An innovative approach for the non-invasive surveillance of communities and early detection of SARS-CoV-2 via solid waste analysis

F. Di Maria; G. La Rosa; T. Bonato; A. Pivato; R. Piazza; P. Mancini; G. Bonanno Ferraro; C. Veneri; M. Iaconelli; E. Beccaloni; F. Scaini; L. Bonadonna; T. Vicenza; E. Suffredini

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149743

An innovative approach for the non-invasive surveillance of communities and early detection of SARS-CoV-2 via solid waste analysis

F. Di Maria, G. La Rosa, T. Bonato, A. Pivato, R. Piazza, P. Mancini, G. Bonanno Ferraro, C. Veneri, M. Iaconelli, E. Beccaloni, F. Scaini, L. Bonadonna, T. Vicenza, E. Suffredini

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection requires the detection of viral RNA by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) performed mainly using nasopharyngeal swabs. However, this procedure requires separate analysis per each individual, performed in advanced centralized laboratory facilities with specialized medical personnel. In this study, an alternative approach termed “solid waste-based surveillance (SWBS)” was explored, in order to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infection in small communities through the indirect sampling of saliva left on waste. Sampling was performed at 20 different sites in Italy during the second peak of COVID-19. Three swabs were positive for SARS-CoV-2 using a published RT-qPCR protocol targeting the non-structural protein 14 region, and the viral load ranged 4.8 × 10³–4.0 × 10⁶ genome copies/swab. Amino acid substitutions already reported in SARS-CoV-2 sequences circulating in Italy (A222V and P521S) were detected in two positive samples. These findings confirmed the effectiveness of SWBS for non-invasive and dynamic SARS-CoV-2 surveillance.

Original language	English
Article number	149743
Journal	Science of the Total Environment
Volume	801
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149743
State	Published - 20 Dec 2021
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

RNA detection
Saliva
SARS-CoV-2
Solid waste based surveillance
Swab

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10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149743

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Di Maria, F., La Rosa, G., Bonato, T., Pivato, A., Piazza, R., Mancini, P., Bonanno Ferraro, G., Veneri, C., Iaconelli, M., Beccaloni, E., Scaini, F., Bonadonna, L., Vicenza, T., & Suffredini, E. (2021). An innovative approach for the non-invasive surveillance of communities and early detection of SARS-CoV-2 via solid waste analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 801, Article 149743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149743

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title = "An innovative approach for the non-invasive surveillance of communities and early detection of SARS-CoV-2 via solid waste analysis",

abstract = "The diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection requires the detection of viral RNA by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) performed mainly using nasopharyngeal swabs. However, this procedure requires separate analysis per each individual, performed in advanced centralized laboratory facilities with specialized medical personnel. In this study, an alternative approach termed “solid waste-based surveillance (SWBS)” was explored, in order to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infection in small communities through the indirect sampling of saliva left on waste. Sampling was performed at 20 different sites in Italy during the second peak of COVID-19. Three swabs were positive for SARS-CoV-2 using a published RT-qPCR protocol targeting the non-structural protein 14 region, and the viral load ranged 4.8 × 103–4.0 × 106 genome copies/swab. Amino acid substitutions already reported in SARS-CoV-2 sequences circulating in Italy (A222V and P521S) were detected in two positive samples. These findings confirmed the effectiveness of SWBS for non-invasive and dynamic SARS-CoV-2 surveillance.",

keywords = "RNA detection, Saliva, SARS-CoV-2, Solid waste based surveillance, Swab",

author = "{Di Maria}, F. and {La Rosa}, G. and T. Bonato and A. Pivato and R. Piazza and P. Mancini and {Bonanno Ferraro}, G. and C. Veneri and M. Iaconelli and E. Beccaloni and F. Scaini and L. Bonadonna and T. Vicenza and E. Suffredini",

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year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149743",

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Di Maria, F, La Rosa, G, Bonato, T, Pivato, A, Piazza, R, Mancini, P, Bonanno Ferraro, G, Veneri, C, Iaconelli, M, Beccaloni, E, Scaini, F, Bonadonna, L, Vicenza, T & Suffredini, E 2021, 'An innovative approach for the non-invasive surveillance of communities and early detection of SARS-CoV-2 via solid waste analysis', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 801, 149743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149743

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AU - Di Maria, F.

AU - La Rosa, G.

AU - Bonato, T.

AU - Pivato, A.

AU - Piazza, R.

AU - Mancini, P.

AU - Bonanno Ferraro, G.

AU - Veneri, C.

AU - Iaconelli, M.

AU - Beccaloni, E.

AU - Scaini, F.

AU - Bonadonna, L.

AU - Vicenza, T.

AU - Suffredini, E.

PY - 2021/12/20

Y1 - 2021/12/20

N2 - The diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection requires the detection of viral RNA by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) performed mainly using nasopharyngeal swabs. However, this procedure requires separate analysis per each individual, performed in advanced centralized laboratory facilities with specialized medical personnel. In this study, an alternative approach termed “solid waste-based surveillance (SWBS)” was explored, in order to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infection in small communities through the indirect sampling of saliva left on waste. Sampling was performed at 20 different sites in Italy during the second peak of COVID-19. Three swabs were positive for SARS-CoV-2 using a published RT-qPCR protocol targeting the non-structural protein 14 region, and the viral load ranged 4.8 × 103–4.0 × 106 genome copies/swab. Amino acid substitutions already reported in SARS-CoV-2 sequences circulating in Italy (A222V and P521S) were detected in two positive samples. These findings confirmed the effectiveness of SWBS for non-invasive and dynamic SARS-CoV-2 surveillance.

AB - The diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection requires the detection of viral RNA by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) performed mainly using nasopharyngeal swabs. However, this procedure requires separate analysis per each individual, performed in advanced centralized laboratory facilities with specialized medical personnel. In this study, an alternative approach termed “solid waste-based surveillance (SWBS)” was explored, in order to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infection in small communities through the indirect sampling of saliva left on waste. Sampling was performed at 20 different sites in Italy during the second peak of COVID-19. Three swabs were positive for SARS-CoV-2 using a published RT-qPCR protocol targeting the non-structural protein 14 region, and the viral load ranged 4.8 × 103–4.0 × 106 genome copies/swab. Amino acid substitutions already reported in SARS-CoV-2 sequences circulating in Italy (A222V and P521S) were detected in two positive samples. These findings confirmed the effectiveness of SWBS for non-invasive and dynamic SARS-CoV-2 surveillance.

KW - RNA detection

KW - Saliva

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Solid waste based surveillance

KW - Swab

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AN - SCOPUS:85113321629

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VL - 801

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

M1 - 149743

ER -

An innovative approach for the non-invasive surveillance of communities and early detection of SARS-CoV-2 via solid waste analysis

Abstract

Keywords

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