SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Measurements Normalized Using Biomarkers

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the potential role that wastewater-based epidemiology can play in assessing aggregate community health. However, efforts to translate Sars-CoV-2 gene copy numbers obtained from wastewater samples into meaningful community health indicators are nascent. In this study, Sars-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) genes (N1 and N2) were quantified weekly using reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR from two municipal wastewater treatment plants for approximately six months. Four biomarkers (ammonia, biological oxygen demand, creatinine, and human mitochondrial gene NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5) were quantified and used to normalize Sars-CoV-2 gene copy numbers. These were correlated to case data. Mitochondrial and creatinine normalization methods showed the strongest correlations throughout the studying indicating that human-specific biomarkers were better at normalizing wastewater data than ammonia or BOD. The human-specific biomarkers have different physical properties and corresponding behavior. As such, it may be important to use a suite of biomarkers to better align with the specific behavior of the epidemiological agent of interest. Copyright © 2021 Water Environment Federation