For the first time, we present, i) an account of decay in the genetic material loading of SARS-CoV-2 during Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) treatment of wastewater, and ii) comparative evaluation of polyethylene glycol (PEG), and filtration as virus concentration methods from wastewater for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 genes. The objectives were achieved through tracking of SARS-CoV-2 genetic loadings i.e. ORF1ab, N and S protein genes on 8th and 27th May 2020 along the wastewater treatment plant (106 million liters per day) equipped with UASB system in Ahmedabad, India. PEG method performed better in removing materials inhibiting RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 gene detection from the samples, as evident from constant and lower C_T values of control (MS2). Using the PEG method, we found a reduction >1.3 log₁₀ in SARS-CoV-2 RNA abundance during UASB treatment, and the RNA was not detected at all in the final effluent. The study implies that i) conventional wastewater treatment systems is effective in SARS-CoV-2 RNA removal, and ii) UASB system significantly reduces SARS-CoV-2 genetic loadings. Finally, PEG method is recommended for better sensitivity and inhibition removal during SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantification in wastewater.

我们首次提出，i) 上流式厌氧污泥毯 (UASB) 处理废水期间 SARS-CoV-2 遗传物质负载的衰减，以及 ii) 聚乙二醇 (PEG) 的比较评估，以及过滤作为病毒浓缩方法从废水中量化 SARS-CoV-2 基因。这些目标是通过跟踪 SARS-CoV-2 基因负荷实现的，即 2020 年 5 月 8 日至 27 日在印度艾哈迈达巴德配备 UASB 系统的污水处理厂（每天 1.06 亿升）沿线的 ORF1ab、N 和 S 蛋白基因。PEG 方法在去除样品中用于 SARS-CoV-2 基因检测的 RT-qPCR 抑制物质方面表现更好，这从对照 (MS2) 的恒定和较低 C _T值可以看出。使用 PEG 方法，我们发现减少了 >1.3 log_{在 UASB 处理期间，SARS-CoV-2 RNA 丰度为10}，而在最终流出物中根本未检测到 RNA。该研究表明，i) 常规废水处理系统可有效去除 SARS-CoV-2 RNA，以及 ii) UASB 系统可显着降低 SARS-CoV-2 基因负荷。最后，建议使用 PEG 方法在废水中的 SARS-CoV-2 RNA 定量过程中提高灵敏度和去除抑制。