Near-source passive sampling for monitoring viral outbreaks within a university residential setting

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DOI

  • Kata Farkas
    School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityBangor University
  • Jessica L Kevill
    School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityBangor University
  • Latifah Adwan
    School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityBangor University
  • Alvaro Garcia-Delgado
    School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityBangor University
  • Rande Dzay
    School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityBangor University
  • Jasmine M S Grimsley
    Data Analytics & Surveillance Group
  • Kathryn Lambert-Slosarska
    School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityBangor University
  • Matthew J Wade
    Data Analytics & Surveillance Group
  • Rachel C Williams
    School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityBangor University
  • Javier Martin
    Division of Vaccines
  • Mark Drakesmith
    Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
  • Jiao Song
    Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
  • Victoria McClure
    Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
  • Davey L Jones
    School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityBangor UniversityFood Futures InstituteMurdoch University

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has proven to be a powerful tool for the population-level monitoring of pathogens, particularly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For assessment, several wastewater sampling regimes and methods of viral concentration have been investigated, mainly targeting SARS-CoV-2. However, the use of passive samplers in near-source environments for a range of viruses in wastewater is still under-investigated. To address this, near-source passive samples were taken at four locations targeting student hall of residence. These were chosen as an exemplar due to their high population density and perceived risk of disease transmission. Viruses investigated were SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern (VOCs), influenza viruses, and enteroviruses. Sampling was conducted either in the morning, where passive samplers were in place overnight (17 h) and during the day, with exposure of 7 h. We demonstrated the usefulness of near-source passive sampling for the detection of VOCs using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Furthermore, several outbreaks of influenza A and sporadic outbreaks of enteroviruses (some associated with enterovirus D68 and coxsackieviruses) were identified among the resident student population, providing evidence of the usefulness of near-source, in-sewer sampling for monitoring the health of high population density communities.

Keywords

  • Humans, Universities, Wastewater, Disease Outbreaks, Antigens, Viral, Enterovirus Infections, SARS-CoV-2, RNA, Viral
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e31
JournalEpidemiology and Infection
Volume152
Early online date8 Feb 2024
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 8 Feb 2024
Externally publishedYes
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