The recent spike in coronavirus cases in sewage has caught the attention of scientists who are beginning to explore whether the virus is transforming into a form that attacks the human gut.
Traditionally, the coronavirus infects the human body through the nose and mouth, then multiplies in the respiratory tract and sometimes migrates to the lungs. However, some virologists believe that the coronavirus may have altered the mechanism by which it enters cells, making it more susceptible to intestinal infection.
Wastewater surveillance around the world, including in the United States, was pioneered during the pandemic to track new variants and send early warnings to officials of emergencies Scientists have found more traces of the coronavirus in wastewater. Dailymail.com
Scientists around the globe, including the United States, have detected higher concentrations of the coronavirus in sewage than before. Mark Johnson, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Missouri, said there have been significant fluctuations in wastewater in some parts of Europe and scientists are pondering possible explanations.
In Austria, the level of the coronavirus in sewage rose from near zero to about 700 copies of the gene per person in July, indicating a significant increase in viral load. This has led to the idea that the new JN.1 variant has changed its requirements for entry into cells, possibly to bypass vaccine immunity or prior infection.
Scientists around the world, including the United States, have found more traces of the coronavirus in wastewater. Dailymail.com
Wastewater surveillance in Austria shows an increase in the number of viruses and traces of the coronavirus. Dailymail.com
The virus is also becoming more prevalent in wastewater in the Netherlands. Dailymail.com
Although there is currently no direct evidence to support the theory that JN.1 is more focused on the gut, Professor Johnson points out that many other coronaviruses infect the gut and cause gastrointestinal problems, so this is not surprising.
The JN.1 variant, the strain that has seen a recent surge in cases, now accounts for 29% of COVID cases, up sharply from less than 1% in early November. The variant is more contagious and more able to evade the immune system's attack, but there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease than other variants.
Wastewater monitoring plays an important role in tracking new variants and providing early warning of outbreaks. The latest CDC data shows that nearly every state has reported at least "high" levels of the coronavirus in sewage.
Viral activity in sewage has also increased steadily over the past six months.
Studying sewage samples is essential for spotting variants of the Covid, because even if someone is asymptomatic, the virus can still be present in their sewage, and anyone infected with the virus will excrete tiny pieces of viral DNA when they defecate.
Australian virologist Stuart Tver believes that JN.1 is entering new pathways into cells and prefers intestinal cells. While there have been no hospital admissions or an increase in stomach-related symptoms, regarding the possibility of "strong gastrointestinal infections" caused by the coronavirus, Professor Johnson said they had detected infections in sewage that discharged large amounts of the virus, involving more than 100,000 people. However, more research and evidence are needed to support this view.