Stéphanie Guilherme’s research while affiliated with University of Ottawa and other places

Three new probe-based quantitative PCR assays were designed based on Chae et al . (2017), Pérez-Osorio et al. (2012), and Sales et al . (2012) to quantitate Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) species, M. tuberculosis (MTB), and M. bovis (MB) in wastewater targeting genomic regions rv0577, RD9, and the deletion of RD4, respectively. The assays were validated for specificity using four Mycobacterial species, including two MTBC species and two non-tuberculosis Mycobacteria species, and endogenous wastewater samples from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Mumbai, India, and a remote Northern Indigenous community in Nunangat with known ongoing tuberculosis cases or outbreaks. The three assays demonstrate high sensitivity and are suitable for use in wastewater. Partitioning experiments performed on endogenous MTBC and MTB in collected wastewaters from Mumbai, India with known tuberculosis outbreaks show that the targeted genomic regions of rv0577 (MTBC) and RD9 (MTB) used to quantitate human tuberculosis infection predominately partition to solids fraction of wastewaters. The partitioning results of this study, in combination with the presented probe-based PCR assays, provide guidance on how to best enrich wastewaters and rapidly and economically quantify tuberculosis with high specificity and sensitivity in wastewaters. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Municipal water supply through truck-to-cistern system is common in northern Canada. Household satisfaction and concerns about water availability, quality, and accessibility likely impact user preferences and practices. This case study explores household perspectives and challenges with regard to domestic access to water in a decentralized truck-to-cistern system. A case study was conducted in the Northern Village of Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik (Quebec, Canada). A paper-based questionnaire was completed by 65 households (one quarter of the population). Many households (37%) reported not drinking tap water from the truck-to-cistern system. Chlorine taste was a frequently reported concern, with those households being significantly less likely to drink water directly from the tap (p = 0.002). Similarly, households that reported a water shortage in the previous week (i.e., no water from the tap at least once) (33%) were more likely to express dissatisfaction with delivered water quantity (rs = 0.395, p = 0.004). Interestingly, 77% of households preferred using alternative drinking water sources for drinking purposes, such as public tap at the water treatment plant, natural sources or bottled water. The study underscores the importance of considering household perspectives to mitigate the risks associated with service disruptions and the use of alternative sources for drinking purposes.

Wastewater surveillance (WWS) of SARS-CoV-2 has become a crucial tool for monitoring COVID-19 cases and outbreaks. Previous studies have indicated that SARS-CoV-2 RNA measurement from testing solid-rich primary sludge yields better sensitivity compared to testing wastewater influent. Furthermore, measurement of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) signal in wastewater allows for precise normalization of SARS-CoV-2 viral signal based on solid content, enhancing disease prevalence tracking. However, despite the widespread adoption of WWS, a knowledge gap remains regarding the impact of ferric sulfate coagulation, commonly used in enhanced primary clarification, the initial stage of wastewater treatment where solids are sedimented and removed, on SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV quantification in wastewater-based epidemiology. This study examines the effects of ferric sulfate addition, along with the associated pH reduction, on the measurement of SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV viral measurements in wastewater primary clarified sludge through jar testing. Results show that the addition of Fe3+ concentrations in the conventional 0 to 60 mg/L range caused no effect on SARS-CoV-2 N1 and N2 gene region measurements in wastewater solids. However, elevated Fe3+ concentrations were shown to be associated with a statistically significant increase in PMMoV viral measurements in wastewater solids, which consequently resulted in the underestimation of PMMoV-normalized SARS-CoV-2 viral signal measurements (N1 and N2 copies/copies of PMMoV). The observed pH reduction from coagulant addition did not contribute to the increased PMMoV measurements, suggesting that this phenomenon arises from the partitioning of PMMoV viral particles into wastewater solids.

Wastewater surveillance (WWS) has received interest from researchers, scientists, and public health units for its application in monitoring active COVID-19 cases and detecting outbreaks. While WWS of SARS-CoV-2 has been widely applied worldwide, a knowledge gap exists concerning the effects of enhanced primary clarification, the application of coagulant to primary clarifiers, on SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV quantification for reliable wastewater-based epidemiology. Ferric-based chemical coagulants are extensively used in enhanced clarification, particularly for phosphorus removal, in North America, and Europe. This study examines the effects of coagulation with ferric sulfate on the measurement of SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV viral measurements in wastewater primary sludge and hence also settled solids. The addition of Fe ³⁺ to wastewater solids ranging from 0 to 60 mg/L caused no change in N1 and N2 gene region measurements in wastewater solids, where Fe ³⁺ concentrations in primary clarified sludge represent the conventional minimum and maximum concentrations of applied ferric-based coagulant. However, elevated Fe ³⁺ concentrations were shown to be associated with a statistically significant increase in PMMoV viral measurements in wastewater solids, which consequently resulted in the underestimation of PMMoV normalized SARS-CoV-2 viral signal measurements (N1 and N2 copies/copies of PMMoV). pH reduction from coagulant addition did not contribute to the increase in PMMoV measurements. Thus, this phenomenon is likely attributed to the partitioning of PMMoV particles to the solids of wastewater from the bulk liquid phase of wastewater.

Introduction More than 50 million people living in the Arctic nations remain without access to safely managed drinking water services. Remote northern communities, where large numbers of Indigenous peoples live, are disproportionally affected. Recent research has documented water and health-related problems among Indigenous communities, including poor water quality and insufficient quantities of water. Objective The objective of this scoping review is to examine the extent of available water security evidence as well as identify research gaps and intervention priorities to improve access to domestic water in the Arctic and Subarctic regions of the eight Arctic nations (Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, and the United States (Alaska)). Methods An extensive literature review was conducted to retrieve relevant documentation. Arctic & Antarctic Regions, Compendex, Geobase, Georef, MEDLINE and Web of Science databases were searched to identify records for inclusion. The initial searches yielded a total of 1356 records. Two independent reviewers systematically screened identified records using selection criteria. Descriptive analyses were used to summarize evidence of included studies. Results A total of 55 studies, mostly conducted in Canada and the United States, were included and classified by four predetermined major dimensions: 1) Water accessibility and availability; 2) Water quality assessment; 3) Water supply and health; 4) Preferences and risk perceptions. Conclusions This scoping review used a global approach to provide researchers and stakeholders with a summary of the evidence available regarding water security and domestic access in the Arctic. Culturally appropriate health-based interventions are necessary to ensure inclusive water services and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets for universal access to water.

Wastewater surveillance (WWS) of SARS-CoV-2 was proven to be a reliable and complementary tool for population-wide monitoring of COVID-19 disease incidence but was not as rigorously explored as an indicator for disease burden throughout the pandemic. Prior to global mass immunization campaigns and during the spread of the wildtype COVID-19 and the Alpha variant of concern (VOC), viral measurement of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater was a leading indicator for both COVID-19 incidence and disease burden in communities. As the two-dose vaccination rates escalated during the spread of the Delta VOC in Jul. 2021 through Dec. 2021, relations weakened between wastewater signal and community COVID-19 disease incidence and maintained a strong relationship with clinical metrics indicative of disease burden (new hospital admissions, ICU admissions, and deaths). Further, with the onset of the vaccine-resistant Omicron BA.1 VOC in Dec. 2021 through Mar. 2022, wastewater again became a strong indicator of both disease incidence and burden during a period of limited natural immunization (no recent infection), vaccine escape, and waned vaccine effectiveness. Lastly, with the populations regaining enhanced natural and vaccination immunization shortly prior to the onset of the Omicron BA.2 VOC in mid-Mar 2022, wastewater is shown to be a strong indicator for both disease incidence and burden. Hospitalization-to-wastewater ratio is further shown to be a good indicator of VOC virulence when widespread clinical testing is limited. In the future, WWS is expected to show moderate indication of incidence and strong indication of disease burden in the community during future potential seasonal vaccination campaigns.

Wastewater surveillance (WWS) of SARS-CoV-2 was proven to be a reliable and complementary tool for population-wide monitoring of COVID-19 disease incidence but was not as rigorously explored as an indicator for disease burden throughout the pandemic. Prior to global mass immunization campaigns and during the spread of the wildtype COVID-19 and the Alpha variant of concern (VOC), viral measurement of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater was a leading indicator for both COVID-19 incidence and disease burden in communities. As the two-dose vaccination rates escalated during the spread of the Delta VOC in Jul. 2021 through Dec. 2021, relations weakened between wastewater signal and community COVID-19 disease incidence and maintained a strong relationship with clinical metrics indicative of disease burden (new hospital admissions, ICU admissions, and deaths). Further, with the onset of the vaccine-resistant Omicron BA.1 VOC in Dec. 2021 through Mar. 2022, wastewater again became a strong indicator of both disease incidence and burden during a period of limited natural immunization (no recent infection), vaccine escape, and waned vaccine effectiveness. Lastly, with the populations regaining enhanced natural and vaccination immunization shortly prior to the onset of the Omicron BA.2 VOC in mid-Mar 2022, wastewater is shown to be a strong indicator for both disease incidence and burden. Hospitalization-to-wastewater ratio is further shown to be a good indicator of VOC virulence when widespread clinical testing is limited. In the future, WWS is expected to show moderate indication of incidence and strong indication of disease burden in the community during future potential seasonal vaccination campaigns. Highlights Need to elucidate interpretation of CoV-2 WWS for seasonal vaccination campaigns. WWS to incidence relation weakens with peak natural and vaccination immunization. WWS to hospitalization remains strong with natural and vaccination immunization. WWS as indicator of hospitalization during future seasonal vaccination campaigns. WWS/hospitalization as indicator of VOC virulence with limited clinical testing.

In this study, a municipal lagoon with high wintertime effluent total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations was upgraded with a pilot‐scale nitrifying‐nitrifying‐denitrifying (NIT‐NIT‐DENIT) moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) treatment train to characterize its effluent over wintertime operation, investigate the feasibility of upgrading lagoons to achieve substantial biological total nitrogen removal across ultra‐low temperatures (0.6 – 3.0°C) and investigate nitrification inhibition pathways in facultative lagoon systems at ultra‐low temperatures. Throughout the study, it was observed that the system substantially reduced total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) effluent concentrations by an average of 69.8 ± 24.5% and 74.7 ± 20.1%, respectively. Furthermore, it was observed that sulfide toxicity may play an important role in the inhibition of nitrifying organisms in lagoons. Finally, the MBBR treatment technology has emerged as a suitable and sustainable upgrade technology for existing lagoon and waste stabilization pond facilities operating in temperate, northern, and cold climate countries.

In this study, a municipal lagoon with high wintertime effluent total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations was upgraded with a pilot-scale NIT-NIT-DENIT moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) treatment train to characterize its effluent over wintertime operation, investigate the feasibility of upgrading lagoons to achieve substantial biological total nitrogen removal across ultra-low temperatures (0.6 – 3.0°C) and investigate nitrification inhibition pathways in facultative lagoon systems at ultra-low temperatures. Throughout the study, it was observed that the system substantially reduced total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) effluent concentrations by an average of 69.0 ± 24.5% and 74.7 ± 20.1%, respectively, with average TN and TP concentrations exiting the treatment train of 7.60 ± 5.60 mg-N/L and 0.05 ± 0.02 mg-P/L, respectively, indicating the feasibility of upgrading municipal lagoons to meet increasing stringent effluent standards to ensure the perenniality of water resources. Furthermore, it was observed that sulfide toxicity may play an important role in the inhibition of nitrifying organisms in lagoons.