Temporal assessment of SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater and its epidemiological implications in COVID-19 case dynamics

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29462
• Publication Date: 2024-04-09T15:46:12Z
• Authors: Lin Li; Laura Haak; Madeline Carine; Krishna R. Pagilla
• Keywords: Viral Shedding; Coronavirus

This research evaluated the relationship between daily new Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) concentrations in wastewater, followed by effects of differential SARS-CoV-2 shedding loads across various COVID-19 outbreaks. Linear regression analyses were utilized to examine lead time signal wastewater relative clinical cases. During Delta wave, no was evident, highlighting limited predictive capability monitoring during this phase. However, significant times observed Omicron potentially attributed testing capacity overload subsequent case reporting delays or changes patterns. Post-Omicron wave (Febuary 23 May 19, 2022), discernible, whereas following lifting state emergency (May 30, 2022 2023), correlation coefficient increased demonstrated potential surveillance as an early warning system. Subsequently, we explored virus through feces, operationalized ratio varied significantly Delta, Omicron, other variants post-state-emergency phases, with Kruskal-Wallis H test confirming a difference medians these stages (P < 0.0001). Despite its promise, disease prevalence presents several challenges, including variability, data interpretation complexity, impact environmental factors on viral degradation, lack standardized procedures. Overall, our findings offer insights into concentrations, variation different pandemic underscore promise limitations system for trends.