Pathogens (Jun 2024)
Detection of Human Adenovirus and Rotavirus in Wastewater in Lusaka, Zambia: Demonstrating the Utility of Environmental Surveillance for the Community
- Ngonda Saasa,
- Ethel M’kandawire,
- Joseph Ndebe,
- Mulenga Mwenda,
- Fred Chimpukutu,
- Andrew Nalishuwa Mukubesa,
- Fred Njobvu,
- Doreen Mainza Shempela,
- Jay Sikalima,
- Carol Chiyesu,
- Bruce Muvwanga,
- Sarah M. Nampokolwe,
- Clement Sulwe,
- Thokozile Khondiwa,
- Todd Jennings,
- Ameck Kamanga,
- Edgar Simulundu,
- Conceptor Mulube,
- Wizaso Mwasinga,
- Jalaimo Mumeka,
- John Simwanza,
- Patrick Sakubita,
- Otridah Kapona,
- Chilufya Susan Aneta Mulenga,
- Musole Chipoya,
- Kunda Musonda,
- Nathan Kapata,
- Nyambe Sinyange,
- Muzala Kapina,
- Joyce Siwila,
- Misheck Shawa,
- Masahiro Kajihara,
- Ayato Takada,
- Hirofumi Sawa,
- Simulyamana A. Choonga,
- Roma Chilengi,
- Earnest Muyunda,
- King S. Nalubamba,
- Bernard M. Hang’ombe
Affiliations
- Ngonda Saasa
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Ethel M’kandawire
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Joseph Ndebe
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Mulenga Mwenda
- PATH-Zambia, National Malaria Elimination Centre, Chainama Hospital Grounds, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Fred Chimpukutu
- Effluents and Pollution Control, Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company, Stand No. 871/2, Katemo Road, Rhodes Park, P.O. Box 50198, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Andrew Nalishuwa Mukubesa
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Fred Njobvu
- PATH-Zambia, National Malaria Elimination Centre, Chainama Hospital Grounds, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Doreen Mainza Shempela
- Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), CHAZ Complex, Meanwood Drive (off Great East Road), Plot No. 2882/B/5/10, P.O. Box 34511, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Jay Sikalima
- Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), CHAZ Complex, Meanwood Drive (off Great East Road), Plot No. 2882/B/5/10, P.O. Box 34511, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Carol Chiyesu
- PATH-Zambia, National Malaria Elimination Centre, Chainama Hospital Grounds, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Bruce Muvwanga
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Sarah M. Nampokolwe
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Clement Sulwe
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Thokozile Khondiwa
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Todd Jennings
- PATH-Zambia, National Malaria Elimination Centre, Chainama Hospital Grounds, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Ameck Kamanga
- PATH-Zambia, National Malaria Elimination Centre, Chainama Hospital Grounds, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Edgar Simulundu
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Conceptor Mulube
- PATH-Zambia, National Malaria Elimination Centre, Chainama Hospital Grounds, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Wizaso Mwasinga
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Jalaimo Mumeka
- Effluents and Pollution Control, Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company, Stand No. 871/2, Katemo Road, Rhodes Park, P.O. Box 50198, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- John Simwanza
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Stand 1186, Corner of Chaholi & Addis Ababa Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Patrick Sakubita
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Stand 1186, Corner of Chaholi & Addis Ababa Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Otridah Kapona
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Stand 1186, Corner of Chaholi & Addis Ababa Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Chilufya Susan Aneta Mulenga
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Stand 1186, Corner of Chaholi & Addis Ababa Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Musole Chipoya
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Stand 1186, Corner of Chaholi & Addis Ababa Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Kunda Musonda
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Stand 1186, Corner of Chaholi & Addis Ababa Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Nathan Kapata
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Stand 1186, Corner of Chaholi & Addis Ababa Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Nyambe Sinyange
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Stand 1186, Corner of Chaholi & Addis Ababa Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Muzala Kapina
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Stand 1186, Corner of Chaholi & Addis Ababa Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Joyce Siwila
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Misheck Shawa
- Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Masahiro Kajihara
- Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Ayato Takada
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Hirofumi Sawa
- Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Simulyamana A. Choonga
- Ministry of Health, Lusaka Provincial Health Office, 3 Saise Road, P.O. Box 32573, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Roma Chilengi
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Stand 1186, Corner of Chaholi & Addis Ababa Road, Rhodes Park, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Earnest Muyunda
- PATH-Zambia, National Malaria Elimination Centre, Chainama Hospital Grounds, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- King S. Nalubamba
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Bernard M. Hang’ombe
- Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060486
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 13,
no. 6
p. 486
Abstract
Enteric infections due to viral pathogens are a major public health concern. Detecting the risk areas requires a strong surveillance system for pathogenic viruses in sources such as wastewater. Towards building an environmental surveillance system in Zambia, we aimed to identify group A rotavirus (RVA) and human adenovirus (HAdV) in wastewater. Convenient sampling was conducted at four study sites every Tuesday for five consecutive weeks. The research team focused on three different methods of viral concentration to determine the suitability in terms of cost and applicability for a regular surveillance system: the bag-mediated filtration system (BMFS), polyethylene glycol-based (PEG) precipitation, and skimmed milk (SM) flocculation. We screened 20 wastewater samples for HAdV and RVA using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR). Of the 20 samples tested using qPCR, 18/20 (90%) tested positive for HAdV and 14/20 (70%) tested positive for RVA. For the genetic sequencing, qPCR positives were subjected to cPCR, of which 12 positives were successfully amplified. The human adenovirus was identified with a nucleotide identity range of 98.48% to 99.53% compared with the reference genome from GenBank. The BMFS and SM flocculation were the most consistent viral concentration methods for HAdV and RVA, respectively. A statistical analysis of the positives showed that viral positivity differed by site (p < 0.001). SM and PEG may be the most appropriate options in resource-limited settings such as Zambia due to the lower costs associated with these concentration methods. The demonstration of HAdV and RVA detection in wastewater suggests the presence of the pathogens in the communities under study and the need to establish a routine wastewater surveillance system for the identification of pathogens.
Keywords
