{
  "abstract": "Wastewater surveillance (WS) offers a non-invasive means of tracking population-level circulation of infectious agents, including viruses linked to cancer. This study provides the first Australian assessment of oncogenic viruses in municipal wastewater by screening 76 influent samples collected over four months from six wastewater treatment plants in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Ten gene targets representing seven oncogenic viruses-- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), human papillomavirus 16 and 18 (HPV-16 and 18), human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV)--were analysed using PCR-based methods. All viruses were detected in wastewater at least once, though with substantial variation in frequency. MCPyV was the most frequently detected virus, appearing in 97.3% of samples with concentrations ranging from 3.09-3.85 log gene copies (GC)/50 mL, indicating widespread population exposure. HBV (26.3%) and EBV (15.8%) were detected intermittently across multiple catchments, while HPV-16/18, HHV-8, HTLV-1, and HCV were detected at the lowest frequencies (<8%). This study reports the first baseline dataset for oncogenic viruses in Australian wastewater. More broadly, positive detection of all targeted oncogenic viruses--including those associated with low-prevalence infections--in wastewater demonstrates the potential of WS to complement existing cancer surveillance systems in tracking community-level circulation of these infectious agents.\n\nGraphical abstract\n\nO_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=134 SRC=\"FIGDIR/small/26362014v1_ufig1.gif\" ALT=\"Figure 1\"> View larger version (59K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19f5783org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2a648corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@12f2b9eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1d8baaf_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG HighlightsO_LISeven oncogenic viruses were screened in influent wastewater from six WWTPs. C_LIO_LIMCPyV was detected with the highest frequency, in 97.3% of samples. C_LIO_LIHBV and EBV were detected intermittently across multiple WWTP catchments. C_LIO_LIHPV, HHV-8, HTLV-1 and HCV were detected at the lowest frequencies. C_LIO_LIWastewater surveillance shows promise for monitoring oncogenic viruses. C_LI",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "CSIRO Environment, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia"
  ],
  "article_type": "PUBLISHAHEADOFPRINT",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "R. Keller"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Gebrewold"
    },
    {
      "name": "W. Smith"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. Verhagen"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Simpson"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Hoar"
    },
    {
      "name": "H. G. Healy"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "W. Ahmed"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/be4wsyp459e0a.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.02.26362014",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.26362014v1.full",
  "id": "be4wsyp459e0a",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.26362014v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "medrxiv",
      "epidemiology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2312|Fecal contamination and water quality"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7208777192",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.26362014v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-02",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/be4wsyp459e0a.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:44Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.02.26362014",
      "source": "medrxiv",
      "url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.26362014v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "medrxiv:epidemiology",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Wastewater Surveillance of Oncogenic Viruses: A Baseline Assessment in Southeast Queensland, Australia",
  "title_text": "Wastewater Surveillance of Oncogenic Viruses: A Baseline Assessment in Southeast Queensland, Australia",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:44Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/be4wsyp459e0a",
  "venue": "medRxiv",
  "versions": []
}