Wastewater monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 gene for COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance in Tucumán Argentina

Epidemiology based on the detection of pathogens in wastewater is extremely useful in providing information about a population’s health status. This study aimed to analyze and report the epidemiological dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in the province of Tucumán, Argentina during the second and third surges of COVID-19 between April 2021 and March 2022. The study aimed to quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, correlating it with clinically reported COVID-19 cases. Wastewater samples (n=72) were collected from 16 sampling points located in 3 cities of Tucumán (San Miguel de Tucumán, Yerba Buena y Banda del Río Salí). Detection of viral nucleocapsid markers (N1 gene) was carried out using one-step RT-qPCR. Viral loads were determined for each positive sample using a standard curve. A positive correlation (p<0.05) was observed between viral load (copies/mL) and the clinically confirmed COVID-19 cases reported during the sampling period in San Miguel de Tucumán. Our research findings provided a crucial insight into the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection during epidemic outbreaks. The implementation of wastewater monitoring has proven to be an invaluable epidemiological tool, facilitating early detection of potential surges in COVID-19 cases, and enabling a comprehensive tracking of the pandemic. Our study underscores the significance of incorporating SARS-CoV-2 genome-based surveillance as a standard practice which will contribute to anticipating any future spikes in infections.