Georgia WWSCAN Biweekly Newsletter Update 5/10/24

Welcome to the bi-weekly update for WWSCAN partners in Georgia! The samples provided up through 5/7/24 have been processed in the lab and data are on the site at data.wastewaterscan.org.

If you notice any bugs on the site or have any comments about it, please continue to send your feedback via email wwscan_stanford_emory@lists.stanford.edu. We thank you for your partnership!

The methods for our assays are in the public domain and links for these are provided at the end of the newsletter.

SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations have been between 7,500 and 140,000 copies/gram in the last two weeks. The chart below shows the raw data over the last 365 days and the population-weighted aggregated trend line for all 8 Georgia sites when the data is normalized by PMMoV. The aggregated line and the National Levels benchmarks illustrate that SARS-CoV-2 N gene RNA concentrations among Georgia sites are within the middle third level of all concentrations measured in the last year.

As of 5/10/24, Little River is in the HIGH (1 site) wastewater category. Johns Creek is in the MEDIUM (1 site) wastewater category. Big Creek is in the LOW (1 site) wastewater category. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater is available for RM Clayton and College Park (Camp Creek). The plots below show the relative proportions of different variants inferred from sequencing the entire genome of SARS-CoV-2 (Note: the sequencing variant plots are now available on the website, so the plots that are shown below are linked above if you want to interact with them). Results are based on sequencing of 2 samples per week, combined to provide a weekly value. Please note that the large gap of "no data" for College Park is because we had data available from preliminary testing while finalizing site selection for sequencing, and then began weekly sequencing in the middle of December.

In the most recent samples, JN.1 (dark purple) made up the largest proportion of the lineages detected at RM Clayton (100%), and JN.1 made up 24.6% of the lineages at College Park. Sub-lineage JN.1.11 (70.6%) made up the largest proportion of lineages detected at College Park. Note that the most recent data are from 1-5 weeks ago (through Apr 6 at RM Clayton & May 4 at College Park).

Sequencing data is now also available in aggregate across all sites in WWSCAN with sequencing data. That plot is shown below and also suggests that JN.1 is the most abundant variant across all sites (46.6%). Sub-lineage JN.1.11 was the second-highest (32.3%).

Influenza A: IAV RNA concentrations have been below 16,000 copies/gram in the last two weeks. The chart below shows the raw data and the population-weighted aggregated trend line for all 8 Georgia sites when the data is normalized by PMMoV is in the middle third level. As of 5/10/24, Johns Creek is in the HIGH (1 site) wastewater category. Big Creek is in the MEDIUM (1 site) wastewater category. Little River is in the LOW (1 site) wastewater category. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

Influenza B (IBV) RNA concentrations are below 16,000 copies/gram. The chart below shows IBV RNA concentrations raw data and the population-weighted aggregated trend line for all 8 Georgia sites when the data is normalized by PMMoV. As of 5/10/24, all of the Roswell sites are in the LOW (3 sites) wastewater category, which includes Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) RNA concentrations were below 1,700 copies/gram over the last two weeks detected at Big Creek. The chart below includes the raw data for each site since 2023. The aggregated line below shows that RSV RNA concentrations among Georgia sites are still at the bottom of the middle third level of all concentrations measured in the last year.

As of 5/10/24, Big Creek, Johns Creek & Little River are in the LOW (3 sites) wastewater category. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

HMPV (human metapneumovirus) RNA concentrations in wastewater are below 65,000 copies/g. Based on the chart below, concentrations are rising. HMPV RNA concentrations in Georgia remain within the upper third level of all concentrations measured in the last year. Big Creek, Johns Creek, and Little River are in the HIGH (3 sites) wastewater category, as of 5/10/24. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

EV-D68 RNA has not been detected at a Georgia site over the last couple weeks, according to the heat map below. As a reminder, the color blue means the sample was non-detect for EV-D68 RNA and the colors get darker with higher concentrations. As of 5/10/24, all of the Roswell sites are in the LOW (3 sites) wastewater category. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

Parainfluenza RNA has frequently been detected in the wastewater at Georgia sites over the last two weeks, based on the heat map below. Parainfluenza concentrations have been below 35,000 copies/g. The chart below shows the raw data and the population-weighted aggregated trend line for all 8 Georgia sites when the data is normalized by PMMoV.

As of 5/10/24, Big Creek, and Johns Creek are in the HIGH (2 sites) Wastewater category. Little River is in the LOW (1 site) wastewater category. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

Norovirus GII (HuNoV GII) RNA concentrations range between 3,500,000 - 12,000,000 copies/g, and the population-weighted average line when the data is normalized by PMMoV for the 8 Georgia sites is within the upper third level. HuNoV GII RNA chart below also shows the raw data. As of 5/10/24, Little River is in the HIGH (1 site) wastewater category. Big Creek & Johns Creek are in the MEDIUM (2 sites) wastewater category. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

Rotavirus RNA concentrations have been between 9,600 and 400,000 copies/g over the last two weeks. The chart below shows the population-weighted average line is shown in black plus the raw data for each site. As of 5/10/24, Big Creek and Johns Creek are in the HIGH (2 sites) wastewater category. Little River is in the MEDIUM (1 site) wastewater category. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

Mpox DNA results have been non-detect at all Georgia sites in the last 21 days. This heat map shows data since July 2022. Sites are labeled in the rows and each date a sample was collected as a column. The color blue means the sample was non-detect for mpox DNA and the color maroon means Mpox DNA was detected. White indicates no sample was collected. All of the Roswell sites are in the LOW (3 sites) wastewater category as of 5/10/24. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

Candida auris DNA has been detected at College Park and Columbus in the last two weeks, based on the heat map below. As of 5/10/24, all of the Roswell sites are in the LOW (3 sites) wastewater category. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

Hepatitis A RNA has not been detected at Big Creek and South River over the last two weeks, according to the heat map. As of 4/26/24, all of the Roswell sites are in the LOW (3 sites) wastewater category. There was not enough data to calculate a category for Columbus, Utoy Creek, RM Clayton, South River, and College Park.

Protocols (Pre-analytical methods and SARS-CoV-2 analytical methods including controls):

• High Throughput RNA Extraction and PCR Inhibitor Removal of Settled Solids for Wastewater Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA
• High Throughput pre-analytical processing of wastewater settled solids for SARS-CoV-2 RNA analyses
• Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 variant mutations (HV69-70, E484K/N501Y, del156-157/R158G, del143-145, LPPA24S, S:477-505, and ORF1a Del 141-143) in settled solids using digital RT-PCR
• High Throughput SARS-COV-2, PMMoV, and BCoV quantification in settled solids using digital RT-PCR

Pre-prints and peer-reviewed publications provided WWSCAN methods: 

• SARS-CoV-2 
• Influenza, Human metapneumovirus, Respiratory syncytial virus, Human parainfluenza
• Mpox
• Norovirus GII
• Adenovirus group F, Rotavirus, Candida auris, Hepatitis A
• Enterovirus D68

Newly published papers and available pre-prints:

• Solid-liquid partitioning of Dengue West Nile, Zika, Hepatitis A, Influenza A, and SARSCoV-2 viruses in wastewater from across the United States
• Detection of hemagglutinin H5 influenza A virus sequence in municipal wastewater solids at wastewater treatment plants with increases in influenza A in spring, 2024

A complete list of peer-reviewed publications utilizing the WWSCAN data is available here!

Thank you to those who attended the May stakeholder meeting. The next stakeholder meeting will take place Friday, June 10th @ 12 PM EST. You can use this zoom link to join. Hope to see you there!