TY - JOUR
T1 - Results from the SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based surveillance system in Denmark, July 2021 to June 2022
AU - Krogsgaard, Lene Wulff
AU - Benedetti, Guido
AU - Gudde, Aina
AU - Richter, Stine Raith
AU - Rasmussen, Lasse Dam
AU - Midgley, Sofie Elisabeth
AU - Qvesel, Amanda Gammelby
AU - Nauta, Maarten
AU - Bahrenscheer, Naja Stolberg
AU - von Kappelgaard, Lene
AU - McManus, Oliver
AU - Hansen, Nicco Claudio
AU - Pedersen, Jan Bryla
AU - Haimes, Danny
AU - Gamst, Jesper
AU - Nørgaard, Louise Solveig
AU - Jørgensen, Alissa Carina Udi
AU - Ejegod, Ditte Møller
AU - Møller, Simone Skjødt
AU - Clauson-Kaas, Jes
AU - Knudsen, Ida Marie
AU - Franck, Kristina Træholt
AU - Ethelberg, Steen
N1 - Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - The microbiological analysis of wastewater samples is increasingly used for the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 globally. We described the setup process of the national SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based surveillance system in Denmark, presented its main results during the first year of activities, from July 2021 to June 2022, and discussed their operational significance. The Danish SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based surveillance system was designed to cover 85 % of the population in Denmark and it entailed taking three weekly samples from 230 sites. Samples were RT-qPCR tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, targeting the genetic markers N1, N2 and RdRp, and for two faecal indicators, Pepper Mild Mottle Virus and crAssphage. We calculated the weekly SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration in the wastewater from each sampling site and monitored it in view of the results from individual testing, at the national and regional levels. We attempted to use wastewater results to identify potential local outbreaks, and we sequenced positive wastewater samples using Nanopore sequencing to monitor the circulation of viral variants in Denmark. The system reached its full implementation by October 2021 and covered up to 86.4 % of the Danish population. The system allowed for monitoring of the national and regional trends of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Denmark. However, the system contribution to the identification of potential local outbreaks was limited by the extensive information available from clinical testing. The sequencing of wastewater samples identified relevant variants of concern, in line with results from sequencing of human samples. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Denmark implemented a nationwide SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based surveillance system that integrated routine surveillance from individual testing. Today, while testing for COVID-19 at the community level has been discontinued, the system is on the frontline to monitor the occurrence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Denmark.
AB - The microbiological analysis of wastewater samples is increasingly used for the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 globally. We described the setup process of the national SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based surveillance system in Denmark, presented its main results during the first year of activities, from July 2021 to June 2022, and discussed their operational significance. The Danish SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based surveillance system was designed to cover 85 % of the population in Denmark and it entailed taking three weekly samples from 230 sites. Samples were RT-qPCR tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, targeting the genetic markers N1, N2 and RdRp, and for two faecal indicators, Pepper Mild Mottle Virus and crAssphage. We calculated the weekly SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration in the wastewater from each sampling site and monitored it in view of the results from individual testing, at the national and regional levels. We attempted to use wastewater results to identify potential local outbreaks, and we sequenced positive wastewater samples using Nanopore sequencing to monitor the circulation of viral variants in Denmark. The system reached its full implementation by October 2021 and covered up to 86.4 % of the Danish population. The system allowed for monitoring of the national and regional trends of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Denmark. However, the system contribution to the identification of potential local outbreaks was limited by the extensive information available from clinical testing. The sequencing of wastewater samples identified relevant variants of concern, in line with results from sequencing of human samples. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Denmark implemented a nationwide SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based surveillance system that integrated routine surveillance from individual testing. Today, while testing for COVID-19 at the community level has been discontinued, the system is on the frontline to monitor the occurrence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Denmark.
KW - Humans
KW - SARS-CoV-2/genetics
KW - COVID-19/epidemiology
KW - COVID-19 Testing
KW - Pandemics
KW - RNA, Viral
KW - Wastewater
KW - Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring
KW - Denmark/epidemiology
U2 - 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121223
DO - 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121223
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 38310802
VL - 252
SP - 121223
JO - Water Research
JF - Water Research
SN - 0043-1354
ER -