Cryptic transmission of a SARS-CoV-2 variant detected by wastewater surveillance in Panama
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of viral genomic surveillance, prompting numerous countries to enhance their monitoring systems for acute respiratory infections (ARIs), especially influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). Given the significance of asymptomatic cases in severe acute respir...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1467484/full |
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| author | Melissa Gaitán Yamitzel Zaldivar Michelle Hernandez Jessica Góndola Oris Chavarría Brechla Moreno Danilo Franco Rodrigo DeAntonio Santiago Mirazo Florencia Cancela Maria Eugenia Barnett Alexander A. Martinez Juan Miguel Pascale Sandra López-Vergès |
| author_facet | Melissa Gaitán Yamitzel Zaldivar Michelle Hernandez Jessica Góndola Oris Chavarría Brechla Moreno Danilo Franco Rodrigo DeAntonio Santiago Mirazo Florencia Cancela Maria Eugenia Barnett Alexander A. Martinez Juan Miguel Pascale Sandra López-Vergès |
| author_sort | Melissa Gaitán |
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| description | The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of viral genomic surveillance, prompting numerous countries to enhance their monitoring systems for acute respiratory infections (ARIs), especially influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). Given the significance of asymptomatic cases in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission, cases often undetected by the ILI surveillance, a more comprehensive approach was essential to track the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the population. In response, many countries swiftly adopted wastewater surveillance, which allowed the early detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants before they were identified through molecular characterization from confirmed clinical cases. In this report, we detail the implementation of SARS-CoV-2 wastewater genomic surveillance in Panama during the first half of 2024. Wastewater samples were collected monthly in duplicate at two collection points from three districts of Panama city metropolitan area for testing by SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR, and positive samples were analyzed by next-generation sequencing to identify sublineages. A total of 36 wastewater samples and 822 samples obtained through the clinical surveillance were analyzed for molecular detection and sequencing. Sublineages detected by wastewater surveillance were compared to those detected by clinical surveillance for the same period of time. Wastewater surveillance allowed the identification of the Omicron sublineage JN.1.16.1 in the capital city and its surroundings, which was not detected by the clinical surveillance in the country, despite its global circulation. This highlights the critical need to sustain both genomic surveillance programs beyond the pandemic in countries like Panama that serve as pivotal exchange hubs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6d17558685334955a383dbb026d254dc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2235-2988 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d17558685334955a383dbb026d254dc2025-01-29T06:45:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-01-011410.3389/fcimb.2024.14674841467484Cryptic transmission of a SARS-CoV-2 variant detected by wastewater surveillance in PanamaMelissa Gaitán0Yamitzel Zaldivar1Michelle Hernandez2Jessica Góndola3Oris Chavarría4Brechla Moreno5Danilo Franco6Rodrigo DeAntonio7Santiago Mirazo8Florencia Cancela9Maria Eugenia Barnett10Alexander A. Martinez11Juan Miguel Pascale12Sandra López-Vergès13Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, PanamaDepartment of Research and Surveillance of Biologic Risk 3, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, PanamaDepartment of Research and Surveillance of Biologic Risk 3, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, PanamaDepartment of Genomics and Proteomics, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, PanamaDepartment of Genomics and Proteomics, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, PanamaDepartment of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, PanamaDepartment of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, PanamaCentro de Vacunacion e Investigacion CEVAXIN, Panama City, PanamaUnidad Académica de Bacteriología y Virología, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, UruguayUnidad Académica de Bacteriología y Virología, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, UruguayClinical Research Unit, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, PanamaDepartment of Genomics and Proteomics, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, PanamaClinical Research Unit, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, PanamaDepartment of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, PanamaThe COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of viral genomic surveillance, prompting numerous countries to enhance their monitoring systems for acute respiratory infections (ARIs), especially influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). Given the significance of asymptomatic cases in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission, cases often undetected by the ILI surveillance, a more comprehensive approach was essential to track the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the population. In response, many countries swiftly adopted wastewater surveillance, which allowed the early detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants before they were identified through molecular characterization from confirmed clinical cases. In this report, we detail the implementation of SARS-CoV-2 wastewater genomic surveillance in Panama during the first half of 2024. Wastewater samples were collected monthly in duplicate at two collection points from three districts of Panama city metropolitan area for testing by SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR, and positive samples were analyzed by next-generation sequencing to identify sublineages. A total of 36 wastewater samples and 822 samples obtained through the clinical surveillance were analyzed for molecular detection and sequencing. Sublineages detected by wastewater surveillance were compared to those detected by clinical surveillance for the same period of time. Wastewater surveillance allowed the identification of the Omicron sublineage JN.1.16.1 in the capital city and its surroundings, which was not detected by the clinical surveillance in the country, despite its global circulation. This highlights the critical need to sustain both genomic surveillance programs beyond the pandemic in countries like Panama that serve as pivotal exchange hubs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1467484/fullSARS-CoV-2genomic surveillancewastewater surveillanceoutbreakvariantmolecular detection |
| spellingShingle | Melissa Gaitán Yamitzel Zaldivar Michelle Hernandez Jessica Góndola Oris Chavarría Brechla Moreno Danilo Franco Rodrigo DeAntonio Santiago Mirazo Florencia Cancela Maria Eugenia Barnett Alexander A. Martinez Juan Miguel Pascale Sandra López-Vergès Cryptic transmission of a SARS-CoV-2 variant detected by wastewater surveillance in Panama Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance wastewater surveillance outbreak variant molecular detection |
| title | Cryptic transmission of a SARS-CoV-2 variant detected by wastewater surveillance in Panama |
| title_full | Cryptic transmission of a SARS-CoV-2 variant detected by wastewater surveillance in Panama |
| title_fullStr | Cryptic transmission of a SARS-CoV-2 variant detected by wastewater surveillance in Panama |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cryptic transmission of a SARS-CoV-2 variant detected by wastewater surveillance in Panama |
| title_short | Cryptic transmission of a SARS-CoV-2 variant detected by wastewater surveillance in Panama |
| title_sort | cryptic transmission of a sars cov 2 variant detected by wastewater surveillance in panama |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance wastewater surveillance outbreak variant molecular detection |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1467484/full |
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