Environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater systems and related environments in Wuhan: April to May of 2020.
Lu Zhao, Evans Atoni, Raphael Nyaruaba, Yao Du, Huaiyu Zhang, Oscar Donde, Doudou Huang, Shuqi Xiao, Nanjie Ren, Teng Ma, Zhu Shu, Zhiming Yuan, Lei Tong, Han Xia
Author Information
Lu Zhao: Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Evans Atoni: Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Raphael Nyaruaba: Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Microbiology, Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, 6200-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
Yao Du: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China.
Huaiyu Zhang: Central and Southern China Municipal Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430010, China.
Oscar Donde: Department of Environmental Science, Egerton University, 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya.
Doudou Huang: Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan 430071, China.
Shuqi Xiao: Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan 430071, China.
Nanjie Ren: Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Teng Ma: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China.
Zhu Shu: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China.
Zhiming Yuan: Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Lei Tong: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China. Electronic address: tonglei@cug.edu.cn.
Han Xia: Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: hanxia@wh.iov.cn.
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as an effective environmental surveillance tool in monitoring fecal-oral pathogen infections within a community. Congruently, SARS-CoV-2, the etiologic agent of COVID-19, has been demonstrated to infect the gastrointestinal tissues, and be shed in feces. In the present study, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was concentrated from wastewater, sludge, surface water, ground water, sediment, and soil samples of municipal and hospital wastewater systems and related environments in Wuhan during the COVID-19 middle and low risk periods, and the viral RNA copies quantified using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). From the findings of this study, during the middle risk period, one influent sample and three secondary effluents collected from waste water treatment plant 2, as well as two samples from Jinyintan Hospital wastewater system influent were SARS-CoV-2 RNA positive. One sludge sample collected from Guanggu Branch of Tongji Hospital, which was obtained during the low risk period, was also positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. These study findings demonstrate the significance of WBE in continuous surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 at the community level, even when the COVID-19 prevalence is low. Overall, this study can be used as an important reference for contingency management of wastewater treatment plants and COVID-19 prevention and control departments of Wuhan.
