Multifaceted Assessment of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for SARS-CoV-2 in Selected Urban Communities in Davao City, Philippines: A Pilot Study

Over 60 countries have integrated wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) in their COVID-19 surveillance programs, focusing on wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In this paper, we piloted the assessment of SARS-CoV-2 WBE as a complementary public health surveillance method in susceptible communities in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-07, Vol.19 (14), p.8789
Main Authors: Otero, Maria Catherine B., Murao, Lyre Anni E., Limen, Mary Antoinette G., Caalim, Daniel Rev A., Gaite, Paul Lorenzo A., Bacus, Michael G., Acaso, Joan T., Miguel, Refeim M., Corazo, Kahlil, Knot, Ineke E., Sajonia, Homer, de los Reyes, Francis L., Jaraula, Caroline Marie B., Baja, Emmanuel S., Del Mundo, Dann Marie N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropogenic factors
Chemical properties
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Creeks & streams
Disease transmission
Dissolved oxygen
Dissolved solids
Epidemiology
Feasibility studies
Flow velocity
Genomes
Health surveillance
High density polyethylenes
Human influences
Mutation
Nucleotides
Physicochemical properties
Polyethylene glycol
Public health
Sanitation
Severe acute respiratory syndrome
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Sewer pipes
Sewer systems
Single-nucleotide polymorphism
Sodium chloride
Surface water
Surveillance
Total dissolved solids
Urban areas
Wastewater analysis
Wastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment plants
Water temperature
Whole genome sequencing
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Over 60 countries have integrated wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) in their COVID-19 surveillance programs, focusing on wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In this paper, we piloted the assessment of SARS-CoV-2 WBE as a complementary public health surveillance method in susceptible communities in a highly urbanized city without WWTP in the Philippines by exploring the extraction and detection methods, evaluating the contribution of physico-chemical–anthropogenic factors, and attempting whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Weekly wastewater samples were collected from sewer pipes or creeks in six communities with moderate-to-high risk of COVID-19 transmission, as categorized by the City Government of Davao from November to December 2020. Physico-chemical properties of the wastewater and anthropogenic conditions of the sites were noted. Samples were concentrated using a PEG-NaCl precipitation method and analyzed by RT-PCR to detect the SARS-CoV-2 N, RdRP, and E genes. A subset of nine samples were subjected to WGS using the Minion sequencing platform. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in twenty-two samples (91.7%) regardless of the presence of new cases. Cycle threshold values correlated with RNA concentration and attack rate. The lack of a sewershed map in the sampled areas highlights the need to integrate this in the WBE planning. A combined analysis of wastewater physico-chemical parameters such as flow rate, surface water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and total dissolved solids provided insights on the ideal sampling location, time, and method for WBE, and their impact on RNA recovery. The contribution of fecal matter in the wastewater may also be assessed through the coliform count and in the context of anthropogenic conditions in the area. Finally, our attempt on WGS detected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in wastewater which included clinically reported and newly identified mutations in the Philippines. This exploratory report provides a contextualized framework for applying WBE surveillance in low-sanitation areas.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph19148789