Post-lockdown detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the wastewater of Montpellier, France

J. Trottier, R. Darques, Nassim Ait Mouheb, Emma Partiot, William Bakhache, Maika S. Deffieu, R. Gaudin

One Health, 2020

Abstract The evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic can be monitored through the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage. Here, we measured the amount of SARS-CoV-2 RNA at the inflow point of the main waste water treatment plant (WWTP) of Montpellier, France. We collected samples 4 days before the end of lockdown and up to 70 days post-lockdown. We detected increased amounts of SARS-CoV-2 RNA at the WWTP from mid-June on, whereas the number of new COVID-19 cases in the area started increasing a couple of weeks later. Future epidemiologic investigations shall explain such asynchronous finding.

Cited by 37 publications.

Field of study: Biology

10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100157