Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) RNA in wastewater settled solids reflects RSV clinical positivity rates

Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) uses concentrations of infectious agent targets in wastewater to infer infection trends in the contributing community. To date, WBE has been used to gain insight into infection trends of gastrointestinal diseases, but its application to respiratory diseases has been limited to COVID-19. Here we report Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) genomic RNA can be detected in wastewater settled solids at two publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). We further show that its concentration in settled solids is strongly associated with clinical positivity rates for RSV at sentinel laboratories across the state in 2021, a year with anomalous seasonal trends in RSV disease. Given that RSV infections have similar clinical presentations to COVID-19, can be life threatening for some, and immunoprophylaxis distribution for vulnerable people is based on outbreak identification, WBE represents an important tool to augment current RSV surveillance and public health response efforts.Graphical AbstractSynopsisRespiratory Syncytial Virus RNA concentrations in settled solids from wastewater treatment plants are associated with state-wide RSV clinical positivity rates.

SARS-CoV-2 RNA is enriched by orders of magnitude in solid relative to liquid wastewater at publicly owned treatment works

Wastewater-based epidemiology has gained attention throughout the world for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater to supplement clinical testing. Methods have been developed using both the liquid and the solid fraction of wastewater, with some studies reporting higher concentrations in solids. To investigate this relationship further, we collaborated with six other laboratories to conduct a study across five publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) where both primary solids and raw wastewater influent samples were collected and quantified for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Solids and influent samples were processed by participating laboratories using their respective methods and retrospectively paired based on date of collection. SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations by mass (gene copies per gram) were higher in solids than in influent by approximately three orders of magnitude. Concentrations in matched solids and influent were positively and significantly correlated at all five POTWs. RNA concentrations in both solids and influent were correlated to COVID-19 incidence rates in the sewershed and thus representative of disease burden; the solids methods appeared to produce a comparable relationship between SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration measurements and incidence rates across all POTWs. Solids and influent methods showed comparable sensitivity, N gene detection frequency, and calculated empirical incidence rate lower limits. Analysis of solids has the advantage of using less sample volume to achieve similar sensitivity to influent methods.

High-Frequency, High-Throughput Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater Settled Solids at Eight Publicly Owned Treatment Works in Northern California Shows Strong Association with COVID-19 Incidence

Access to reliable, rapid monitoring data is critical to guide response to an infectious disease outbreak. For pathogens that are shed in feces or urine, monitoring wastewater can provide a cost-effective snapshot of transmission in an entire community via a single sample.

Comparison of Coal-, Coconut-, and Wood-Based Activated Carbons for Removal of Organic Matters in Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent

Objectives : This study investigated the removal of dissolved organic materials by coal-, coconut-, and wood-based activated carbons to assess the addition of an activated carbon process to a publicly owned treatment works (POTW).Methods : We assessed the removal of total organic carbon (TOC) by each process in the POTW, and examined the removal of TOC and UVA254 upon adding different amounts of coal-, coconut- and wood-based activated carbons (50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/L) with various contact time (10, 20, 30, 60, 120 min).Results and Discussion : Approximately 80% of TOC was removed throughout the POTW compared to the influent. The activated carbon adsorption tests of coagulated wastewater revealed that the removal rate of TOC and UVA254 from coal-based activated carbon was higher than those of coconut-based and wood-based activated carbons. The removal rate of dissolved organic materials was highest in ozone treated wastewater in all types of activated carbons, followed by ultraviolet disinfected wastewater and coagulated wastewater.Conclusions : It was possible to remove an additional 35-55% of dissolved organic materials upon addition of activated carbon to the treated wastewater although the removal depends on the material of the activated carbon, the injection amount, and the contact time. If an activated carbon process is adopted to the POTW, it can meet the effluent water quality standards (TOC).

Evaluation of the Effects of Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment on Landfill Leachate and Sewage Co-treatment in Publicly Owned Treatment Works

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of CEPT for leachate and sewage co-treatment in a POTW. The results showed that ferric and aluminum coagulants remove about 54 - 74% organic matter where ferric performed better than aluminum coagulant. However, ferric coagulant was found to exacerbate the UV absorbance after coagulation at high dose due to the interaction with dissolved organic matter by forming soluble transition metal complexes. These organo-metal complexes have been found to increase the UV absorbance and this study provides the scientific background for such phenomenon.<br>

Evaluation of the Effects of Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment on Landfill Leachate and Sewage Co-treatment in Publicly Owned Treatment Works

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of CEPT for leachate and sewage co-treatment in a POTW. The results showed that ferric and aluminum coagulants remove about 54 - 74% organic matter where ferric performed better than aluminum coagulant. However, ferric coagulant was found to exacerbate the UV absorbance after coagulation at high dose due to the interaction with dissolved organic matter by forming soluble transition metal complexes. These organo-metal complexes have been found to increase the UV absorbance and this study provides the scientific background for such phenomenon.<br>

Rapid Salivary IgG Antibody Screening for Hepatitis A

ABSTRACT Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a common infection that is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, shed in the stool of infected individuals, and spread either by direct contact or by ingesting contaminated food or water. Each year, approximately 1.4 million acute cases are reported globally with a major risk factor for exposure being low household socioeconomic status. Recent trends show a decrease in anti-HAV antibodies in the general population, with concomitant increases in the numbers of HAV outbreaks. In line with a recreational water study, this effort aims to assess the prevalence of salivary IgG antibodies against HAV and subsequent incident infections (or immunoconversions) in visitors to a tropical beach impacted by a publicly owned treatment works (POTW). We applied a multiplex immunoassay to serially collected saliva samples gathered from study participants who recreated at Boquerón Beach, Puerto Rico. Analysis of assay results revealed an immunoprevalence rate of 16.17% for HAV with 1.43% of the cohort immunoconverting to HAV. Among those who immunoconverted, 10% reported chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and none experienced diarrhea. Tests on water samples indicated good water quality with low levels of fecal indicator bacteria; however, the collection and analysis of saliva samples afforded the ability to detect HAV infections in beachgoers. This rapid assay serves as a cost-effective tool for examining exposure to environmental pathogens and can provide critical information to policy makers, water quality experts, and risk assessment professionals seeking to improve and protect recreational water and public health.