Wastewater Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2: A Comparison of Two Concentration Methods
Christina Diamanti,
Lambros Nousis,
Petros Bozidis,
Michalis Koureas,
Maria Kyritsi,
George Markozannes,
Nikolaos Simantiris,
Eirini Panteli,
Anastasia Koutsolioutsou,
Konstantinos Tsilidis,
Christos Hadjichristodoulou,
Alexandra Koutsotoli,
Eirini Christaki,
Dimitrios Alivertis,
Aristides Bartzokas,
Konstantina Gartzonika,
Chrysostomos Dovas,
Evangelia Ntzani
Affiliations
Christina Diamanti
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece
Lambros Nousis
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece
Petros Bozidis
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Michalis Koureas
Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 Papakyriazi Str., 41222 Larissa, Greece
Maria Kyritsi
Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 Papakyriazi Str., 41222 Larissa, Greece
George Markozannes
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece
Nikolaos Simantiris
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece
Eirini Panteli
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece
Anastasia Koutsolioutsou
National Public Health Organization, 15123 Athens, Greece
Konstantinos Tsilidis
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece
Christos Hadjichristodoulou
Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 Papakyriazi Str., 41222 Larissa, Greece
Alexandra Koutsotoli
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece
Eirini Christaki
1st Division of Internal Medicine & Infectious Diseases Unit, University Hospital of Ioannina, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece
Dimitrios Alivertis
Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina 45110, Greece
Aristides Bartzokas
Laboratory of Meteorology, Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
Konstantina Gartzonika
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Chrysostomos Dovas
Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece
Evangelia Ntzani
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece
Wastewater surveillance is crucial for the epidemiological monitoring of SARS-CoV-2. Various concentration techniques, such as skimmed milk flocculation (SMF) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation, are employed to isolate the virus effectively. This study aims to compare these two methods and determine the one with the superior recovery rates. From February to December 2021, 24-h wastewater samples were collected from the Ioannina Wastewater Treatment Plant’s inlet and processed using both techniques. Subsequent viral genome isolation and a real-time RT-qPCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 were performed. The quantitative analysis demonstrated a higher detection sensitivity with a PEG-based concentration than SMF. Moreover, when the samples were positive by both methods, PEG consistently yielded higher viral loads. These findings underscore the need for further research into concentration methodologies and the development of precise protocols to enhance epidemiological surveillance through wastewater analysis.
