Lab Matters Fall 2024 | Page 139

APHL 2024 POSTER ABSTRACTS and RSV concentrations decreased 1.10- 1.44- 1.26- and 2.63- fold , respectively , from plate 1 ( t = 0 hours ) to plate 4 ( t = 6 hours ). DNA template controls did not decrease . Comparing QX ONE and QIAcuity , all QIAcuity results had sufficient , valid partitions for analysis ; however , 11 of 40 QX ONE results were invalid because of inadequate droplet formation . Among valid data points , we detected a 75.9 % ( 22 of 29 ) concordance rate between instruments . QIAcuity SARS-CoV-2 concentrations were lower ( mean 140,112 copies / L ) than QX ONE ( mean 277,569 copies / L ), but results were not significantly different between platforms for samples tested with the same matrix spike ( paired samples t test , p = 0.133 ).

GT Molecular assays using the QIAcuity performed acceptably for IAV , IBV , RSV and SARS-CoV-2 . Observed decreases in viral concentrations over time were likely because of RNA template instability at room temperature ; to reconcile this we will prioritize RSV assay plates and use a second machine for parallel plate runs . QX ONE and QIAcuity discordance was due to samples with SARS- CoV-2 concentrations at or below the QIAcuity ’ s LOD but between the QX ONE ’ s LOD and LOQ . QIAcuity ’ s lower failure rate and greater multiplexing capability increased testing capacity . Iowa ’ s wastewater program will incorporate GT Molecular assays and QIAcuity to expand surveillance efforts and lead public health action to reduce disease burden .

Presenter : Eileen Moran , tqe9 @ cdc . gov

Wastewater-based Disease Forecasting for Respiratory Viruses : Advances and a Glimpse into the Future

A . Elbadawi , B . Cagle-White , C . Wheatley , J . Yost , M . Crum , K . Singh , University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler- PHLET

Introduction : The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how vulnerable our communities are and the importance of a stable and reliable health infrastructure . The ongoing global efforts to combat SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases , particularly respiratory viruses , has driven an increase in innovative strategies that are useful for disease surveillance and forecasting . This abstract describes an ongoing project that explores the future landscape of disease forecasting through the analysis of respiratory viruses using wastewater-based epidemiology .

Background : Disease forecasting models have a rich background in epidemiology and public health . The models have evolved to become valuable tools in prediction of the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases . The development and application of these models have been influenced by advances in mathematical modeling , data science and computational capabilities . Disease forecasting models have been employed in various epidemiological disease contexts .

Objective : In this study , we propose to develop a forecasting model for our wastewater monitoring program , with a focus on surveillance of respiratory viruses , namely , SARS-CoV-2 .

Methods : In 2021 , the Public Health Laboratory of East Texas ( PHLET ) initiated a wastewater-based epidemiology program to track SARS-CoV-2 levels in Gregg and Smith Counties in East Texas . Using data from 2020 to present , we aim to build a disease forecasting model for the community .

Conclusion : Our future goal is to establish a user-friendly community dashboard , providing real-time insights for informed decision-making by local public health using predictive models that can result in targeted interventions for disease prevention .

Presenter : Amna Elbadawi , amnaelbadawi18 @ gmail . com

Wastewater-based Surveillance Beyond COVID-19 : A Comparison of Norovirus Levels in Wastewater Influents from Across Wisconsin with Clinical PCR Positivity Rate

D . Everett 1 , A . Roguet 1 , D . Antkiewicz 1 , R . Fahney 1 , A . Bateman 1 , S . Buechner 1 , M . Martin 1 , N . Kloczko 2 , M . Schussman 3 , S . McLellan 3 , J . Hemming 1 , M . Shafer 1 , Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene 1 , Wisconsin Department of Health Services 2 , School of Freshwater Sciences , University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 3

Wastewater-based surveillance ( WBS ) is a rapidly advancing field that has proven to be valuable for monitoring the spread of certain diseases in communities . When infected individuals shed viruses , viral material can enter sewage allowing for community scale assessment of pathogen prevalence via virus quantification in the municipal wastewater . For the last four years , the Wisconsin Wastewater Surveillance Program , a partnership of the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene ( WSLH ), the Wisconsin Department of Health Services ( DHS ) and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ( UWM ), has monitored SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater from a large number of treatment facilities across the state of Wisconsin . More recently , the program has expanded to include other respiratory viruses including influenza and RSV . However , only a few studies have addressed the utility of WBS for enteric viruses , such as norovirus . Here we present outcomes from both ongoing and retrospective studies of norovirus levels in Wisconsin wastewaters .

In August 2023 we initiated routine wastewater surveillance for norovirus in 13 communities across Wisconsin . Twice weekly , two 24-hour flow-proportionate composite influent samples were collected from the wastewater facilities and the unfiltered samples analyzed for norovirus groups I and II , as well as a fecal marker ( PMMoV ) and two laboratory process controls . Prior to quantification by digital PCR , viruses were concentrated using Ceres Nanotraps ® and nucleic acids were extracted using a Promega Maxwell ® HT Environmental TNA kit . The concentration and extraction protocols were automated on KingFisher Apex and Flex platforms , respectively . Results were posted on an internal dashboard to track local and statewide trends , highlighting distinct regional trends . Here we present norovirus data collected from August 2023 through April of 2024 . A year-long retrospective analysis ( 2022-2023 ) was also conducted using archived RNA extracted from Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District ’ s ( MMSD ) wastewater treatment facility influent . Wastewater levels were compared with PCR positivity rate submitted to the WSLH from clinical laboratories around the municipality area . The MMSD wastewater norovirus levels exhibited good correlation with the clinical PCR positivity rate , indicating that wastewater quantification can be a viable option for monitoring norovirus prevalence and trends in communities .

Presenter : Devin Everett , Devin . Everett @ slh . wisc . edu