SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance in Germany: Long-term RT-digital droplet PCR monitoring, suitability of primer/probe combinations and biomarker stability.

ABSTRACT: In recent months, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been shown to be an important tool for early detection of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the population. In this study, a detection methodology for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (wildtype and variants of concern) in wastewater was developed based on the detection of different target genes (E and ORF1ab) by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation and digital droplet PCR. This methodology was used to determine the SARS-CoV-2 concentration and the proportion of N501Y mutation in raw sewage of the wastewater treatment plant of the city of Karlsruhe in south-western Germany over a period of 1 year (June 2020 to July 2021). Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 concentrations with reported COVID-19 cases in the catchment area showed a significant correlation. As the clin

SUBMITTER: Ho J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8684593 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature