Urban Wastewater-based Surveillance of Sars-Cov-2 virus: A two-year study conducted in city of Patras, Greece-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Urban Wastewater-based Surveillance of Sars-Cov-2 virus: A two-year study conducted in city of Patras, Greece

Published:2024-01-18 Issue: Volume: Page:
ISSN:
Container-title:
language:
Short-container-title:

Author:

Anastopoulou Zoi¹,Kotsiri Zoi¹,Chorti-Tripsa Eleftheria²,Fokas Rafail¹,Vantarakis Apostolos¹

Affiliation:

1. University of Patras

2. Democritus University of Thrace

Abstract

Abstract Wastewater-based epidemiology, during the COVID-19 pandemic years, has been applied as a complementary approach, worldwide, for tracking SARS-CoV-2 virus into the community and used as an early warning of the prevalence of COVID-19 infection. The present study presents the results of the 2-year surveillance project, in the city of Patras, Greece. The purpose of the study was to monitor SARS-CoV-2 and implement WBE as an early warning method of monitoring Public Health impact. The presence of SARS-CoV-2, was determined and quantified in 310 samples using RT-qPCR assays. For the years 2022 and 2023, 93,5% and 78,7% of samples were found positive, respectively. Comparison of detection methods have been conducted to select the method with the highest recovery of the viral load. A seasonal variation of the virus was recorded, showing a recession in summer months confirming the country's epidemiological data as indicated by positive correlation of wastewater viral load with registered cases of COVID-19 infections during these years (p < 0.05) and moreover, sealed with a significant negative correlation observed with Daily Average (p < 0,01) and Daily Maximum Temperature (p < 0,01). More research was carried out to elucidate a possible association of physicochemical characteristics of wastewater with viral load showing positive correlation with Chlorides (p < 0,01) advocating possible increased use of chlorine-based disinfectants and Electrical Conductivity (p < 0,01) indicates that wastewater during periods of increased infections is more heavily loaded with ions from chemical and biological pollutants. No correlation found with rainfall and physicochemical indicators such as COD, BOD5, Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen and Total Suspended Solids. According to the findings, WBE represent a useful tool in the management of epidemics based on an environmental approach and it can also shed light on the interacting parameters that capture Public Health since any infections that may lead to epidemics lead to a parallel change in the use of pharmaceuticals, antimicrobials, disinfectants and microbial load in urban wastewater.

Publisher

Research Square Platform LLC

Reference46 articles.

1. Agrawal, S., Orschler, L., & Lackner, S. (2021). Long-term monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater of the Frankfurt metropolitan area in Southern Germany. Scientific reports, 11(1), p.5372. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84914-2.

2. Ahmed, W. (2020). First confirmed detection of SARS-CoV-2 in untreated wastewater in Australia: A proof of concept for the wastewater surveillance of COVID-19 in the community. Science of the Total Environment, 728, p.138764. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138764.

3. A review of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater and airborne particulates and its use for virus spreading surveillance;Anand U;Environmental Research,2021

4. Balboa, S. (2021). The fate of SARS-COV-2 in WWTPS points out the sludge line as a suitable spot for detection of COVID-19. Science of the Total Environment, 772, p.145268. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145268.

5. Bivins, A. (2021). Variability in RT-qPCR assay parameters indicates unreliable SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantification for wastewater surveillance. Water Research, 203, p.117516. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117516.