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Volume 28, Number 9—September 2022
Research

Tracking Emergence and Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Large and Small Communities by Wastewater Monitoring in Alberta, Canada

Casey R.J. HubertComments to Author , Nicole Acosta, Barbara J.M. Waddell, Maria E. Hasing, Yuanyuan Qiu, Meghan Fuzzen, Nathanael B.J. Harper, María A. Bautista, Tiejun Gao, Chloe Papparis, Jenn Van Doorn, Kristine Du, Kevin Xiang, Leslie Chan, Laura Vivas, Puja Pradhan, Janine McCalder, Kashtin Low, Whitney E. England, Darina Kuzma, John Conly, M. Cathryn Ryan, Gopal Achari, Jia Hu, Jason L. Cabaj, Chris Sikora, Larry Svenson, Nathan Zelyas, Mark Servos, Jon Meddings, Steve E. Hrudey, Kevin Frankowski, Michael D. Parkins, Xiaoli (Lilly) Pang, and Bonita E. Lee
Author affiliations: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.J. Hubert, N. Acosta, B.J.M. Waddell, M.A. Bautista, C. Papparis, J. Van Doorn, K. Du, K. Xiang, L. Chan, L. Vivas, P. Pradhan, J. McCalder, K. Low, W.E. England, D. Kuzma, J. Conly, M.C. Ryan, G. Achari, J. Hu, J.L. Cabaj, J. Meddings, K. Frankowski, M.D. Parkins); University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (M.E. Hasing, Y. Qiu, T. Gao, C. Sikora, N. Zelyas, S.E. Hrudey, X.[L.] Pang, B.E. Lee); Alberta Health Services, Edmonton (Y. Qiu, C. Sikora, N. Zelyas, X.[L.] Pang); Alberta Health Services, Calgary (J. Conly, J.L. Cabaj, M.D. Parkins); University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (M. Fuzzen, N.B.J. Harper, M. Servos); Alberta Health, Government of Alberta, Edmonton (L. Svenson)

Main Article

Figure 1

Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in community wastewater samples, Alberta, Canada, November 2021–January 2022. A, B) Percentage of Omicron RNA detected in community wastewater samples (data lines) compared with the 7-day rolling average of new clinical cases reported in Alberta (gray shading). RNA was assessed by using quantitative reverse transcription PCR assays for specific variants following sample processing using ultrafiltration (A) or affinity columns (B). Lines of best fit plotted with second order smoothing are shown for different wastewater treatment plants, including 3 that had samples processed using both ultrafiltration and affinity columns for comparison (Calgary-1, Fort McMurray, and Lethbridge; for details of this comparison, see Appendix Figure 1]). Monitoring began on November 28, 2021, and lasted for 53 days (plotted as consecutive days on the x-axes). The 7-day rolling average of new cases increased after the Omicron variant was predominant in municipal wastewater from 30 communities sampled. C) Locations of 21 treatment plants (Appendix Table) serving communities throughout the province. Abbreviations are as shown in panels A and B. Calgary and Edmonton are served by 3 and 2 treatment plants, respectively, and some individual treatment plants also serve multiple municipalities (e.g., Edmonton-2 serves >10 others; Red Deer serves 3 others; Calgary’s treatment plants serve 3 others).

Figure 1. Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in community wastewater samples, Alberta, Canada, November 2021–January 2022. A, B) Percentage of Omicron RNA detected in community wastewater samples (data lines) compared with the 7-day rolling average of new clinical cases reported in Alberta (gray shading). RNA was assessed by using quantitative reverse transcription PCR assays for specific variants following sample processing using ultrafiltration (A) or affinity columns (B). Lines of best fit plotted with second order smoothing are shown for different wastewater treatment plants, including 3 that had samples processed using both ultrafiltration and affinity columns for comparison (Calgary-1, Fort McMurray, and Lethbridge; for details of this comparison, see Appendix Figure 1]). Monitoring began on November 28, 2021, and lasted for 53 days (plotted as consecutive days on the x-axes). The 7-day rolling average of new cases increased after the Omicron variant was predominant in municipal wastewater from 30 communities sampled. C) Locations of 21 treatment plants (Appendix Table) serving communities throughout the province. Abbreviations are as shown in panels A and B. Calgary and Edmonton are served by 3 and 2 treatment plants, respectively, and some individual treatment plants also serve multiple municipalities (e.g., Edmonton-2 serves >10 others; Red Deer serves 3 others; Calgary’s treatment plants serve 3 others).

Main Article

Page created: July 09, 2022
Page updated: August 19, 2022
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