Environmental DNA (eDNA)/RNA (eRNA) is the genetic material organisms leave behind in their environment, including in water, soil and air.

Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) is a valuable monitoring strategy for population health combining science, engineering and medicine to improve how health systems identify a changing burden of infections and antimicrobial-resistant organisms. WBS provides objective, inclusive and real-time data on any resident population for a variety of measured indicators, with eDNA being among the most informative. There are near limitless public health indicators that can be monitored using wastewater eDNA, including organisms responsible for disease outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites evolve to become resistant to the medications designed to kill them.

This project will implement eDNA analysis to expand a well-established WBS network of wastewater treatment plants in large municipalities, socioeconomically diverse neighborhood sub-catchments and First Nations communities. Integrated into this network are sentinel surveillance sites that allow for specific monitoring of high-risk populations, including shelters for those experiencing homelessness, as well as multiple hospitals, where the consequences of infection are greatest.

The project will:

• Specifically focus on eDNA indicators related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as well as pathogens responsible for recent Alberta outbreaks, with the ability to adapt to new threats as they emerge.
• Develop and optimize eDNA WBS across a range of scales, in municipalities and agricultural locations.
• Integrate clinical metadata with wastewater eDNA to create a validated, holistic model for tracking infectious diseases.

Ultimately, the goal of this project is to demonstrate WBS as the tool that can mitigate harms associated with emerging pathogens and AMR through its ability to effectively identify, track, contain and limit their spread. Disseminating these tools to government and public health laboratories, clinicians and researchers will maximize their benefits.