Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from dormitory buildings in a university campus: comparison with individual testing results
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for monitoring COVID-19 has been largely used to detect the spread of the disease at the community level. From February to December 2022, we collected 24-h composite sewage samples from dormitory buildings in George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia, USA) housin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IWA Publishing
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Water Science and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/9/2364 |
| _version_ | 1827762176082837504 |
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| author | Brandi B. Williams Aaron Newborn Ayesha Karamat Fanella Zamcho Jennifer L. Salerno Patrick M. Gillevet David Farris Stephen F. Wintermeyer Benoit Van Aken |
| author_facet | Brandi B. Williams Aaron Newborn Ayesha Karamat Fanella Zamcho Jennifer L. Salerno Patrick M. Gillevet David Farris Stephen F. Wintermeyer Benoit Van Aken |
| author_sort | Brandi B. Williams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for monitoring COVID-19 has been largely used to detect the spread of the disease at the community level. From February to December 2022, we collected 24-h composite sewage samples from dormitory buildings in George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia, USA) housing approximately 5,200 resident students. SARS-CoV-2 RNA extraction was achieved using an automated system based on magnetic nanoparticles. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was performed using reverse transcription quantitative PCR based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) N1 and N2 assays. From the 362 samples collected, 86% showed positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Wastewater monitoring was able to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 96% of the samples from buildings housing students with COVID-19. Over the period of study, we observed significant correlations between the SARS-CoV-2 concentration (copy number mL−1) in wastewater and the number of positive cases on campus based on individual saliva testing. Although several reports have been published on the wastewater monitoring of COVID-19 in university campuses, our study is one of the very few that provides results that were obtained during the last phase of the pandemic (roughly the year 2022), when the large majority of students were vaccinated and back on campus.
HIGHLIGHTS
Monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in a university campus.;
WBE is proven to be a reliable method to detect pathogens in communities.;
310 of 362 samples (85.6%) showed positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.;
We observed significant correlations between wastewater and individual testing results in the campus.;
Although papers have been published in this work, our study is one of the few that covers the end phase of the pandemic.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:26:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5cbff1a7da64c58be15d617e75d58d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0273-1223 1996-9732 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:26:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Science and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5cbff1a7da64c58be15d617e75d58d02023-11-15T13:56:16ZengIWA PublishingWater Science and Technology0273-12231996-97322023-11-018892364237710.2166/wst.2023.348348Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from dormitory buildings in a university campus: comparison with individual testing resultsBrandi B. Williams0Aaron Newborn1Ayesha Karamat2Fanella Zamcho3Jennifer L. Salerno4Patrick M. Gillevet5David Farris6Stephen F. Wintermeyer7Benoit Van Aken8 Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA Environmental Health and Safety, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA Student Health Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for monitoring COVID-19 has been largely used to detect the spread of the disease at the community level. From February to December 2022, we collected 24-h composite sewage samples from dormitory buildings in George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia, USA) housing approximately 5,200 resident students. SARS-CoV-2 RNA extraction was achieved using an automated system based on magnetic nanoparticles. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was performed using reverse transcription quantitative PCR based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) N1 and N2 assays. From the 362 samples collected, 86% showed positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Wastewater monitoring was able to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 96% of the samples from buildings housing students with COVID-19. Over the period of study, we observed significant correlations between the SARS-CoV-2 concentration (copy number mL−1) in wastewater and the number of positive cases on campus based on individual saliva testing. Although several reports have been published on the wastewater monitoring of COVID-19 in university campuses, our study is one of the very few that provides results that were obtained during the last phase of the pandemic (roughly the year 2022), when the large majority of students were vaccinated and back on campus. HIGHLIGHTS Monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in a university campus.; WBE is proven to be a reliable method to detect pathogens in communities.; 310 of 362 samples (85.6%) showed positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.; We observed significant correlations between wastewater and individual testing results in the campus.; Although papers have been published in this work, our study is one of the few that covers the end phase of the pandemic.;http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/9/2364clinical saliva testingcovid-19polymerase chain reaction (pcr)sars-cov-2university campuseswastewater-based epidemiology (wbe) |
| spellingShingle | Brandi B. Williams Aaron Newborn Ayesha Karamat Fanella Zamcho Jennifer L. Salerno Patrick M. Gillevet David Farris Stephen F. Wintermeyer Benoit Van Aken Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from dormitory buildings in a university campus: comparison with individual testing results Water Science and Technology clinical saliva testing covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (pcr) sars-cov-2 university campuses wastewater-based epidemiology (wbe) |
| title | Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from dormitory buildings in a university campus: comparison with individual testing results |
| title_full | Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from dormitory buildings in a university campus: comparison with individual testing results |
| title_fullStr | Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from dormitory buildings in a university campus: comparison with individual testing results |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from dormitory buildings in a university campus: comparison with individual testing results |
| title_short | Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from dormitory buildings in a university campus: comparison with individual testing results |
| title_sort | detection of sars cov 2 rna in wastewater from dormitory buildings in a university campus comparison with individual testing results |
| topic | clinical saliva testing covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (pcr) sars-cov-2 university campuses wastewater-based epidemiology (wbe) |
| url | http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/9/2364 |
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