatment
plants
(WWTPs)
across
the
US
identified
increases
in
IAV
concentrations
59
spring
2024,
after
typical
seasonal
period,
coincident
with
identification
of
highly
pathogenic
avian
(subtype
H5N1)
circulating
dairy
cattle
US.
We
developed
and
validated
a
hydrolysis-probe
RT-PCR
assay
for
quantification
H5
hemagglutinin
gene.
applied
it
retrospectively
to
samples
from
four
WWTPs
where
springtime
were
one
WWTP
they
not.
The
marker
was
detected
all
coinciding
not
without
an
increase.
Positive
are
located
states
confirmed
outbreaks
influenza,
H5N1
clade
2.3.4.4b,
cattle.
Concentrations
gene
approached
overall
virus
concentrations,
suggesting
large
fraction
inputs
subtypes.
At
positive
WWTPs,
industrial
discharges
containing
animal
waste,
including
milk
byproducts,
permitted
discharge
into
sewers.
Our
findings
demonstrate
that
can
detect
animal-associated
contributions
highlight
need
consider
agricultural
wastewater.
This
work
illustrates
monitoring's
value
comprehensive
surveillance,
influenzas
currently
thought
be
primarily
found
animals
important
implications
human
health.
medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 1, 2025
Abstract
In
2024,
the
highly
pathogenic
avian
influenza
A
H5N1
caused
outbreaks
in
wild
birds,
poultry,
cows,
and
other
mammals
United
States
with
61
human
cases
also
reported
by
CDC.
Detection
of
H5
RNA
wastewater
has
been
previously
sewersheds
Texas
North
Carolina
nearby
impacted
dairy
herds
following
emergence
cows.
Here,
we
conduct
retrospective
testing
total
hemagglutinin
genes
as
well
presenting
applying
new
assays
for
detection
H1
H3
across
a
respiratory
virus
season
an
urban
California
sewershed
from
September
2023
–
May
2024.
Total
A,
H1,
were
regularly
detected,
while
was
first
detected
March.
We
developed
model
that
uses
Monte
Carlo
simulations
published
parameters
to
estimate
numbers
infected
people,
or
liters
H5-contaminated
milk
required
result
measured
concentrations
wastewater.
Our
findings
demonstrate
this
sewershed,
contaminated
poultry
most
likely
sources
created
publicly
available
tool
apply
input
inputs.
Synopsis
understand
potential
wastewater,
enabling
interpretation
detections.
TOC
figure
Scientific Data,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
11(1)
Published: Oct. 17, 2024
We
measured
concentrations
of
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
and
its
variants,
influenza
A
B
viruses,
syncytial
virus,
human
metapneumovirus,
enterovirus
D68,
parainfluenza
types
1,
2,
3,
4a,
4b
in
aggregate,
norovirus
genotype
II,
rotavirus,
Candida
auris,
hepatitis
adenovirus,
mpox
H5
pepper
mild
mottle
virus
nucleic
acids
wastewater
solids
prospectively
at
191
treatment
plants
40
states
across
the
United
States
plus
Washington
DC.
Measurements
were
made
two
to
seven
times
per
week
from
1
January
2022
30
June
2024,
depending
on
plant
staff
availability.
using
droplet
digital
(reverse-transcription-)
polymerase
chain
reaction
(ddRT-PCR)
following
best
practices
for
making
environmental
molecular
biology
measurements.
These
data
can
be
used
better
understand
disease
occurrence
communities
contributing
wastewater.
The Science of The Total Environment,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
951, P. 175473 - 175473
Published: Aug. 12, 2024
Hepatitis
A
and
E
viruses
(HAV
HEV,
respectively)
remain
a
significant
global
health
concern
despite
advancements
in
healthcare
vaccination
programs.
Regular
monitoring
vaccine
efficacy
of
HAV
are
still
lacking
different
countries.
This
study
aimed
to
investigate
HEV
prevalence
developed,
developing,
least-developed
Asian
countries
using
wastewater
as
surveillance
tool.
total
232
untreated
samples
were
collected
from
six
treatment
plants,
sewage
plant,
or
an
open
drainage
[Nepal
(n
=
51),
Indonesia
37),
Thailand
30),
Vietnam
27),
the
Philippines
17),
Japan
70)]
between
April
October
2022.
Viruses
concentrated
by
simple
centrifugation
polyethylene
glycol
precipitation
method,
followed
viral
RNA
extraction
reverse
transcription-quantitative
polymerase
chain
reaction.
detected
Nepal
(51
%
for
2
HEV),
(3
both
viruses),
(1
24
HEV).
Only
was
found
11
Indonesia,
whereas
only
Philippines,
with
positive
ratio
15
12
%,
respectively.
These
results
highlighted
geographic
variability
prevalence,
underscoring
need
localized
public
strategies
address
specific
hepatitis
challenges
each
country.
Wastewater
surveillance
of
vaccine-preventable
diseases
may
provide
early
warning
outbreaks
and
identify
areas
to
target
for
immunization.
To
advance
wastewater
monitoring
measles,
mumps,
rubella
viruses,
we
developed
validated
a
multiplexed
RT-ddPCR
assay
the
detection
their
RNA.
Because
measles-mumps-rubella
(MMR)
vaccine
is
an
attenuated
live
virus
vaccine,
also
that
distinguishes
between
wild-type
strains
measles
in
it
using
sample
collected
from
facility
with
active
outbreak.
We
evaluated
partitioning
behavior
viruses
liquid
solid
fractions
influent
wastewater.
found
assaying
fraction
resulted
more
sensitive
despite
fact
viral
RNA
was
enriched
due
low
solids
content
Finally,
investigated
stability
samples
spiked
over
28
days
at
two
different
concentrations
temperatures
(4
°C
room
temperature)
through
freeze-thaw
observed
limited
decay.
Our
study
supports
feasibility
population-level
surveillance.
This
study
proposes
a
novel
approach
for
viral
infectious
disease
surveillance
using
Google
Trends
data
to
model
wastewater
virus
concentrations,
providing
rapid,
low-cost
method
indicating
outbreaks.
search
terms
were
found
correlate
strongly
with
concentrations
and
clinical
cases
influenza
A
respiratory
syncytial
(R2
=
0.76
0.66).
For
norovirus
mpox,
which
limited,
showed
significant
correlations
concentrations.
Three
modeling
approaches
developed:
simple
linear,
stepwise
selection,
principal
component
analysis.
These
models
demonstrated
strong
predictive
power
both
of
up
0.66)
mpox
0.60)
The
was
validated
case
documented
2021
outbreak
in
Hartford,
CT,
where
indicators
rose
tandem
potentially
earlier
detection
than
data.
offers
complementary
stream
public
health
decision-making,
particularly
valuable
areas
lacking
robust
testing
infrastructure.
Limitations
include
potential
confounding
factors,
such
as
media
coverage
the
need
consider
local
idioms
international
applications.
