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Research article2022Peer reviewedOpen access

Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in Wastewater of Two Counties in Texas, United States

Langan, Laura M.; Brien, Megan; Lovin, Lea M.; Scarlett, Kendall R.; Davis, Haley; Henke, Abigail N.; Seidel, Sarah E.; Archer, Natalie; Lawrence, Eric; Norman, R. Sean; Bojes, Heidi K.; Brooks, Bryan W.

Abstract

After its emergence in late November/December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly spread globally. Recognizing that this virus is shed in feces of individuals and that viral RNA is detectable in wastewater, testing for SARS-CoV-2 in sewage collections systems has allowed for the monitoring of a community's viral burden. Over a 9 month period, the influents of two regional wastewater treatment facilities were concurrently examined for wild-type SARS-CoV-2 along with variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.617.2 incorporated as they emerged. Epidemiological data including new confirmed COVID-19 cases and associated hospitalizations and fatalities were tabulated within each location. RNA from SARS-CoV-2 was detectable in 100% of the wastewater samples, while variant detection was more variable. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RTqPCR) results align with clinical trends for COVID-19 cases, and increases in COVID-19 cases were positively related with increases in SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in wastewater, although the strength of this relationship was location specific. Our observations demonstrate that clinical and wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 wild type and constantly emerging variants of concern can be combined using RT-qPCR to characterize population infection dynamics. This may provide an early warning for at-risk communities and increases in COVID-19 related hospitalizations.

Keywords

Wastewater; WBE; COVID-19; VOCs; SARS-CoV-2; USA

Published in

ACS ES&T water
2022, volume: 2, number: 11, pages: 2211–2224

SLU Authors

Global goals (SDG)

SDG3 Good health and well-being

UKÄ Subject classification

Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.2c00103

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/128081