GCRF_NF252 Co-surveillance of Wasterwater and Environmental Water Samples for SARS-CoV-2 and Pathogenic Viruses in South Africa and Nigeria: Incidence

Lead Research Organisation: Bangor University
Department Name: Sch of Ocean Sciences

Abstract

Information about SARS-CoV-2 levels circulating in the community is an essential part of developing an effective strategy to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 globally. Testing of individuals is time consuming, costly and currently does not capture a large proportion of the population. Wastewater monitoring of SARS-CoV-2, shed in faeces from infected individuals, including asymptomatic cases, provides an alternative approach. It has distinct benefits, obviating community sampling bias, and providing a cheap, non-invasive process to determine the level of infection in a large community within a single sample. However, this method cannot be directly implemented in many developing regions where wastewater is released into the environment without any treatment. Such pollution raises concerns about the environment-based transmission of the disease, which has not been studied.
Our project aims to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 in two sub-Saharan countries, South Africa and Nigeria, using wastewater-based epidemiology and environmental surveillance. We will measure SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations to investigate the spread of COVID-19 at a community level. We will also assess the occurrence of other, common and emerging virus strains (e.g. enteroviruses, measles and influenza) to evaluate the effect of lockdown measures on the transmission of viral diseases. We will also determine the health risks associated with polluted environments using infectivity assays and determine the most common SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in each country using environmental metaviromics. Working alongside public health stakeholders, our findings will allow enhanced decision making on the containment of COVID-19 and achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals 3, 6 and 11.
 
Description The work helped support the initial trials of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in South Africa by South African Medical Research Council researchers early on in the pandemic. The wastewater surveillance in South Africa expanded to cover a large section of the country. Wastewater based surveillance in Nigeria was significantly affected by the budget cuts to the project.
Exploitation Route Wastewater based surveillance is already in use in a number of countries and the methodology is widely available.
Sectors Electronics

Environment

URL https://www.samrc.ac.za/wbe/partners.html
 
Description The funded project enabled collaboration and sharing of protocols which allowed the inclusion of several other viruses in the programme of wastewater surveillance. Through collaboration we established methodology for the extraction and detection of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, measles virus, norovirus and hepatitis A/E viruses. In South Africa, wastewater surveillance started in November 2020 and was undertaken weekly in six Provinces across 83 wastewater treatment plants. This expansion is co-funded by other sources as well. These results are uploaded to the SAMRC wastewater surveillance dashboard, allowing the public to access information regarding the trends in SARS-CoV-2 RNA at the selected wastewater treatment plants. The wastewater results from the SAMRC WSARP continue to be used by various public health authorities as part of their response strategies to combat the spread of COVID-19 cases. Another noticeable breakthrough has been in the identification of the specific circulating strains in select wastewater treatments plants in South Africa. The identification of strains was followed by media awareness amongst public health stakeholders and the general public of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 detected in select wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, wastewater surveillance is ongoing at an institutional campus to supplement current COVID-19 response strategies specific to dynamics of localised premises. The surveillance system has been set up at two sites at Nigeria. The latter has been delayed due to funding budget cuts. In both countries, sampling efforts were reduced by half due to budget cuts. The exploration of tracking alternative pathogens in the water environment was set up in the second quarter of 2022 in Nigeria and will run for two months as a pilot. Pilot studies of AMR research in wastewater are underway in South Africa as well as discussions to utilise the wastewater surveillance system to monitor water borne diseases such as Cholera and Bilharzia as part of an ongoing municipal health surveillance strategy. The more extensive environmental sampling and infectivity measures that were in the original proposal were cancelled due to budget restrictions.
First Year Of Impact 2020
Sector Environment,Healthcare
Impact Types Policy & public services

 
Description International Conference on Water in Africa and workshop on sustainable development goals 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Conference and workshop linked to 'Water in Africa' with a workshop on sustainable development goals 3 and 6
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description News item on University Website 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Onlin news article on the new funding received from the GCRF project focusing on the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Nigeria and South Africa
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/tracking-covid-19-and-other-viruses-in-wastewater
 
Description Tweet about new project 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Tweet about the GCRF project
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://twitter.com/WEWASH3/status/1367716876827123712
 
Description Webinar on COVID WBE 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact This was an open webinar to disseminate and discuss Wastewater based epidemiology with a focus on COVID 19. The audience included international researchers, stakeholders and representatives from government agencies from LMICs. All events helped to further understanding the use of and exchange of methods for wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses and health indicators.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Webniar on African perspectives on AMR surveillance and wastewater management 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The webinar held talks and discussion related to AMR surveillance and wastewater managmement with a furher focus on SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses in wastewater. The audience included international researchers, stakeholders and representatives from government agencies from LMICs. All events helped to further understanding the use of and exchange of methods for wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses and health indicators.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021