First detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater in North America: A study in Louisiana, USA

Abstract

We investigated the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS -CoV - 2 ) RNA in wastewater samples in southern Louisiana, USA. Untreated and treated wastewater samples were collected over a four -month period from January to April 2020. The wastewater samples were concentrated via ultrafiltration (Method A) , and an adsorption –elution method using electronegative membrane (Method B). SARS -CoV -2 RNA was detected in 2 out of 15 wastewater samples using two reverse transcription -quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT -qPCR) assays (CDC N1 and N2 ). None of the secondary treated and final effluent samples tested positive for SARS -CoV - 2 RNA. Our results suggest that wastewater -based epidemiology could be utilized to monitor the prevalence of COVID -19 in the community , and to predict disease circulation and upcoming waves. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the detection of SARS -CoV -2 RNA in wastewater in the USA. However, concentration methods and RT -qPCR assays need to be refined and validated to increase the sensitivity of SARS -CoV -2 RNA detection in wastewater