Wastewater-based surveillance of vector-borne pathogens: a cautionary note

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Public health surveillance
• Climate change impacts on infectious diseases

Background:

• Climate change is altering the dynamics of infectious diseases globally.
• Vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue are particularly sensitive to these shifts.
• Wastewater surveillance offers a promising tool for monitoring pathogen circulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight malaria and dengue as high-priority targets for wastewater surveillance.
• To emphasize the importance of geographical context, pathogen biology, and infrastructure in wastewater-based epidemiology.
• To inform effective public health strategies in response to climate-driven pathogen changes.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent findings on pathogen dynamics and climate change.
• Analysis of factors critical for successful wastewater surveillance of vector-borne diseases.
• Integration of epidemiological and environmental data for public health planning.

Main Results:

• Malaria and dengue identified as key diseases for wastewater surveillance.
• Geographical context, pathogen characteristics, and sewage network availability are crucial for data interpretation.
• Wastewater surveillance can provide early warnings for climate-sensitive disease outbreaks.

Conclusions:

• Wastewater surveillance is a valuable tool for monitoring climate-sensitive infectious diseases.
• Context-specific approaches are necessary for the effective implementation of wastewater-based epidemiology.
• Integrating wastewater data with other surveillance methods can enhance public health preparedness.