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BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.
Sec. Virus and Host
Volume 14 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1467484
This article is part of the Research Topic Global Excellence in Virology: Latin America View all 6 articles

Cryptic transmission of a SARS-CoV-2 variant detected by Wastewater surveillance in Panama

Provisionally accepted
Melissa Gaitán Melissa Gaitán 1Yamitzel zaldivar Yamitzel zaldivar 1Michelle Hernandez Michelle Hernandez 1Jessica Góndola Jessica Góndola 1Oris Chavarría Oris Chavarría 1Brechla Moreno Brechla Moreno 1Danilo Franco Danilo Franco 1Rodrigo DeAntonio Rodrigo DeAntonio 1Santiago Mirazo Santiago Mirazo 2Florencia Cancela Florencia Cancela 2Maria Eugenia Barnett Maria Eugenia Barnett 1Alexander A Martinez Alexander A Martinez 1Juan Pascale Juan Pascale 1*Sandra Laurence Lopez-Verges Sandra Laurence Lopez-Verges 1*
  • 1 Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
  • 2 Departamento de Parasitologia y Micologia. Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of viral genomic surveillance prompting numerous countries to enhance their monitoring systems for acute respiratory infections (ARI), especially influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). Given the significance of asymptomatic cases in 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 RTqPCR, and positive samples were analyzed by next-generation sequencing to identify sublineages. A total of 36 wastewater samples and of 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.

    Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Genomic surveillance, Wastewater surveillance, outbreak, variant, molecular detection, Complete genomes

    Received: 19 Jul 2024; Accepted: 30 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Gaitán, zaldivar, Hernandez, Góndola, Chavarría, Moreno, Franco, DeAntonio, Mirazo, Cancela, Barnett, Martinez, Pascale and Lopez-Verges. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Juan Pascale, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
    Sandra Laurence Lopez-Verges, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama

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