Enhancing Canadian Poliovirus Surveillance: Developing Methods for Molecular Characterization of Poliovirus from Environmental and Clinical Samples

Funding period: 2023-2025
Lead: Anna Majer
Total GRDI funding: $909,800

Why? Canada currently does not have an operational poliovirus environmental surveillance system. The ultimate goal of poliovirus surveillance is to obtain whole genome sequences to perform accurate molecular linkage analyses. With the latest detection of a paralytic case in New York State in the summer of 2022 and subsequent detections of circulating poliovirus in their wastewater, it is imperative that Canada develops appropriate molecular methods to monitor for poliovirus in the environment of at-risk communities. Due to the Global Poliovirus Eradication Initiative’s re-commitment of eradicating poliovirus worldwide by 2026, it becomes increasingly important to monitor potential silent viral spread in Canada. Although our team already began to develop direct detection methods in late 2022, extensive testing is needed to understand limits of detection and improve our methods’ sensitivity.

What? We intend to develop a molecular method to detect and characterize poliovirus directly from environmental and clinical samples. Our approach will directly use the samples without need of first isolating the virus which is the gold standard set forth by WHO; saving substantial processing time and allow for high-throughput sample processing, to ultimately facilitate earlier detection and intervention at a community level. Detection limits of our approach will be assessed based on sensitivity and specificity and compared to the current gold standard. This proposal will therefore equip Canada with the needed tools to establish poliovirus environmental surveillance sites on an ad-hoc basis and enhance clinical surveillance to improve accuracy of molecular linkage analyses.

So What? We will develop Canada’s first poliovirus environmental surveillance capabilities (outcome). Environmental surveillance of poliovirus is becoming an increasingly relevant tool to monitor at-risk communities for potential silent spread of the virus, prior to detection of clinical cases. This is especially important as the world nears the poliovirus eradication end game. Our proposal’s output will deliver the needed molecular tools to enhance Canada’s poliovirus surveillance by performing whole genome sequencing directly from environmental and clinical samples. Our direct detection method will result in faster turn around times and higher sensitivity than the viral isolation method. The outcomes of our direct detection methods will allow expedited delivery of results to alert public health authorities and physicians that poliovirus may be circulating in their communities. This information will enable targeted vaccination campaigns to be rapidly launched to protect vulnerable populations and inform our international partners of any poliovirus detections. With the completion of this project, Canada will be better equipped to contribute to eradicating poliovirus worldwide.