Molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater as a component of environmental surveillance of the COVID-19.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29166/rfcmq.v48i2.5778Keywords:
Wastewater, COVID-19, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques, Environmental Health SurveillanceAbstract
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in wastewater presents a novel and complementary tool in the environmental surveillance of COVID-19. This is due to the presence of genetic fragments of the virus in the fecal matter of infected or carrier individuals found in wastewater, providing valuable information for public health decision-making.
Objective: To quantitatively determine the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater of Ibarra city, aiming to provide data that supports environmental surveillance strategies.
Materials and Methods: This observational descriptive study involved collecting wastewater samples from Ibarra city's collectors. The identification and molecular quantification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus were conducted using the RT-q-PCR technique. The results were then correlated with the epidemiological behavior of COVID-19.
Results: The study compared viral concentration with the confirmed COVID-19 cases, using average viral concentrations from wastewater samples and official data from the Ministry of Public Health. A 12% increase in COVID-19 cases and a 35% decrease in Ct values were observed, indicating an increase in viral load. These findings suggest a direct correlation between the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and the incidence of COVID-19 cases.
Conclusion: Wastewater monitoring through molecular techniques emerges as an effective tool for the environmental surveillance of the epidemiological behavior of COVID-19, enhancing public health response capabilities.
Downloads
Metrics
References
UNEP. Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern. UNEP Frontiers 2016 Report [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2023 May 20]. Disponible en: https://web.unep.org/frontiers/sites/unep.org.frontiers/files/documents/unep_frontiers_2016.pdf.
Manzanedo RD, Manning P. COVID-19: Lessons for the climate change emergency. Sci Total Environ. 2020;742:140563.
Rodríguez-Verdugo A, Lozano-Huntelman N, Cruz-Loya M, Savage V, Yeh P. Compounding Effects of Climate Warming and Antibiotic Resistance. IScience [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2023 May 20]; Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2020.101024.
Fan Y, Zhao K, Shi ZL, Zhou P. Bat coronaviruses in China. Viruses. 2019;11(3):27–32.
Woo PCY, Lau SKP, Lam CSF, et al. Discovery of Seven Novel Mammalian and Avian Coronaviruses in the Genus Deltacoronavirus Supports Bat Coronaviruses as the Gene Source of Alphacoronavirus and Betacoronavirus and Avian Coronaviruses as the Gene Source of Gammacoronavirus and Deltacoronavirus. J Virol. 2012;86(7):3995–4008.
Nicola M, Alsafi Z, Sohrabi C, et al. The socio-economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19): A review. Int J Surg [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2023 May 20]; Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.04.018.
Velasteguí E, Lalaleo L, Calero W. ¿Se pueden prevenir las pandemias? Epidemiología basada en aguas residuales. Rev Investig Desarrollo I+D. 2020;12(1):88-90.
Usman M, Farooq M, Hanna J. Existence of SARS-CoV 2 in Wastewater: Implications for Its Environmental Transmission in Developing Communities. Environ Sci Technol. 2020;54(13):7758-7759.
Bonifaz E. Evaluación de la contaminación fecal de origen humano y animal en la cuenca alta del río Guayllabamba mediante indicadores virales [Internet]. Universidad de las Américas, Ecuador; 2018 [cited 2023 May 20]. Disponible en: http://dspace.udla.edu.ec/bitstream/33000/9234/1/UDLA-EC-TIB-2018-16.pdf.
Guerrero L, Ballesteros I, Villacrés I, et al. SARS-CoV-2 in river water: Implications in low sanitation countries, Ecuador. Sci Total Environ [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2023 May 20]; Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140832.
Municipal Water Leader. Wastewater Testing as a COVID‑19 Early Warning System. Interview Water Research Foundation [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2023 May 20]. Disponible en: https://municipalwaterleader.com/wastewater-testing-as-a-covid%e2%80%9119-early-warning-system/.
Randazzo W, Truchado P, Allende A, Sánchez G. Protocolo para la detección de SARS-CoV-2 en aguas residuales. VIARAL-CSIC [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2023 May 20]. Disponible en: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/agua/temas/concesiones-y-autorizaciones/vertidos-deaguasresiduales/alerta-temprana-covid19/default.aspx.
IDEXX WATER. Monitoreo de Aguas residuales [Internet]. México; 2020 [cited 2023 May 20]. Disponible en: https://www.idexx.com.mx/waterSARS-CoV-2.RT-PCR-test/.
CDC. 2019-Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) real-time RT-PCR diagnostic panel [Internet]. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2020 [cited 2023 May 20]. Disponible en: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/rt-pcr-panel-primer-probes.html.
Konka A, Lejawa M, Gazdzica J. RT-PCR Detection of SARS-CoV-2 among individuals from the Upper Silesias Region-Analysis of 108,516 Tests. Diagnostics J. 2021;12(1):7.
Bosch A, Sánchez G, Pinto R. Vigilancia del SARS-CoV-2 en aguas residuales: una herramienta de alerta temprana. [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2023 May 20]. Disponible en: https://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/bitstream/2445/158578/1/Vigilancia%20del%20SARS-CoV-2%20en%20aguas%20residuales_%20una%20herramienta%20de%20alerta%20ra%cc%81pida.pdf.
Carducci A, Federigi I, Liu D, Thompson J, Verani M. Making Waves: Coronavirus detection, presence and persistence in the water environment: State of the art and knowledge needs for public health. Water Res [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2023 May 20]; Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.115899.
Sánchez J. COVID-19 en aguas residuales y potables: análisis de la situación actual. Universidad Surcolombiana, Colombia; 2020. P: 2-4.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Patricio A Delgado Salgado, Eliana M Champutiz Ortiz, Cintia E Muñoz Vera, Danny X Asimbaya Alvarado
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
