ABSTRACT Objective. To measure SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage in a low-resource community in order to determine if it can be considered as an estimator of changes in the prevalence of COVID-19 in the population. Methods. In this descriptive observational study we collected samples of surface waters contaminated with sewage and optimized a method of purification of viral RNA using PEG concentration. We determined the amount of genetic material by quantitative real-time PCR using the CDC method for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Results. We quantified viral RNA in surface waters contaminated with sewage of a low resource community and determined that temporal trends of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples mirrored trends in COVID-19 active cases. Conclusions. Measuring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage can be applied in low-resource communities without connection to sewers as an estimator of changes in the prevalence of COVID-19.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, wastewater, environmental monitoring, Argentina, Monitoreo del ambiente, aguas residuales, Monitoramento ambiental, águas residuárias, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 detection, CDC, Community, SARS-CoV-2 RNA, Viral RNA, resource, Concentration, connection, purification, quantitative real-time PCR, genetic material, objective, collected, determine, changes in, quantified, prevalence of COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 Community, Viral RNA, Buenos Aires, SARS-CoV-2 surveillance,