Detection and identification of potentially infectious gastrointestinal and respiratory viruses at workplaces of wastewater treatment plants with viability qPCR/RT-qPCR

Abstract

This study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the prevalence of the most common respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses in the air, surface swab, and influent/effluent samples collected in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Application of qPCR/RT-qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction/reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction) assays combined with PMA (propidium monoazide) dye pretreatment allowed detecting the potentially infectious and disintegrated viral particles in collected samples. In the air at workplaces in WWTPs, the most frequent isolation with the highest concentrations (reaching up to 103 gc/m3 of potentially infectious intact viral particles) were observed in case of adenoviruses (AdVs) and rotaviruses (RoVs), followed by noroviruses (NoVs). Viruses were significantly more often detected in the air samples collected with Coriolis μ impinger, than with MAS-100NT impactor. The temperature negatively (Spearman correlation: –1 < R < 0; p < 0.05), while RH (relative humidity) positively (0 < R < 1; p < 0.05) affected airborne concentrations of potentially infectious viral particles. In turn, the predominant viruses on studied surfaces were RoVs and noroviruses GII (NoV GII) with concentrations of potentially infectious virions up to 104 gc/100 cm2. In the cases of SARS-CoV-2 and presumptive SARS-CoV-2 or other coronaviruses, their concentrations reached up to 103 gc/100 cm2. The contamination level of steel surfaces in WWTPs was similar to this on plastic ones. This study revealed that the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses at workplaces in WWTPs is important for proper exposure assessment and needs to be included in risk management in occupational environment with high abundance of microbial pollutants derived from wastewater.

Simultaneous Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Virus in Wastewater of Two Cities in Southeastern Germany, January to May 2022

“…In the present study, the measured mean concentrations of influenza virus A in the wastewater of both cities are below the values (2.6 × 10 5 gc/L and 1.3 × 10 5 gc/L) obtained from Dutch and Polish WWTPs, which are available for a quantitative comparison [ 15 , 16 ]. Besides methodic aspects (differing virus concentration and amplification procedures, as well as standards used for quantification), data from The Netherlands came from the time period of the influenza virus A (H1N1) 2009 pandemic, which could result in a stronger input of these viruses into wastewater.…”

“…However, the number of studies investigating the occurrence of influenza virus in municipal wastewater so far is limited. Whereas the presence of viruses in the environment surrounding outbreak areas was described [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], only two reports to date characterized the occurrence of viruses in Dutch and Polish sewage influents, and finding influenza virus A in 1 of 10 (2.6 × 10 5 genome copies (gc)/L) and in 1 of 15 samples (1.3 × 10 5 gc/L), respectively [ 15 , 16 ]. Further investigations are urgently needed to evaluate the value of WBE for the characterization of future influenza outbreaks.…”

Seasonal prevalence of potentially infectious enteric viruses in surface waters below treated wastewater discharge

“…Stable viral particles have been reported of up to 130 days in seawater, up to 120 days in freshwater and sewage, and up to 100 days in soil at 20 °C -30 °C [41]. A previous study by the authors of the current study demonstrated that potentially infectious enteric viruses were present in the post-treatment wastewater effluents, which suggest that hitherto applied water purification technologies are, at present, insufficient for viral particles inactivation [42]. All the above-mentioned examples clearly show that the presence of pathogenic viruses should be monitored in water reservoirs into which sewage is discharged.…”

A Review on Human Metapneumovirus and Human Bocavirus Associated with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections

“…In three studies, HBoV was found using PCR in the respiratory secretions of adults with respiratory tract infections in 1 of 126 (0.8%), 3 of 202 (1.5%), and 3.1% cases [76][77][78]. A case study of five adults with bocavirus-associated pneumonia included five patients [79].…”