biostudies-literatureVeneri CEU funding within the NextGeneration EU-MUR PNRR Extended Partnership initiative on Emerging Infectious Diseases449-457https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11525314biostudies-literatureUnknown16(4)The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants poses challenges to global surveillance efforts, necessitating swift actions in their detection, evaluation, and management. Among the most recent variants, Omicron BA.2.86 and its sub-lineages have gained attention due to their potential immune evasion properties. This study describes the development of a digital PCR assay for the rapid detection of BA.2.86 and its descendant lineages, in wastewater samples. By using this assay, we analyzed wastewater samples collected in Italy from September 2023 to January 2024. Our analysis revealed the presence of BA.2.86 lineages already in October 2023 with a minimal detection rate of 2% which then rapidly increased, becoming dominant by January 2024, accounting for a prevalence of 62%. The findings emphasizeFood and environmental virologyTracking the Spread of the BA.2.86 Lineage in Italy Through Wastewater Analysis.PMC11525314Project no. PE00000007, PE13 INF-ACTSARI NetworkRusso FCosta AApollonio FMarchini ALauria GAcciari VAPariani AMaida CMScattolini SCarnevali AAngelini PBinda SLa Rosa GLeoni GSchiarea SCereda DColitti MPalermo MGrucci ABarca ANicosia EGentili LNasci DMusumeci RPalma AGiammanco GMScicluna MTMacri SBarchitta MPostinghel MFontani NCiccaglione AFederici EMacri MPitter GTorlontano PPurpari GDecastelli LBrandtner DParacchini VAgodi AOliva DPietrella GAprea GLosio MNTramuto FCarraro EDe Giglio OAncona CBonetta SCarducci ACossentino LMontanaro CAlbano NMazzucco WCadonna MPetrillo MStenico AAlborali GBolognini LSerio FPetricciuolo MCifarelli RABriscolini SFerrante MFederigi IMariuz MBellisomi MCastiglioni SLa Vecchia GBonanno Ferraro GMontagna MTGawlik BMFerrante IAmmoni ELa Bianca MVeneri CBertasi BGiordano VPrimache VCala' PFoladori PGuarneri FMagi SZampini MDe Lellis LRomano ABaldovin TFilippetti FGiorgi DASuffredini ETrani GGuercio MGrasselli EZago LPellegrinelli LDe Grazia SRigoli FIzzotti APennino FRosatto SPignata CIaconelli MGroppi VFormenti NCersini AGucciardi FDi Vittorio GTomesani IBianchi MTriggiano FAmoruso IMongelli OPaniccia' MVerani MMarco MCocuzza CFilizzolo CMancini PCapparuccini VLombardi AMatteo DGriglio BfalseTracking the Spread of the BA.2.86 Lineage in Italy Through Wastewater Analysis.The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants poses challenges to global surveillance efforts, necessitating swift actions in their detection, evaluation, and management. Among the most recent variants, Omicron BA.2.86 and its sub-lineages have gained attention due to their potential immune evasion properties. This study describes the development of a digital PCR assay for the rapid detection of BA.2.86 and its descendant lineages, in wastewater samples. By using this assay, we analyzed wastewater samples collected in Italy from September 2023 to January 2024. Our analysis revealed the presence of BA.2.86 lineages already in October 2023 with a minimal detection rate of 2% which then rapidly increased, becoming dominant by January 2024, accounting for a prevalence of 62%. The findings emphasize2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Dec2026-04-08T19:20:02.156Z2025-04-04T22:47:39.854ZS-EPMC115253143891833510.1007/s12560-024-09607-1