Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6105, Australia.
Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK; UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK.
Sci Total Environ. 2023 Jan 15;856(Pt 2):159162. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159162. Epub 2022 Oct 3.
International air travel is now widely recognised as one of the primary mechanisms responsible for the transnational movement and global spread of SARS-CoV-2. Monitoring the viral load and novel lineages within human-derived wastewater collected from aircraft and at air transport hubs has been proposed as an effective way to monitor the importation frequency of viral pathogens. The success of this approach, however, is highly dependent on the bathroom and defecation habits of air passengers during their journey. In this study of UK adults (n = 2103), we quantified the likelihood of defecation prior to departure, on the aircraft and upon arrival on both short- and long-haul flights. The results were then used to assess the likelihood of capturing the signal from infected individuals at UK travel hubs. To obtain a representative cross-section of the population, the survey was stratified by geographical region, gender, age, parenting status, and social class. We found that an individual's likelihood to defecate on short-haul flights (< 6 h in duration) was low (< 13 % of the total), but was higher on long-haul flights (< 36 %; > 6 h in duration). This behaviour pattern was higher among males and younger age groups. The maximum likelihood of defecation was prior to departure (< 39 %). Based on known SARS-CoV-2 faecal shedding rates (30-60 %) and an equal probability of infected individuals being on short- (71 % of inbound flights) and long-haul flights (29 %), we estimate that aircraft wastewater is likely to capture ca. 8-14 % of SARS-CoV-2 cases entering the UK. Monte Carlo simulations predicted that SARS-CoV-2 would be present in wastewater on 14 % of short-haul flights and 62 % of long-haul flights under current pandemic conditions. We conclude that aircraft wastewater alone is insufficient to effectively monitor all the transboundary entries of faecal-borne pathogens but can form part of a wider strategy for public heath surveillance at national borders.
国际航空旅行现在被广泛认为是导致 SARS-CoV-2 跨国传播和全球扩散的主要机制之一。监测从飞机和航空运输枢纽收集的人类废水的病毒载量和新型谱系被提议作为监测病毒病原体输入频率的有效方法。然而，这种方法的成功高度依赖于航空旅客在旅途中的浴室和排便习惯。在这项针对英国成年人（n = 2103）的研究中，我们量化了在出发前、在飞机上以及在短途和长途飞行抵达时排便的可能性。然后，将结果用于评估在英国旅行枢纽捕获感染个体信号的可能性。为了获得人群的代表性横断面，该调查按地理位置、性别、年龄、育儿状况和社会阶层进行分层。我们发现，个体在短途航班（< 6 小时）上排便的可能性较低（< 总人数的 13%），但在长途航班（< 36%；> 6 小时）上排便的可能性更高。这种行为模式在男性和年轻年龄段中更高。排便的最大可能性是在出发前（< 39%）。基于已知的 SARS-CoV-2 粪便脱落率（30-60%）和感染个体在短途（入境航班的 71%）和长途航班（29%）上的概率相等，我们估计飞机废水可能捕获进入英国的 SARS-CoV-2 病例约 8-14%。蒙特卡罗模拟预测，在当前大流行情况下，飞机废水将在 14%的短途航班和 62%的长途航班上存在 SARS-CoV-2。我们得出结论，仅飞机废水不足以有效监测所有粪源病原体的跨界输入，但可以形成国家边界公共卫生监测更广泛战略的一部分。
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