Markt, Rudolf; Stillebacher, Fabian; Nägele, Fabiana; Kammerer, Anna; Peer, Nico; Payr, Maria; Scheffknecht, Christoph; Dria, Silvina; Draxl-Weiskopf, Simon; Mayr, Markus; Rauch, Wolfgang; Kreuzinger, Norbert; Rainer, Lukas; Bachner, Florian; Zuba, Martin; Ostermann, Herwig; Lackner, Nina; Insam, Heribert; Wagner, Andreas Otto (2023): Expanding the Pathogen Panel in Wastewater Epidemiology to Influenza and Norovirus. MDPI, 15 (2). p. 263.

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Official URL (please open in a new browser tab/window): https://doi.org/10.3390/v15020263

Abstract

Since the start of the 2019 pandemic, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has proven to be a valuable tool for monitoring the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2. With methods and infrastructure being settled, it is time to expand the potential of this tool to a wider range of pathogens. We used over 500 archived RNA extracts from a WBE program for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance to monitor wastewater from 11 treatment plants for the presence of influenza and norovirus twice a week during the winter season of 2021/2022. Extracts were analyzed via digital PCR for influenza A, influenza B, norovirus GI, and norovirus GII. Resulting viral loads were normalized on the basis of NH4-N. Our results show a good applicability of ammonia-normalization to compare different wastewater treatment plants. Extracts originally prepared for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance contained sufficient genomic material to monitor influenza A, norovirus GI, and GII. Viral loads of influenza A and norovirus GII in wastewater correlated with numbers from infected inpatients. Further, SARS-CoV-2 related non-pharmaceutical interventions affected subsequent changes in viral loads of both pathogens. In conclusion, the expansion of existing WBE surveillance programs to include additional pathogens besides SARS-CoV-2 offers a valuable and cost-efficient possibility to gain public health information.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: OEBIG > Gesundheitsoekonomie und –systemanalyse
Date Deposited: 31 Jan 2023 14:23
Last Modified: 31 Jan 2023 14:23
URI: https://jasmin.goeg.at/id/eprint/2403