TY - JOUR

T1 - Cross-continental comparative experiences of wastewater surveillance and a vision for the 21st century

AU - Perry, William Bernard

AU - Chrispim, Mariana Cardoso

AU - Barbosa, Mikaela Renata Funada

AU - de Souza Lauretto, Marcelo

AU - Razzolini, Maria Tereza Pepe

AU - Nardocci, Adelaide Cassia

AU - Jones, Owen

AU - Jones, Davey L

AU - Weightman, Andrew

AU - Sato, Maria Inês Zanoli

AU - Montagner, Cassiana

AU - Durance, Isabelle

N1 - Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PY - 2024/4/1

Y1 - 2024/4/1

N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the epidemiological value of monitoring wastewater into sharp focus. The challenges of implementing and optimising wastewater monitoring vary significantly from one region to another, often due to the array of different wastewater systems around the globe, as well as the availability of resources to undertake the required analyses (e.g. laboratory infrastructure and expertise). Here we reflect on the local and shared challenges of implementing a SARS-CoV-2 monitoring programme in two geographically and socio-economically distinct regions, São Paulo state (Brazil) and Wales (UK), focusing on design, laboratory methods and data analysis, and identifying potential guiding principles for wastewater surveillance fit for the 21st century. Our results highlight the historical nature of region-specific challenges to the implementation of wastewater surveillance, including previous experience of using wastewater surveillance, stakeholders involved, and nature of wastewater infrastructure. Building on those challenges, we then highlight what an ideal programme would look like if restrictions such as resource were not a constraint. Finally, we demonstrate the value of bringing multidisciplinary skills and international networks together for effective wastewater surveillance.

AB - The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the epidemiological value of monitoring wastewater into sharp focus. The challenges of implementing and optimising wastewater monitoring vary significantly from one region to another, often due to the array of different wastewater systems around the globe, as well as the availability of resources to undertake the required analyses (e.g. laboratory infrastructure and expertise). Here we reflect on the local and shared challenges of implementing a SARS-CoV-2 monitoring programme in two geographically and socio-economically distinct regions, São Paulo state (Brazil) and Wales (UK), focusing on design, laboratory methods and data analysis, and identifying potential guiding principles for wastewater surveillance fit for the 21st century. Our results highlight the historical nature of region-specific challenges to the implementation of wastewater surveillance, including previous experience of using wastewater surveillance, stakeholders involved, and nature of wastewater infrastructure. Building on those challenges, we then highlight what an ideal programme would look like if restrictions such as resource were not a constraint. Finally, we demonstrate the value of bringing multidisciplinary skills and international networks together for effective wastewater surveillance.

KW - Humans

KW - Brazil/epidemiology

KW - Pandemics

KW - Wastewater

KW - Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring

KW - COVID-19/epidemiology

U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170842

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170842

M3 - Article

C2 - 38340868

VL - 919

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

SN - 0048-9697

M1 - 170842

ER -