Can Wastewater Surveillance Enhance Genomic Tracking of Climate-Driven Pathogens?

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Genomic Surveillance

Background:

• Climate change is increasing the risk of infectious diseases in Europe.
• Current surveillance methods need enhancement to address emerging threats.
• Wastewater surveillance offers a promising avenue for early detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and associate climate-related pathogens, wastewater data, and genomic detection methods.
• To identify advancements and critical gaps in current surveillance techniques.
• To advocate for integrated detection methods in public health frameworks.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of 390 scientific papers.
• Analysis of pathogens linked to climate change and their presence in wastewater.
• Evaluation of genomic detection methodologies, including PCR, sequencing, and metagenomics.

Main Results:

• A wide range of climate-related pathogens can be detected in wastewater using various genomic methods.
• Quantitative PCR (qPCR), digital PCR (dPCR), and metagenomics show potential for pathogen tracking.
• Significant gaps exist in method development, especially for vector-borne pathogens, and in harmonization of performance criteria.

Conclusions:

• Genomic methods offer powerful tools for tracking climate-sensitive pathogens in wastewater.
• Further research and validation are needed to harmonize methods and address specific pathogen groups.
• Integrating advanced detection techniques into surveillance systems is crucial for enhancing public health resilience against climate-driven infectious diseases.