Monkeypox viral nucleic acids detected using both DNA and RNA extraction workflows.

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Infectious disease surveillance
• Molecular diagnostics

Background:

• Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) is crucial for monitoring public health.
• Existing WBS programs often focus on specific pathogens like SARS-CoV-2.
• The emergence of Monkeypox virus (MPXV) in 2022 necessitated rapid detection methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and apply molecular methods for detecting Monkeypox virus (MPXV) in wastewater.
• To assess the feasibility of using quantitative PCR (qPCR) for MPXV detection in environmental samples.
• To evaluate the utility of WBS for tracking MPXV prevalence in a community.

Main Methods:

• Utilized modified CDC reagents for MPXV nucleic acid detection.
• Employed qPCR assays targeting a specific MPXV CrmB gene segment.
• Analyzed wastewater samples from a university hospital and a regional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).

Main Results:

• Successfully detected MPXV nucleic acids in wastewater from both the hospital and WWTP.
• Detected MPXV levels correlated with reported clinical cases in the community.
• Observed trends in wastewater MPXV mirrored national reporting patterns.

Conclusions:

• Wastewater-based surveillance is effective for detecting Monkeypox virus.
• Recommends expanding WBS programs to include a wider array of pathogens.
• Demonstrates the detectability of viral RNA from DNA virus infections in wastewater.