Tracking COVID-19 with wastewater to understand asymptomatic transmission

Dhammika Leshan Wannigama; Mohan Amarasiri; Cameron Hurst; Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen; Shuichi Abe; Parichart Hongsing; S.M. Ali Hosseini Rad; Lachlan Pearson; Thammakorn Saethang; Sirirat Luk-in; Naris Kueakulpattana; Robin James Storer; Puey Ounjai; Alain Jacquet; Asada Leelahavanichkul; Tanittha Chatsuwan

International Journal of Infectious Diseases (Jul 2021)

Tracking COVID-19 with wastewater to understand asymptomatic transmission

Dhammika Leshan Wannigama,
Mohan Amarasiri,
Cameron Hurst,
Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen,
Shuichi Abe,
Parichart Hongsing,
S.M. Ali Hosseini Rad,
Lachlan Pearson,
Thammakorn Saethang,
Sirirat Luk-in,
Naris Kueakulpattana,
Robin James Storer,
Puey Ounjai,
Alain Jacquet,
Asada Leelahavanichkul,
Tanittha Chatsuwan

Affiliations

Dhammika Leshan Wannigama: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand; Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
Mohan Amarasiri: Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Kitasato, Sagamihara-Minami, Kanagawa, Japan
Cameron Hurst: Statistics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Rangsit, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Thailand
Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen: Department of Emergency Medicine, Center of Excellence, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
Shuichi Abe: Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Japan
Parichart Hongsing: Mae Fah Luang University Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand; School of Integrative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand
S.M. Ali Hosseini Rad: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9010, Otago, New Zealand; Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Lachlan Pearson: Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Thammakorn Saethang: Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
Sirirat Luk-in: Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Naris Kueakulpattana: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand; Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Robin James Storer: Office of Research Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Puey Ounjai: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Alain Jacquet: Chula Vaccine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Asada Leelahavanichkul: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand; Translational Research in Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit (TRIRU), Department of Microbiology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Tanittha Chatsuwan: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand; Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Corresponding author at: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, 1873 Rama 4 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 108
pp. 296 – 299

Abstract

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Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 RNA is excreted in feces of most patients, therefore viral load in wastewater can be used as a surveillance tool to develop an early warning system to help and manage future pandemics. Methods: We collected wastewater from 24 random locations at Bangkok city center and 26 nearby suburbs from July to December 2020. SARS-CoV-2 RNA copy numbers were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in wastewater from both the city center and suburbs. Except for July, there were no significant differences in copy numbers between the city center and suburbs. Between October and November, a sharp rise in copy number was observed in both places followed by two to three times increase in December, related to SARS-CoV-2 cases reported for same month. Conclusions: Our study provided the first dataset related to SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in the wastewater of Bangkok. Our results suggest that wastewater could be used as a complementary source for detecting viral RNA and predicting upcoming outbreaks and waves.

Published in International Journal of Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 1201-9712 (Print); 1878-3511 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Infectious and parasitic diseases
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-infectious-diseases/

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