ABSTRACT
Following the proven concept, capabilities, and limitations of detecting the RNA of Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater, it is pertinent to understand the utility of wastewater surveillance data on various scale. In the present work, we put forward the first wastewater surveillance-based city zonation for effective COVID-19 pandemic preparedness. A three-month data of Surveillance of Wastewater for Early Epidemic Prediction (SWEEP) was generated for the world heritage city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. In this expedition, one hundred sixteen wastewater samples were analyzed to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA, from September 3rd to November 26th, 2020. A total of 111 samples were detected with at least two out of three SARS-CoV-2 genes (N, ORF 1ab, and S). Monthly variation depicted a significant decline in all three gene copies in October compared to September 2020, followed by a sharp increment in November 2020. Correspondingly, the descending order of average genome concentration was: November ([~]10729 copies/ L) > September ([~]3047 copies/ L) > October ([~]454 copies/ L). Monthly variation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the wastewater samples may be ascribed to a decline of 19.3% in the total number of active cases in October 2020 and a rise of 1.82% in November 2020. Also, the monthly recovery rate of patients was 16.61, 19.31, and 15.58% in September, October, and November 2020, respectively. The percentage change in the genome concentration was observed in the lead of 1-2 weeks with respect to the provisional figures of confirmed cases. SWEEP data-based city zonation was matched with the heat map of the overall COVID-19 infected population in Ahmedabad city, and month-wise effective RNA concentration variations are shown on the map. The results expound on the potential of WBE surveillance of COVID-19 as a city zonation tool that can be meaningfully interpreted, predicted, and propagated for community preparedness through advance identification of COVID-19 hotspots within a given city. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=125 SRC="FIGDIR/small/21253898v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (47K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c1669org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19358f5org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@b56189org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@167711_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG Highlights{blacksquare} Wastewater surveillance-based city zonation is effective for COVID-19 pandemic preparedness. {blacksquare}Three months variation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the wastewaters of Ahmedabad, India is presented. {blacksquare}Wastewater monitoring offers a lead of [~]2 weeks to realize and manage the pandemic situation. {blacksquare}Mapping powered by early warning can strengthen the preparedness of community. {blacksquare}WBE based COVID-19 surveillance is a high end technique for identifying hotspots on city scale.
ABSTRACT
we made the first ever successful effort from India to detect the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 viruses to understand the capability and application of WBE surveillance in India. Sampling was carried out on 8 and 27 May, 2020 from Old Pirana Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) at Ahmedabad, Gujarat with 106 million liters per day (MLD) capacity receiving effluent of Civil Hospital treating COVID-19 patient. All three i.e. ORF1ab, N and S genes of SARS-CoV-2 were discerned in the influents with no gene spotted in the effluent collected on 8 and 27 May 2020. Temporal difference between 8 and 27 May 2020 samples was of 10x in gene copy loading with corresponding change of 2x in the number active COVID-19 patient in the city. Number of gene copies was found comparable to that reported in the untreated wastewaters of Australia, China and Turkey and lower than that of the USA, France and Spain. This study, being the first from India and probably among the first ten reports in the world of gene detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the environmental samples, aims to assist concerned authorities and policymakers to formulate and/or upgrade the COVID-19 surveillance to have explicit picture of phase of the pandemic. While infectious SARS-CoV-2 has yet to be identified in the aquatic environment, the virus potentially enters the wastewater stream from patient excretions and thus can be a great tool for pandemic monitoring. HIGHLIGHTS{square} First ever report of the presence of gene of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater in India. {square}CT value is explicitly indicative of the increase of COVID-19 patient in the vicinity. {square}All three i.e. ORF1ab, N and S genes of SARS-CoV-2 were discerned in the influents. {square}None of three genes were spotted in the effluent collected on 8 and 27 May 2020. {square}Wastewater surveillance conclusively specified temporal difference in COVID-19 load. {square}Temporal difference was 10x and 2x in gene copies and COVID-19 patient, respectively.
