Optimal Selection of Sampling Points within Sewer Networks for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Applications

verfasst von

Yao Yao, Yibo Zhu, Regina Nogueira, Frank Klawonn, Markus Wallner

Abstract

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has great potential to monitor community public health, especially during pandemics. However, it faces substantial hurdles in pathogen surveillance through WBE, encompassing data representativeness, spatiotemporal variability, population estimates, pathogen decay, and environmental factors. This paper aims to enhance the reliability of WBE data, especially for early outbreak detection and improved sampling strategies within sewer networks. The tool implemented in this paper combines a monitoring model and an optimization model to facilitate the optimal selection of sampling points within sewer networks. The monitoring model utilizes parameters such as feces density and average water consumption to define the detectability of the virus that needs to be monitored. This allows for standardization and simplicity in the process of moving from the analysis of wastewater samples to the identification of infection in the source area. The entropy-based model can select optimal sampling points in a sewer network to obtain the most specific information at a minimum cost. The practicality of our tool is validated using data from Hildesheim, Germany, employing SARS-CoV-2 as a pilot pathogen. It is important to note that the tool’s versatility empowers its extension to monitor other pathogens in the future.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Siedlungswasserwirtschaft und Abfalltechnik

Externe Organisation(en)

Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung GmbH (HZI)
Ostfalia Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften – Hochschule Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel
Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR)
Consulting Engineer
Bpi Hannover - Beratende Ingenieure

Typ

Artikel

Journal

Methods and Protocols

Band

7

ISSN

2409-9279

Publikationsdatum

05.01.2024

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Biochemie, Genetik und Molekularbiologie (sonstige), Strukturelle Biologie, Biotechnologie

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 3 – Gute Gesundheit und Wohlergehen

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.3390/mps7010006 (Zugang: Offen)