medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Nov. 11, 2024
Abstract
The
COVID-19
pandemic
has
emphasized
the
critical
need
for
accurate
disease
modeling
to
inform
public
health
interventions.
Traditional
reliance
on
confirmed
infection
data
is
often
hindered
by
reporting
delays
and
under-reporting,
while
widespread
antigen
antibody
testing
can
be
costly
impractical.
Wastewater-based
surveillance
offers
a
promising
alternative
detecting
viral
concentrations
from
fecal
shedding,
potentially
providing
more
estimate
of
true
prevalence.
However,
challenges
remain
in
optimizing
sampling
protocols,
locations,
normalization
strategies,
particularly
accounting
environmental
factors
like
precipitation.
We
present
an
integrative
model
that
simulates
spread
serious
infectious
diseases
linking
detailed
dynamics
with
wastewater
processes
through
shedding
curves.
Through
comprehensive
simulations,
we
examine
how
virus
characteristics,
precipitation
events,
measurement
strategies
affect
relationship
between
measurements.
Our
findings
reveal
complex
prevalence
corresponding
concentrations,
key
variability
sources
including
upstream
continuous
rainfall,
rapid
decay.
Notably,
find
flow
rate
unreliable
when
rainwater
infiltrates
sewer
systems.
Despite
these
challenges,
our
study
demonstrates
wastewater-based
serve
as
leading
indicator
prevalence,
predicting
outbreak
peaks
before
they
occur.
proposed
thus
used
optimize
surveillance,
enhancing
its
utility
monitoring.
Graphical
Highlights
Integration
models
simulate
spread.
Identification
affecting
Illustration
ability
predict
outbreaks
case
reporting.
Demonstration
unreliability
infiltration.
Optimization
improved
Water Research,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
259, P. 121879 - 121879
Published: June 3, 2024
Wastewater-based
epidemiology
(WBE)
has
been
demonstrably
successful
as
a
relatively
unbiased
tool
for
monitoring
levels
of
SARS-CoV-2
virus
circulating
in
communities
during
the
COVID-19
pandemic.
Accumulated
biobanks
wastewater
samples
allow
retrospective
exploration
spatial
and
temporal
trends
public
health
indicators
such
chemicals,
viruses,
antimicrobial
resistance
genes,
possible
emergence
novel
human
or
zoonotic
pathogens.
We
investigated
resilience
to
time,
temperature,
freeze-thaw
cycles,
plus
optimal
storage
conditions
maintain
stability
genetic
material
(RNA/DNA)
viral
+ssRNA
(Envelope
-
E,
Nucleocapsid
N
Spike
protein
S
genes
SARS-CoV-2),
dsRNA
(Phi6
phage)
circular
dsDNA
(crAssphage)
wastewater.
Samples
consisted
(i)
processed
extracted
samples,
(ii)
distilled
water
(iii)
raw,
unprocessed
samples.
were
stored
at
-80
°C,
-20
4
20
°C
10
days,
going
through
up
cycles
(once
per
day).
Sample
was
measured
using
reverse
transcription
quantitative
PCR,
automated
electrophoresis,
short-read
whole
genome
sequencing.
Exploring
different
areas
demonstrated
that
gene
showed
greater
sensitivity
than
E
genes.
Investigating
surrogate
normalisation
viruses
Phi6
remains
stable
comparison
laboratory
setting
crAssphage
resilient
temperature
variation.
Recovery
raw
significantly
when
which
supported
by
sequencing
data
all
both
time
negatively
impacted
metrics.
Historical
extracts
re-quantified
12,
14
16
months
after
original
quantification
no
major
changes.
This
study
highlights
importance
fast
processing
extraction
following
are
robust
range
temperatures.
Microorganisms,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
13(2), P. 236 - 236
Published: Jan. 22, 2025
Wastewater-based
epidemiology
has
emerged
as
a
complementary
tool
for
the
monitoring
of
COVID-19
pandemic
waves
and
circulation
viral
variants.
The
selection,
standardization,
dynamics
different
SARS-CoV-2
RNA
targets
in
wastewater
requires
further
investigation.
In
present
study,
106
samples
were
collected
over
24-month
period
from
treatment
plant
Sondrio,
north
Italy,
analyzed
presence
through
quantification
ORF1b,
N1,
N3
gene
via
one-step
real-time
qPCR.
general,
three
demonstrated
performances
studied
time
period,
underlying
usefulness
multiple
surveillance
wastewater.
During
first
12
months,
selected
also
correlated
with
reported
clinical
cases
same
geographical
area;
however,
overall
data
analysis
this
did
not
appear
to
significantly
anticipate
epidemic
waves.
conclusion,
study
supports
use
real
indicator
human
SARS-CoV-2.
Moreover,
been
shown
improve
reliability
time.
Epidemics,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
51, P. 100836 - 100836
Published: May 31, 2025
The
COVID-19
pandemic
has
emphasized
the
critical
need
for
accurate
disease
modeling
to
inform
public
health
interventions.
Traditional
reliance
on
confirmed
infection
data
is
often
hindered
by
reporting
delays
and
under-reporting,
while
antigen
or
antibody
testing
of
a
full
cohort
can
be
costly
impractical.
Wastewater-based
surveillance
offers
promising
alternative
detecting
viral
concentrations
from
fecal
shedding,
potentially
providing
more
estimate
true
prevalence.
However,
challenges
remain
in
optimizing
sampling
protocols,
locations,
normalization
strategies,
particularly
accounting
environmental
factors
like
precipitation.
We
present
an
integrative
model
that
simulates
spread
serious
infectious
diseases
linking
detailed
dynamics
with
wastewater
processes
through
shedding
curves.
Through
comprehensive
simulations,
we
examine
how
virus
characteristics,
precipitation
events,
measurement
strategies
affect
relationship
between
measurements.
Our
findings
reveal
complex
prevalence
corresponding
concentrations,
key
variability
sources
including
upstream
continuous
rainfall,
rapid
decay.
Notably,
find
flow
rate
unreliable
when
rainwater
infiltrates
sewer
systems.
Despite
these
challenges,
our
study
demonstrates
wastewater-based
serve
as
leading
indicator
prevalence,
predicting
outbreak
peaks
before
they
occur.
proposed
thus
used
optimize
surveillance,
enhancing
its
utility
monitoring.
Journal of Water and Health,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
21(9), P. 1242 - 1256
Published: Sept. 1, 2023
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2
wastewater
surveillance
(WWS)
at
treatment
plants
(WWTPs)
can
reveal
sewered
community
COVID-19
prevalence.
For
unsewered
areas
using
septic
tank
systems
(STSs)
or
holding
tanks,
how
to
conduct
WWS
remains
unexplored.
Here,
two
large
STSs
serving
Zuma
Beach
(Malibu,
CA)
were
studied.
Supernatant
and
sludge
concentrations
from
the
directly-sampled
parameterized
a
dynamic
solid–liquid
separation,
mass
balance-based
model
for
estimating
infection
rate
of
users.
Pumped
septage
before
hauling
upon
WWTP
disposal
was
also
sampled
assessed.
Most
(96%)
STS
samples
contained
N1
N2
genes,
with
exceeding
supernatant
increasing
depth
while
correlating
total
suspended
solids
(TSS).
The
trucked
genes
which
decayed
(coefficients:
0.09–0.29
h−1)
but
remained
detectable.
Over
approximately
5
months
starting
in
December
2020,
modeled
prevalence
estimations
among
users
ranged
8
18%,
mirroring
larger
metropolitan
area
first
2
months.
approaches
herein
inform
public
health
intervention
augment
conventional
that:
(1)
user
rates
communal
tanks
are
estimable
(2)
pumped
hauled
be
assayed
infer
where
disease
is
spreading
areas.
Environments,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
11(4), P. 80 - 80
Published: April 12, 2024
Measuring
fecal
nucleic
acid
indicators
for
data
normalization
can
increase
costs
during
wastewater-based
epidemiology
(WBE).
The
efficacy
of
routinely
assayed
water
quality
parameters
was
assessed
as
an
alternative
or
complement
to
viral
indicator
their
utility
in
adjusting
measured
SARS-CoV-2
gene
concentrations
improve
the
relationship
between
wastewater
molecular
and
clinical
COVID-19
case
data.
This
research
covers
two
study
designs:
grab
samples
collected
from
sewers
serving
Ohio
State
University
campus
composite
influent
at
five
treatment
plants
(WWTPs)
across
state
Ohio.
Weekly
mandatory
testing
used
monitor
infections
student
population,
statewide
cases
were
reported
through
voluntary
testing.
Statewide
WWTP
results
showed
significant
strong
correlation
confirmed
cases,
increased
when
normalized
by
flow
additionally
pH,
total
suspended
solids,
temperature,
but
decreased
a
(PMMoV).
On
campus,
correlations
generally
not
unless
PMMoV
and/or
UV
absorbance
parameters.
Because
are
some
may
be
autosamplers,
incorporating
WBE
models
could
minimize
cellular
decrease
costs.
Journal of Virological Methods,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
332, P. 115063 - 115063
Published: Nov. 14, 2024
Wastewater-based
epidemiology
(WBE)
is
a
crucial
tool
for
health
and
environmental
monitoring,
providing
real-time
data
on
public
indicators
by
analysis
of
sewage
samples.
Ensuring
the
integrity
these
samples
from
collection
to
paramount.
This
study
investigates
effects
different
cold-storage
conditions
wastewater
samples,
focusing
both
microbiological
markers
(such
as
extractable
nucleic
acids,
SARS-CoV-2,
crAssphage)
physicochemical
parameters
(including
ammonium,
orthophosphate,
pH,
conductivity,
turbidity).
Composite
combined
raw
influent
five
treatment
works
in
South
Wales,
UK,
were
stored
at
4°C,
-20°C,
-80°C,
subjected
up
six
freeze-thaw
cycles
over
one
year.
The
found
significant
storage
temperature
preservation
certain
WBE
markers,
with
best
yield
most
frequently
seen
-80°C.
However,
majority
showed
no
difference
between
-80°C
or
demonstrating
that
it
may
not
always
be
necessary
archive
ultra-low
temperatures,
thus
reducing
CO
The Science of The Total Environment,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
957, P. 177449 - 177449
Published: Nov. 19, 2024
Wastewater-based
epidemiology
(WBE)
is
an
effective,
non-invasive
method
for
monitoring
the
spread
of
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
coronavirus
2
(SARS-CoV-2)
by
tracking
viral
prevalence
in
water.
This
study
aimed
to
investigate
presence
SARS-CoV-2
surface
water
Vietnam
over
two
years.
One-step
quantitative
reverse
transcription
polymerase
chain
reaction
(qRT-PCR)
assays
were
employed
quantify
and
its
variant-specific
mutation
sites
(G339D/E484A)
pepper
mild
mottle
virus
(PMMoV)
from
a
total
315
samples
(105
per
type)
compare
with
reported
Coronavirus
disease
2019
(COVID-19)
cases
environmental
factors.
was
detected
38
%
(40/105),
43
(45/105),
39
(41/105)
Sites
A,
B,
C,
respectively,
concentrations
3.0-5.6
log