Chlorine disinfectant significantly changed microfauna habitat, community structure, and colonization mode in wastewater treatment plants during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 epidemic, chlorine disinfectants have been used to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2, resulting a large number of residual chlorines entered wastewater treatment plants (WTTPs) through the pipe network system. However, little is known about the effects of chlorine disinfectants on microfauna in activated sludge treatment systems. Based on the physical and chemical properties of sludge, PacBio 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA sequencing, we studied the effects of chlorine disinfectant on the habitat, community structure and colonization of microfauna.