Pan-Enterovirus Amplicon-Based High-Throughput Sequencing Detects the Complete Capsid of a EVA71 Genotype C1 Variant via Wastewater-Based Epidemiology in Arizona

We describe the complete capsid of a genotype C1-like Enterovirus A71 variant recovered from wastewater in a neighborhood in the greater Tempe, Arizona area (Southwest United States) in May 2020 using a pan-enterovirus amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing strategy. The variant seems to have been circulating for over two years, but its sequence has not been documented in that period. As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in changes in health-seeking behavior and overwhelmed pathogen diagnostics, our findings highlight the importance of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE ) as an early warning system for virus surveillance.

Automated summary

A genotype C1-like Enterovirus A71 variant was found in wastewater in a neighborhood in Tempe, Arizona, circulating for over two years without its sequence being documented. The study emphasizes the importance of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) as an early warning system for virus surveillance, especially in light of changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.