Toward efficient surveillance: a proof-of-concept comparison of methods for detecting DNA and RNA viruses in wastewater

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) represents a promising method for early detection and ongoing monitoring of various pathogens. This epidemiological approach has recently attracted significant research interest. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, WBE was estimated as a complementary surveillance tool for mapping the spread of the virus within the population. Although this method has great potential for pathogen monitoring at both local and national levels, there are some limitations, notably the presence of high concentrations of inhibitors that contaminate extracted nucleic acids from wastewater, which can lead to false negative results. This proof-of-concept study focuses on detecting RNA and DNA viruses, specifically SARS-CoV-2 and adenovirus, in wastewater by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and compares the results with those obtained with the routinely used RT-qPCR and qPCR methods. The results of our proof-of-concept study indicate that WBE represents a promising approach for monitoring pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and adenovirus; however, challenges such as contaminants in wastewater need to be addressed to increase detection accuracy. Due to this limitation, novel technologies such as ddPCR offer new opportunities to improve epidemiological monitoring of various infectious agents in the population.