Metropolitan wastewater analysis for COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance

The COVID-19 disease, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a rapidly emerging pandemic which has enforced extreme containment measures worldwide. In the absence of a vaccine or efficient treatment, cost-effective epidemiological surveillance strategies are urgently needed. Here, we have used RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection in a series of longitudinal metropolitan wastewaters samples collected from February to April 2020, during the earliest stages of the epidemic in the Region of Valencia, Spain. We were able to consistently detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in samples taken in late February, when communicated cases in that region were only incipient. We also find that the wastewater viral RNA context increased rapidly and anticipated the subsequent ascent in the number of declared cases. Our results strongly suggest that the virus was undergoing community transmission earlier than previously believed, and suggest that wastewater analysis could be sensitive and cost-effective strategy for COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance. Routine implementation of this surveillance tool would significantly improve our preparedness against new or re-occurring viral outbreaks.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Randazzo, Walter, Cuevas Ferrando, Enric, Sanjuán, Rafael, Domingo-Calap, Pilar, Sánchez Moragas, Gloria
Other Authors:	Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España)
Format:	artículo biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	Elsevier BV 2020-09-01
Subjects:	Epidemiological surveillance, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Early warning,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/10261/219595 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000780 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003339 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003359 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004587
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