Environmental Surveillance for Polioviruses in Haïti (2017–2019): The Dynamic Process for the Establishment and Monitoring of Sampling Sites

Abstract

Haïti is at risk for wild poliovirus (WPV) importation and circulation, as well as vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) emergence. Environmental surveillance (ES) for polioviruses was established in Port au Prince and Gonaïves in 2016. During 2017–2019, initial ES sites were re-evaluated, and ES was expanded into Cap Haïtien and Saint Marc. Wastewater samples and data on weather, hour of collection, and sample temperature and pH were collected every 4 weeks during March 2017–December 2019 (272 sampling events) from 21 sites in Cap Haïtien, Gonaïves, Port au Prince, and Saint Marc. Samples were processed for the detection of polio and non-polio enteroviruses using the two-phase and “Concentration and Filter Elution” methodologies. Polioviruses were serotyped and underwent intra-typic characterization. No WPV or VDPVs were isolated. Sabin-like polioviruses (oral vaccine strain) of serotypes 1 and 3 were sporadically detected. Five of six (83%), one of six (17%), five of six (83%), and two of three (67%) sites evaluated in Cap Haïtien, Gonaïves, Port au Prince, and Saint Marc, respectively, had enterovirus isolation from >50% of sampling events; these results and considerations, such as watershed population size and overlap, influence of sea water, and excessive particulates in samples, were factors in site retention or termination. The evaluation of 21 ES sampling sites in four Haïtian cities led to the termination of 11 sites. Every-four-weekly sampling continues at the remaining 10 sites across the four cities as a core Global Polio Eradication Initiative activity.

Sewage surveillance for SARS-CoV-2: Molecular detection, quantification, and normalization factors

“…Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has proved to be a swift and supplementary tool for health authorities worldwide to monitor COVID-19 and also track the newly emerging variants of concern. The use of WBE has previously been effective in monitoring a range of harmful viruses including polio, Noro, dengue [ 1 ], and recently SARS-CoV throughout the world [ 2 , 3∗ , 4 ]. It targets the residues of the viruses' DNA/RNA that function as the pathogens' population quantitation.…”

CaFÉ: A Sensitive, Low-Cost Filtration Method for Detecting Polioviruses and Other Enteroviruses in Residual Waters

“…The same samples were NPEV or not detected with the two-phase separation method. The two-phase separation method detected four SL 3 PVs from four sites (BDC, RRD, AMA and PET), that were not detected using the CaFÉ method ( Alleman et al, 2021a ) ( Supplementary Figure S1 ).…”

“…Parallel testing between the two-phase separation and CaFÉ methods was conducted at CDC-Atlanta, using samples collected from Haïti between December 2017—December 2019 ( n = 144), twelve sampling sites in four coastal cities in Haïti—Port au Prince, Gonaïves, Saint Marc, and Cap-Haïtien were selected ( Alleman et al, 2021a ) ( Table 1 ; Figure 1A ), and samples from Guatemala from November 2018—August 2019 ( n = 53). Seven sampling sites were selected in two major cities in Guatemala—San Juan Sacatepéquez, a municipality located in the northwest of Guatemala City.…”

Genome Sequences of 16 Enterovirus Isolates from Environmental Sewage in Guatemala, 2019 to 2021

“…Sewage samples were processed using the concentration and filter elution (CaFÉ) method, as described previously ( 3 , 4 ). Resulting concentrates were inoculated into cells for enterovirus isolation according to the World Health Organization protocol ( 5 ).…”