Seyed Mahdi Hosseinian - Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnolog
Seyed Reza Mohebbi - Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Masoud Hosseini - Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
Paria Barooni Rashno - Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnolog
Shabnam Kazemian - Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Reza Zali - Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESThe highly infectious and transmissible Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ۲ (SARS-CoV-۲) has caused a pandemic of acute respiratory disease known as COVID-۱۹, which poses a serious hazard to human health. Although the SARS-CoV-۲ RNA has been detected in wastewater from various regions in various countries, there is still not much data available about the frequency of the virus in water sources, particularly groundwater. The purpose of this study was to look for SARS-CoV-۲ genome in groundwater samples of Tehran, Iran.MATERIALS AND METHODSGroundwater samples were collected seasonally from ۱۲ different locations over the course of a year (۲۰۲۱-۲۰۲۲). Firstly, an adsorption-elution concentration method was tested followed by RNA extraction. Afterward, reverse transcription-real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the SARS-CoV-۲ E and S genes.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe RT-qPCR amplification of the E and S genes allowed the detection of SARS-CoV-۲ in ۲.۰۸% (۱/۴۸) of the groundwater samples that were processed by the mentioned viral concentration method.CONCLUSIONGiven these results, as well as direct discharge of non-treated or inadequately treated wastewater into groundwater, poor sanitation and leaks in underground pipelines, it warns governments to have more control and oversight over the performance of urban and local treatment plants and water distribution systems.

SARS-CoV-۲, COVID-۱۹, Groundwater, RT-PCR, Iran