Environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in municipal wastewater to monitor COVID-19 status in urban clusters in Malaysia

Aziz, Muhamad Afiq; Norman, Syuhada; Zaid, Suzaini Mohamed; Simarani, Khanom; Sulaiman, Raha; Aris, Alijah Mohd; Chin, Khor Bee; Zain, Rozainanee Mohd

doi:10.1007/s00203-023-03417-y

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 47 publications

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“…Many human viruses are present in municipal wastewater, and wastewater measurements have been widely used for tracking viruses that cause human diseases such as polioviruses, SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human norovirus, Mpox (monkeypox), and other enteric and nonenteric viruses. − Beyond wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) applications, wastewater virus measurements are also critical for determining the extent of advanced water treatment that is necessary in water reuse applications to achieve acceptable levels of risk in the finished drinking water. − Quantifying viruses in wastewater most frequently involves molecular-based methods (i.e., quantitative PCR methods) due to the limitations and complexities of culture-based methods. PCR-based quantification typically targets small portions of the viral genome, and therefore, the resulting concentrations are likely higher than infectious virus particles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Protective Effect of Virus Capsids on RNA and DNA Virus Genomes in Wastewater

Harrison,

Snead,

Kilts

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Virus concentrations measured in municipal wastewater help inform both the water treatment necessary to protect human health and wastewater-based epidemiology. Wastewater measurements are typically PCR-based, and interpreting gene copy concentrations requires an understanding of the form and stability of the nucleic acids. Here, we study the persistence of model virus genomes in wastewater, the protective effects provided by the virus capsids, and the relative decay rates of the genome and infectious viruses. In benchtop batch experiments in wastewater influent at 25 °C, extraviral (+)ssRNA and dsDNA amplicons degraded by 90% within 15−19 min and 1.6−1.9 h, respectively. When encapsidated, the T 90 for MS2 (+)ssRNA increased by 424× and the T 90 for T4 dsDNA increased by 52×. The (+)ssRNA decay rates were similar for a range of amplicon sizes. For our model phages MS2 and T4, the nucleic acid signal in untreated wastewater disappeared shortly after the viruses lost infectivity. Combined, these results suggest that most viral genome copies measured in wastewater are encapsidated, that measured concentrations are independent of assay amplicon sizes, and that the virus genome decay rates of nonenveloped (i.e., naked) viruses are similar to inactivation rates. These findings are valuable for the interpretation of wastewater virus measurements.

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