Tracking COVID-19 via sewage

Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2021 Jan;37(1):4-8. doi: 10.1097/MOG.0000000000000692.

Abstract

Purpose of review: We discuss the potential role of the faecal chain in COVID-19 and highlight recent studies using waste water-based epidemiology (WBE) to track severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Recent findings: WBE has been suggested as an adjunct to improve disease surveillance and aid early detection of circulating disease. SARS-CoV-2, the aetiological agent of COVID-19, is an enveloped virus, and as such, typically not associated with the waste water environment, given high susceptibility to degradation in aqueous conditions. A review of the current literature supports the ability to detect of SARS-CoV-2 in waste water and suggests methods to predict community prevalence based on viral quantification.

Summary: The summary of current practices shows that while the isolation of SARS-CoV-2 is possible from waste water, issues remain regarding the efficacy of virial concentration and subsequent quantification and alignment with epidemiological data.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • Feces / virology
  • Global Health
  • Humans
  • Public Health Surveillance / methods*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification*
  • Sewage / virology*

Substances

  • Sewage