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Calibration of Methods for SARS-CoV-2 Environmental Surveillance: A Case Study from Northwest Tuscany

Author

Listed:
  • Marco Verani

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Ileana Federigi

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Sara Muzio

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Giulia Lauretani

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Piergiuseppe Calà

    (Tuscany Region-Health, Department of Prevention Local Health Authority Tuscany Center, Via S. Salvi 12, 50135 Firenze, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Mancuso

    (Ingegnerie Toscane-Area R&D, Via Bellatalla 1, 56121 Pisa, Italy)

  • Roberto Salvadori

    (Acque S.p.A., Via A. Bellatalla 1, 56121 Pisa, Italy)

  • Claudia Valentini

    (Gaia S.p.A., Via Donizetti 16, 55045 Pietrasanta, Italy)

  • Giuseppina La Rosa

    (Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Elisabetta Suffredini

    (Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Annalaura Carducci

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

Abstract

The current pandemic has provided an opportunity to test wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) as a complementary method to SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in the community. However, WBE infection estimates can be affected by uncertainty factors, such as heterogeneity in analytical procedure, wastewater volume, and population size. In this paper, raw sewage SARS-CoV-2 samples were collected from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Tuscany (Northwest Italy) between February and December 2021. During the surveillance period, viral concentration was based on polyethylene glycol (PEG), but its precipitation method was modified from biphasic separation to centrifugation. Therefore, in parallel, the recovery efficiency of each method was evaluated at lab-scale, using two spiking viruses (human coronavirus 229E and mengovirus vMC 0 ). SARS-CoV-2 genome was found in 80 (46.5%) of the 172 examined samples. Lab-scale experiments revealed that PEG precipitation using centrifugation had the best recovery efficiency (up to 30%). Viral SARS-CoV-2 load obtained from sewage data, adjusted by analytical method and normalized by population of each WWTP, showed a good association with the clinical data in the study area. This study highlights that environmental surveillance data need to be carefully analyzed before their use in the WBE, also considering the sensibility of the analytical methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Verani & Ileana Federigi & Sara Muzio & Giulia Lauretani & Piergiuseppe Calà & Fabrizio Mancuso & Roberto Salvadori & Claudia Valentini & Giuseppina La Rosa & Elisabetta Suffredini & Annalaura C, 2022. "Calibration of Methods for SARS-CoV-2 Environmental Surveillance: A Case Study from Northwest Tuscany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16588-:d:999250
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Osvalda De Giglio & Francesco Triggiano & Francesca Apollonio & Giusy Diella & Fabrizio Fasano & Pasquale Stefanizzi & Marco Lopuzzo & Silvia Brigida & Carla Calia & Chrysovalentinos Pousis & Angelo M, 2021. "Potential Use of Untreated Wastewater for Assessing COVID-19 Trends in Southern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, September.
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