Simultaneous Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Virus in Wastewater of Two Cities in Southeastern Germany, January to May 2022

Dependent on the excretion pattern, wastewater monitoring of viruses can be a valuable approach to characterizing their circulation in the human population. Using polyethylene glycol precipitation and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, the occurrence of RNA of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses A/B in the raw wastewater of two treatment plants in Germany between January and May 2022 was investigated. Due to the relatively high incidence in both exposal areas (plant 1 and plant 2), SARS-CoV-2-specific RNA was determined in all 273 composite samples analyzed (concentration of E gene: 1.3 x 10(4) to 3.2 x 10(6) gc/L). Despite a nation-wide low number of confirmed infections, influenza virus A was demonstrated in 5.2% (concentration: 9.8 x 10(2) to 8.4 x 10(4) gc/L; plant 1) and in 41.6% (3.6 x 10(3) to 3.0 x 10(5) gc/L; plant 2) of samples. Influenza virus B was detected in 36.0% (7.2 x 10(2) to 8.5 x 10(6) gc/L; plant 1) and 57.7% (9.6 x 10(3) to 2.1 x 10(7) gc/L; plant 2) of wastewater samples. The results of the study demonstrate the frequent detection of two primary respiratory viruses in wastewater and offer the possibility to track the epidemiology of influenza by wastewater-based monitoring.

Automated summary

Wastewater monitoring of viruses can provide valuable insights into their circulation in the human population. A study conducted in Germany investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses A/B RNA in raw wastewater samples from two treatment plants using polyethylene glycol precipitation and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The study found a high incidence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in all analyzed samples, as well as the presence of influenza viruses A and B in a significant proportion of samples. This study highlights the potential of wastewater-based monitoring for tracking the epidemiology of influenza.