@article{
author = "Kolarević, Stoimir and Micsinai, Adrienn and Szántó-Egész, Réka and Lukács, Alena and Kračun-Kolarević, Margareta and Djordjević, Ana and Vojnović-Milutinović, Danijela and Jovanović Marić, Jovana and K.T. Kirschner, Alexander and A.H. Farnleitner, Andreas and Linke, Rita and Đukić, Aleksandar and Kostić-Vuković, Jovana and Paunović, Momir",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) surveillance of COVID-19 and other future outbreaks is
a challenge for developing countries as most households are not connected to a sewerage system.
In December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the Danube River at a site severely
affected by wastewaters from Belgrade. Rivers are much more complex systems than wastewater
systems, and efforts are needed to address all the factors influencing the adoption of WBE as an
alternative to targeting raw wastewater. Our objective was to provide a more detailed insight into
the potential of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in Serbian surface waters for epidemiological
purposes. Water samples were collected at 12 sites along the Sava and Danube rivers in Belgrade
during the fourth COVID-19 wave in Serbia that started in late February 2021. RNA was
concentrated using Amicon Ultra-15 centrifugal filters and quantified using RT-qPCR with
primer sets targeting nucleocapsid (N1 and N2) and envelope (E) protein genes. Microbiological
(faecal indicator bacteria and human and animal genetic faecal source tracking markers),
epidemiological, physicochemical and hydromorphological parameters were analysed in parallel.
From 44 samples, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 31, but only at 4 concentrations above the level of quantification (ranging from 8.47×103 to 2.07×104 gc/L). The results indicated that
surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in surface waters as ultimate recipients could be used as an
epidemiological early-warning tool in countries lacking wastewater treatment and proper
sewerage infrastructure. The performance of the applied approach, including advanced sampling
site characterization to trace and identify sites with significant raw sewage influence from human
populations, could be further improved by adaptation of the methodology for processing higher
volumes of samples and enrichment factors, which should provide the quantitative instead of
qualitative data needed for WBE.",
publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",
journal = "Science of the Total Environment",
title = "Wastewater-based epidemiology in countries with poor wastewater treatment — Epidemiological indicator function of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in surface waters",
doi = "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156964"
}
