Environmental occurrence and fate of west nile virus RNA in wastewater systems

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that has become a significant public health concern worldwide. The growing evidence suggests that WNV can also be released through urine, raising the possibility of shedding through environmental compartments. Wastewater treatment plants, therefore, emerge as an important area of research on the presence and persistence of WNV. This review discusses the existing information on the spread of WNV in human and animal hosts, the occurrence of viral RNA in wastewater and similar matrices, and the effectiveness of wastewater treatment methods for inactivating or removing the virus. The effects of environmental parameters, such as temperature, pH, organic content, and microbial activity, on the stability and infectivity of WNV were also investigated. The methodology for detecting WNV viral RNA, with a focus on viral loads in urine and the environment, is also discussed. Finally, future directions are proposed to integrate environmental monitoring of other biological contaminants into existing infrastructures for the related environmental risk assessment.