[The cases of tracing the source of patients infected with Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 based on wastewater-based epidemiology in Shenzhen]

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2024 Jan 23;104(4):302-307. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20231016-00766.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an emerging discipline, which has been applied to drug abuse tracking and infectious disease pathogen surveillance. During the COVID-19 epidemic, WBE has been applied to monitor the epidemic trend and SARS-CoV-2 variants etc. In order to detect hidden COVID-19 cases and prevent transmission in the community, wastewater surveillance system for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RNA was developed in Shenzhen. The sewage sampling sites were set up in key places such as the port areas, urban villages and residential communities of Futian, Nanshan, Luohu and Yantian districts. From July 26 to November 30, 2022, a total of 369 sewage sampling sites were set up, covering 1.93 million people. Continuous sampling was carried out for 3 hours in the peak period of water use every day. Sewage virus enrichment and SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection were carried out by polyethylene glycol precipitation method and RT-qPCR, and a positive water sample disposal process was molded. This article aims to introduce the case of source tracing of COVID-19 infected patients based on urban sewage in Shenzhen. The sewage monitoring of Honghu water treatment plant in Luohu District played an early warning role, and the source of infection was traced. In the disposal of positive water samples in Futian South Road, Futian District, the important experience of monitoring point layout was obtained. In the sewage monitoring of Nanshan village, Nanshan District, the existence of occult infection was revealed. Sharing the experience of tracing the source of COVID-19 patients to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in the community based on wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Shenzhen, and summarizing the advantages and application prospects of sewage surveillance can provide new ideas for monitoring emerging or re-emerging pathogens that are known to exhibit gastrointestinal excretion in the future.

污水流行病学(WBE)是一门新兴学科,已被应用于药物滥用追踪和传染病病原体监测。在新型冠状病毒(简称新冠病毒)感染疫情期间,WBE被应用于监测疫情流行趋势和提供早期预警。为了及时发现隐匿的新冠病毒感染者,防止其在社区的传播,深圳市于2022年7月26日至11月30日在福田、南山、罗湖和盐田区的口岸地带、城中村、居民小区等重点场所布设369个污水采样点位,覆盖193万人口,开展污水监测新冠病毒的工作。每日在用水高峰时段进行3 h连续采样,采用聚乙二醇沉淀法和RT-qPCR进行污水病毒富集浓缩及新冠病毒核酸检测,并形成了阳性水样处置流程。本文旨在介绍深圳市基于城市污水开展新冠病毒感染者来源追踪的相关案例,在罗湖区洪湖水质净化厂污水监测有效发挥了早期预警作用并实现感染者来源追踪;在福田区福田南路阳性水样处置中获得监测点位布设的重要经验;在南山区南山村污水监测中揭示了隐匿感染者的存在。分享基于WBE的新冠病毒监测和感染者追踪,避免新冠病毒感染者在社区传播的经验,总结污水监测的优势和应用前景,为未来具有肠道排毒的新发或再发传染病病原体监测提供新的研究思路。.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • RNA, Viral
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Sewage
  • Wastewater
  • Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring

Substances

  • RNA, Viral
  • Sewage
  • Wastewater

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants