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

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Matthew WadeORCiD, Rachel Williams

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© 2024 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved. Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) has proven to be a powerful tool for the population-level monitoring of pathogens, particularly SARS-CoV-2. For accurate and timely 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 yet under-investigated. To address this, near-source passive samples were taken at four locations targeting student halls 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-A and B viruses and enteroviruses. Sampling was conducted either in the morning, where passive samplers were in place overnight (17 h) and during the day, where samplers remained in the sewer for 7 h. We demonstrated the usefulness of near-source passive sampling for the detection of VOCs using qPCR and Next Generation Sequencing. Furthermore, several outbreaks of influenza-A and sporadic outbreaks of enteroviruses (some associated with enterovirus D68 and coxsackieviruses) were identified amongst the resident student population, providing evidence of the usefulness of near-source, in-sewer sampling for monitoring the health of high population density communities.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Farkas K, Kevill JL, Adwan L, Garcia-Delgado A, Dzay R, Grimsley JMS, Lambert-Slosarska K, Wade MJ, Williams RC, Martin J, Drakesmith M, Song J, McClure V, Jones DL

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Epidemiology and Infection

Year: 2024

Volume: 152

Online publication date: 08/02/2024

Acceptance date: 24/01/2024

Date deposited: 27/02/2024

ISSN (print): 0950-2688

ISSN (electronic): 1469-4409

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268824000190

DOI: 10.1017/S0950268824000190

Data Access Statement: Metadata are available in Supplementary Table S4.

PubMed id: 38329110


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
C215.3 Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Programme, UK Government Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE)
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Welsh Government
NE/S005196/1
NERC

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