COVID-19 trends at the University of Tennessee: predictive insights from raw sewage SARS-CoV-2 detection and evaluation and PMMoV as an indicator for human waste

Li, Ye; Ash, Kurt; Alamilla, Isablla; Joyner, Dominique; Williams, Daniel Edward; McKay, Peter J.; Green, Brianna; DeBlander, Sydney; North, Carman; Kara-Murdoch, Fadime; Swift, Cynthia; Hazen, Terry C.

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1379194

Title: COVID-19 trends at the University of Tennessee: predictive insights from raw sewage SARS-CoV-2 detection and evaluation and PMMoV as an indicator for human waste

Journal Article · 28 March 2024 · Frontiers in Microbiology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1379194 · OSTI ID:2406743

Li, Ye ^[1];

^[2]; Alamilla, Isablla ^[3]; Joyner, Dominique ^[1]; Williams, Daniel Edward ^[1]; McKay, Peter J. ^[3]; Green, Brianna ^[1]; DeBlander, Sydney ^[4]; North, Carman ^[1]; Kara-Murdoch, Fadime ^[5]; Swift, Cynthia ^[1];

^[2]

Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States)
Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States)

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has become a valuable tool for monitoring the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 on university campuses. However, concerns about effectiveness of raw sewage as a COVID-19 early warning system still exist, and it’s not clear how useful normalization by simultaneous comparison of Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV) is in addressing variations resulting from fecal discharge dilution. This study aims to contribute insights into these aspects by conducting an academic-year field trial at the student residences on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus, raw sewage. This was done to investigate the correlations between SARS-CoV-2 RNA load, both with and without PMMoV normalization, and various parameters, including active COVID-19 cases, self-isolations, and their combination among all student residents. Significant positive correlations between SARS-CoV-2 RNA load a week prior, during the monitoring week, and the subsequent week with active cases. Despite these correlations, normalization by PMMoV does not enhance these associations. These findings suggest the potential utility of SARS-CoV-2 RNA load as an early warning indicator and provide valuable insights into the application and limitations of WBE for COVID-19 surveillance specifically within the context of raw sewage on university campuses.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 2406743

Journal Information:: Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Name: Frontiers in Microbiology Vol. 15; ISSN 1664-302X

Publisher:: Frontiers Research FoundationCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
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Title: COVID-19 trends at the University of Tennessee: predictive insights from raw sewage SARS-CoV-2 detection and evaluation and PMMoV as an indicator for human waste

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