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Uprety S, Ngo I, Maggos M, Dangol B, Sherchan SP, Shisler JL, Amarasiri M, Sano D, Nguyen TH. Multiple pathogen contamination of water, hands, and fomites in rural Nepal and the effect of WaSH interventions. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 257:114341. [PMID: 38442666 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) interventions are the most effective in reducing diarrheal disease severity and prevalence. However, very few studies have investigated the effectiveness of WaSH intervention in reducing pathogen presence and concentration. In this study, we employed a microfluidic PCR approach to quantify twenty bacterial pathogens in water (n = 360), hands (n = 180), and fomite (n = 540) samples collected in rural households of Nepal to assess the pathogen exposures and the effect of WaSH intervention on contamination and exposure rates. The pathogen load and the exposure pathways for each pathogen in intervention and control villages were compared to understand the effects of WaSH intervention. Pathogens were detected in higher frequency and concentration from fomites samples, toilet handle (21.42%; 5.4,0 95%CI: mean log10 of 4.69, 5.96), utensils (23.5%; 5.47, 95%CI: mean log10 of 4.77, 6.77), and water vessels (22.42%; 5.53, 95%CI: mean log10 of 4.79, 6.60) as compared to cleaning water (14.36%; 5.05, 95%CI: mean log10 of 4.36, 5.89), drinking water (14.26%; 4.37, 85%CI: mean log10 of 4.37, 5.87), and hand rinse samples (16.92%; 5.49, 95%CI: mean log10 of 4.77, 6.39). There was no clear evidence that WaSH intervention reduced overall pathogen contamination in any tested pathway. However, we observed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the prevalence, but not concentration, of some target pathogens, including Enterococcus spp. in the intervention village compared to the control village for water and hands rinse samples. Conversely, no significant reduction in target pathogen concentration was observed for water and hand rinse samples. In swab samples, there was a reduction mostly in pathogen concentration rather than pathogen prevalence, highlighting that a reduction in pathogen prevalence was not always accompanied by a reduction in pathogen concentration. This study provides an understanding of WaSH intervention on microbe concentrations. Such data could help with better planning of intervention activities in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sital Uprety
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (Sandec), Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan.
| | - Isaac Ngo
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Marika Maggos
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Bipin Dangol
- Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Samendra P Sherchan
- Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), Kathmandu, Nepal; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA; BioEnvironmental Science Program Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, 21251, USA
| | - Joanna L Shisler
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Mohan Amarasiri
- School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Frontier Sciences for Advanced Environment, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Thanh H Nguyen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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Rabiu AG, Marcus AJ, Olaitan MO, Falodun OI. Systematic review and meta-analyses of the role of drinking water sources in the environmental dissemination of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38379376 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2024.2320934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Escherichia coli are pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant organisms that can spread to humans through water. However, there is sparse synthesised information on the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant E. coli through drinking water in Africa. This review provides an overview of the environmental spread of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli through drinking water in Africa. We performed a systematic review based on PRISMA guidelines, and 40 eligible studies from 12 countries were identified until June 2023. Four electronic databases (PubMed, Elsevier, AJOL, and DOAJ) were searched. Studies that employed phenotypic tests (n = 24/40) in identifying the bacterium outstripped those that utilised genome-based methods (n = 13). Of the 40 studies, nine and five, respectively, assessed the bacterium for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotype and genotype. Multiple antibiotic resistance indices of 0.04-0.1 revealed a low level of antibiotic resistance. The detection of multidrug-resistant E. coli carrying resistance genes in certain water sources suggests that AMR-surveillance expansion should include drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akeem Ganiyu Rabiu
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Nigeria
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Gebregziabher SM, Yalew AW, Sime H, Abera A. Molecular detection of waterborne pathogens in infants' drinking water and their relationship with water quality determinants in eastern Ethiopia: loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based study. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2024; 22:1-20. [PMID: 38295069 PMCID: wh_2023_201 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium, Shigella, toxin-producing Escherichia coli, and rotavirus were reported to be the most responsible for severe and fatal diarrhea among infants. This study aimed to investigate the presence of these pathogens in infants' drinking water samples and analyzing using water quality determinants in eastern Ethiopia. A molecular (LAMP)-based cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 410 and 37 water samples were tested from infant point-of-use at household and corresponding water source, respectively, from June 2020 to May, 2021. Cryptosporidium, Shigella, toxin-producing E. coli, and rotavirus were detected in 28.5, 30.0, 26.3, and 32.2%, of water samples tested from infant point-of-use, respectively. About 13.2% of the water samples were positive for all (four) pathogens together. Cryptosporidium, Shigella, toxin-producing E. coli, and rotavirus were detected in 27.0, 32.4, 29.7, and 37.8%, of water samples tested from water sources, respectively. Positive significant correlation was observed between infant point-of-consumption and water sources from which it is drawn toward the presence of each targeted pathogen. Unimproved water source showed a strong significant association with the presence of Cryptosporidium, Shigella and toxin-producing E. coli. Therefore, efforts should be made in development of improved water sources, source protection safety and health education to caretakers of infants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alemayehu Worku Yalew
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Heven Sime
- Bacterial, Parasitic and Zoonotic Diseases Research Directorate, EPHI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Adugna Abera
- Bacterial, Parasitic and Zoonotic Diseases Research Directorate, EPHI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Mudau M, Ngobeni-Nyambi R, Momba MNB. The Fascinating Cross-Paths of Pathogenic Bacteria, Human and Animal Faecal Sources in Water-Stressed Communities of Vhembe District, South Africa. Pathogens 2023; 12:1085. [PMID: 37764893 PMCID: PMC10535812 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Access to clean and safe drinking water still remains a major challenge in the developing world, causing public health risks in terms of waterborne infections, especially in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to track and detect enteric pathogens (Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium str. LT2, Shigella flexneri, and Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni) in rural water sources. It also sought to establish a correlation between these pathogens and the sources of faecal pollution. Multiplex qPCR and specific primers and probes were used for detection and tracking. The study successfully correlated the occurrence of target pathogens with sources of human and animal faecal contamination using host-specific genetic markers (BacHum and HF183 for humans, BacCow for cows, Pig-2-Bac for pigs, Cytb for chickens, and BacCan for dogs). The study revealed that enteric pathogens were found in 47.69% and 32.80% of samples during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. These pathogens were associated with human or animal faecal contamination. Correlations between pathogens and contamination sources were significant (p ≤ 0.05), with varying strengths during the wet and dry seasons. The findings emphasize the importance of identifying faecal contamination sources to protect rural communities from waterborne infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mulalo Mudau
- Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Renay Ngobeni-Nyambi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Maggy Ndombo Benteke Momba
- Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
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Usmani M, Uprety S, Bonham N, Jamal Y, Mao Y, Sano D, Shisler J, Unnikrishnan A, Nguyen TH, Jutla A. Assessment of pathogens in flood waters in coastal rural regions: Case study after Hurricane Michael and Florence. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0273757. [PMID: 37540666 PMCID: PMC10403080 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The severity of hurricanes, and thus the associated impacts, is changing over time. One of the understudied threats from damage caused by hurricanes is the potential for cross-contamination of water bodies with pathogens in coastal agricultural regions. Using microbiological data collected after hurricanes Florence and Michael, this study shows a dichotomy in the presence of pathogens in coastal North Carolina and Florida. Salmonella typhimurium was abundant in water samples collected in the regions dominated by swine farms. A drastic decrease in Enterococcus spp. in Carolinas is indicative of pathogen removal with flooding waters. Except for the abundance presence of Salmonella typhimurium, no significant changes in pathogens were observed after Hurricane Michael in the Florida panhandle. We argue that a comprehensive assessment of pathogens must be included in decision-making activities in the immediate aftermath of hurricanes to build resilience against risks of pathogenic exposure in rural agricultural and human populations in vulnerable locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moiz Usmani
- Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Sital Uprety
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America
| | - Nathan Bonham
- Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Yusuf Jamal
- Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Yuqing Mao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America
| | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Joanna Shisler
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America
| | - Avinash Unnikrishnan
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Portland State University, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Thanh H Nguyen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America
| | - Antarpreet Jutla
- Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
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Ibangha IAI, Digwo DC, Ozochi CA, Enebe MC, Ateba CN, Chigor VN. A meta-analysis on the distribution of pathogenic Vibrio species in water sources and wastewater in Africa. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 881:163332. [PMID: 37028683 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio species are waterborne ubiquitous organisms capable of causing diseases in humans and animals and the occurrence of infections caused by pathogenic Vibrio species among humans have increased globally. This reemergence is attributed to environmental impacts such as global warming and pollution. Africa is most vulnerable to waterborne infections caused by these pathogens because of lack of good water stewardship and management. This study was carried out to provide an in-depth inquiry into the occurrence of pathogenic Vibrio species in water sources and wastewater across Africa. In this regard, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by searching five databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Springer Search and African Journals Online (AJOL). The search yielded 70 articles on pathogenic Vibrio species presence in African aquatic environments that fit our inclusion criteria. Based on the random effects model, the pooled prevalence of pathogenic Vibrio species in various water sources in Africa was 37.6 % (95 % CI: 27.7-48.0). Eighteen countries were represented by the systematically assessed studies and their nationwide prevalence in descending order was: Nigeria (79.82 %), Egypt (47.5 %), Tanzania (45.8 %), Morocco (44.8), South Africa (40.6 %), Uganda (32.1 %), Cameroon (24.5 %), Burkina Faso (18.9 %) and Ghana (5.9 %). Furthermore, 8 pathogenic Vibrio species were identified across water bodies in Africa with the highest detection for V. cholerae (59.5 %), followed by V. parahaemolyticus (10.4 %), V.alginolyticus (9.8 %), V. vulnificus (8.5 %), V. fluvialis (6.6 %), V. mimicus (4.6 %), V. harveyi (0.5 %) and V. metschnikovii (0.1 %). Evidently, pathogenic Vibrio species occurrence in these water sources especially freshwater corroborates the continuous outbreaks observed in Africa. Therefore, there is an urgent need for proactive measures and continuous monitoring of water sources used for various purposes across Africa and proper treatment of wastewater before discharge into water bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ini-Abasi I Ibangha
- Water and Public Health Research Group (WPHRG), Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Daniel C Digwo
- Water and Public Health Research Group (WPHRG), Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Chizoba A Ozochi
- Water and Public Health Research Group (WPHRG), Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Matthew C Enebe
- Water and Public Health Research Group (WPHRG), Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
| | - Collins N Ateba
- Water and Public Health Research Group (WPHRG), Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
| | - Vincent N Chigor
- Water and Public Health Research Group (WPHRG), Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
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Uprety S, Sherchan SP, Narayanan P, Dangol B, Maggos M, Celmer A, Shisler J, Amarasiri M, Sano D, Nguyen TH. Microbial assessment of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) in temporary and permanent settlements two years after Nepal 2015 earthquake. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 877:162867. [PMID: 36931512 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Disaster-induced displacement often causes people to live in temporary settlements that have limited infrastructure and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH). Reducing the risk of diarrheal diseases in such situations requires knowing how housing influences the presence of pathogens in water and the interaction between human settlements and exposure to pathogens. A cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2017 in two communities hard-hit by the Nepal 2015 earthquake: one recovered with newly reconstructed houses, and one recovered with residents still living in sheet metal temporary shelters constructed after the earthquake. We collected 60 water (30 drinking water and 30 cleaning water), 30 hand rinse, and 90 environmental swab samples (30 toilet handles, 30 utensils, and 30 water vessels) from selected households in each location and quantified 22 bacterial pathogens using microfluidic quantitative polymerase chain reaction (mfqPCR). A total of 59 samples were randomly selected for amplicon-based sequencing of the 16S rRNA, and it identified bacterial community profiles between these two settlements and their association with target genes of pathogenic bacteria. Target genes like uidA of Escherichia coli and the mip gene of Legionella pnuemophila showed significantly high frequency in specific sample types in temporary settlements than in permanent settlements. A significantly high concentration was observed in temporary settlements for Enterococcus spp. and S. typhimurium, specifically in swab samples. There was a sharp distinction of microbial community profiles between water and hand rinse samples with environmental swab samples, with a large abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria in swab samples in both settlements. This observation highlighted that fomite could be an important transmission route for pathogens in rural settings and designing key interventions to target different stages of transmission pathways is essential. Overall findings from this study suggest that the recovered settlement with higher quality housing may be less impacted by fecal contamination than recovering settlements and that interventions should be designed to disrupt multiple transmission pathways to reduce pathogen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sital Uprety
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (Sandec), Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Samendra P Sherchan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA; Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Preeti Narayanan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Bipin Dangol
- Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Marika Maggos
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Alex Celmer
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Joanna Shisler
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Mohan Amarasiri
- Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Thanh H Nguyen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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Palladino G, Caroselli E, Tavella T, D'Amico F, Prada F, Mancuso A, Franzellitti S, Rampelli S, Candela M, Goffredo S, Biagi E. Metagenomic shifts in mucus, tissue and skeleton of the coral Balanophyllia europaea living along a natural CO 2 gradient. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:65. [PMID: 37938252 PMCID: PMC9723718 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00152-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Using the Mediterranean coral Balanophyllia europaea naturally growing along a pH gradient close to Panarea island (Italy) as a model, we explored the role of host-associated microbiomes in coral acclimatization to ocean acidification (OA). Coral samples were collected at three sites along the gradient, mimicking seawater conditions projected for 2100 under different IPCC (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) scenarios, and mucus, soft tissue and skeleton associated microbiomes were characterized by shotgun metagenomics. According to our findings, OA induced functional changes in the microbiomes genetic potential that could mitigate the sub-optimal environmental conditions at three levels: i. selection of bacteria genetically equipped with functions related to stress resistance; ii. shifts in microbial carbohydrate metabolism from energy production to maintenance of cell membranes and walls integrity; iii. gain of functions able to respond to variations in nitrogen needs at the holobiont level, such as genes devoted to organic nitrogen mobilization. We hence provided hypotheses about the functional role of the coral associated microbiome in favoring host acclimatation to OA, remarking on the importance of considering the crosstalk among all the components of the holobiont to unveil how and to what extent corals will maintain their functionality under forthcoming ocean conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Palladino
- Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
- Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032, Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy
| | - Erik Caroselli
- Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032, Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Teresa Tavella
- Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federica D'Amico
- Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fiorella Prada
- Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032, Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Arianna Mancuso
- Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032, Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Franzellitti
- Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032, Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, via Sant'Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Simone Rampelli
- Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Candela
- Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
- Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032, Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy.
| | - Stefano Goffredo
- Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032, Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy.
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Elena Biagi
- Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
- Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032, Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy
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Gemeda ST, Soboksa NE, Tefera YM, Desta AF, Gari SR. PCR-based detection of pathogens in improved water sources: a scoping review protocol of the evidence in low-income and middle-income countries. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e057154. [PMID: 35589366 PMCID: PMC9121472 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Occurrence of diverse human enteric bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens in improved drinking water because of pathogenic microbial contamination is of increasing public health concern, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Detecting microbial pathogens in water supplies comprehensively and accurately is beneficial to ensure the safety of water in LMICs where water contamination is a major concern. Application of PCR-based methods in detecting the microbial quality of water provides more accurate, sensitive and rapid outcomes over conventional methods of microbial identification and quantification. Therefore, exploring water quality outcomes generated through PCR-based methods is important to better understand the status and monitor progress towards internationally set goals for LMICs. This scoping review aims to map the existing evidence on the magnitude and characteristics of diarrhoeagenic pathogens as detected by PCR-based methods in improved water sources within the context of LMICs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This study will be undertaken in line with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews. We will consider the available publications covering PCR-based microbial water quality assessment of improved drinking water sources in LMICs. Searches will be undertaken in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, JBI, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar. A grey literature search will be conducted in Google and ProQuest. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The College of Natural and Computational Science Institution Review Board of Addis Ababa University gave formal ethical approval to this study protocol. The findings of this study will be disseminated to the concerned body through peer-reviewed publications, presentations and summaries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yonatal Mesfin Tefera
- Adelaide Exposure Science and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Adey Feleke Desta
- Division of Environmental Biotechnology Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sirak Robele Gari
- Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Tap versus Bottled Water in Kampala, Uganda: Analyses of Consumers’ Perception alongside Bacteriological and Physicochemical Quality. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2022:9336247. [PMID: 35712041 PMCID: PMC9197662 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9336247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In Uganda, tap water is always ensured to be potable. However, people are not sure whether tap water is generally safe for drinking without being boiled. Conversely, bottled water consumption is on the increase in Uganda. The main problem lies in the cost of energy for boiling tap water or purchasing bottled water. This study analyzed results of laboratory tests and consumers’ perception for comparison of tap and bottled water in Nakawa division, Kampala. Tap water was sampled at four representative locations. At least 16 different brands of bottled water were considered. The top four most consumer-preferred bottled water brands were selected for further analysis. In our study, 28.8%, 6.06%, and 13.64% of the 142 respondents indicated that bottled water had taste, color, and smell, respectively. However, 27.5%, 25.4%, and 34.5% of the respondents agreed that tap water had taste, color, and smell, respectively. Both tap and bottled water met the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for pH, total dissolved solids, chloride, copper, sodium, sulfate, and nitrate. However, a tap water sample was found to contain Coliform bacteria. In this line, affected communities need to thoroughly boil the raw tap water to kill the pathogens. All tap water samples yielded iron concentrations above the WHO recommended limit. Student's t-tests showed that tap and bottled water samples were significantly
different with respect to total dissolved solids, pH, chloride, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, sulfate, and nitrate. We emphasize the need for routine maintenance of the water distribution system to check for leakages which can be potential source of contaminations.
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Kizito S, Jjagwe J, Ssewaya B, Nekesa L, Tumutegyereize P, Zziwa A, Komakech AJ. Biofuel characteristics of non-charred briquettes from dried fecal sludge blended with food market waste: Suggesting a waste-to-biofuel enterprise as a win-win strategy to solve energy and sanitation problems in slums settlements. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 140:173-182. [PMID: 34836725 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the production and evaluation of briquettes made from dried fecal sludge mixed with fresh food waste as a dual strategy to solve energy poverty and poor sanitation problems in Ugandan slums. Cylindrical briquettes measuring 82 mm height by 76 mm diameter were produced from dried fecal sludge (FS) alone, and FS mixed separately with pineapple peels (FS + PP), charcoal fines (FS + CD), and bean husks (FS + BH) in a mix ratio of 50% FS: 50% biomass (wt/wt basis) using red soil as the binder. Physiochemical characteristics and fuel thermal efficiency of the briquettes were tested following ASTM standards and were compared to wood-derived charcoal and commonly traded briquettes on market in Uganda. The average moisture content was 5.1%. Bulk density was highest in FS briquettes (1.12 g/cm3) and lowest in FS + BH (0.847 g/cm3). Volatile matter (VM) was highest in FS + PP (39%) and lowest in FS alone (25.7%). The average ash content was 30.4%. FS + PP had the highest calorific value (17.92 MJ/kg) while FS alone had the lowest (6.19 MJ/kg). The highest burning rate was recorded in FS + CD briquettes (8 g/min) and was lowest in FS + PP (4 g/min). Based on the calculated burning rates and calorific values, the economic advantage calculations implied that blending one ton of dry FS with one ton of dry pineapple peels for fuel briquettes, and their use as a substitute could save consumers about USD 620 per ton of wood charcoal foregone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Kizito
- Department of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism, School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Makerere University. P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Joseph Jjagwe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology, Makerere University, P.O Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Bruno Ssewaya
- Department of Environmental Management, School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Makerere University. P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Lillian Nekesa
- Department of Environmental Management, School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Makerere University. P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Peter Tumutegyereize
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering, Makerere University. P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ahamada Zziwa
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering, Makerere University. P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Allan John Komakech
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering, Makerere University. P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
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Mao Y, Akdeniz N, Nguyen TH. Quantification of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in backyard and commercial composts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 797:149197. [PMID: 34311369 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Compost is widely used for gardening. Growers can choose to buy compost from markets or make compost at home. Potential exposure of users to pathogens through composting includes ingesting foodborne pathogens and inhaling airborne pathogens. This study compared the abundances of the genetic markers of five opportunistic foodborne and airborne pathogens in the backyard and commercial composts, as well as an immature swine mortality compost. We found that ttrC of Salmonella enterica and ftsZ of Escherichia coli were absent from all ready-to-use compost samples. In contrast, the genes of airborne pathogens such as groEL2 of Mycobacterium spp., mip of Legionella pneumophila, and gyrB of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were detected in the backyard and commercial composts. The groEL2 gene of Mycobacterium spp. was detected in all samples, including the control soil. The abundance of gyrB of P. aeruginosa was high in the two backyard composts, and it was higher than those in any other compost samples. The relative abundances of ARGs were significantly lower in backyard composts than commercial composts. We found that ftsZ of E. coli co-existed with multiple single-drug resistant ARGs in the immature swine mortality compost. We also found that mip of L. pneumophila and gyrB of P. aeruginosa co-existed with aminoglycoside resistance genes. Our findings suggest that inhaling airborne pathogens may carry more risk than ingesting foodborne pathogens when applying composts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Mao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Neslihan Akdeniz
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Thanh H Nguyen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA; Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA.
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Guo D, Thomas J, Lazaro AB, Matwewe F, Johnson F. Modelling the influence of short-term climate variability on drinking water quality in tropical developing countries: A case study in Tanzania. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 763:142932. [PMID: 33268262 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is expected to increase the prevalence of water-borne diseases especially in developing countries. Climate-resilient drinking water supplies are critical to protect communities from faecal contamination and thus against increasing disease risks. However, no quantitative assessment exists for the impacts of short-term climate variability on faecal contamination at different drinking water sources in developing countries, while existing understanding remains largely conceptual. This critical gap limits the ability to predict drinking water quality under climate change or to recommend climate-resilient water sources for vulnerable communities. This study aims to provide such quantitative understanding by investigating the relationships between faecal contamination and short-term climate variability across different types of water sources. We collected a novel dataset with over 20 months' monitoring of weather, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and total coliforms, at 233 different water sources in three climatically different regions in Tanzania. We then took a rigorous statistical analysis with Bayesian hierarchical models, to relate both contamination occurrence and amount to climate variability. The model results explained the temporal variability in drinking water faecal contamination using climate predictors, and also revealed the climate sensitivity of faecal contamination for individual water sources. We found that: a) short-term climate variability and baseline contamination levels can explain about half the observed variability in faecal contamination (R2 ≥ 0.44); b) increased contamination was most consistently related to recent heavy rainfall and high temperature across different water sources; c) unimproved water sources such as the unprotected dug wells have substantially higher climate sensitivity. Based on these results, we can expect substantial increases in drinking water contamination risks across tropical Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asian developing countries under a warmer climate, which highlight the urgent need of protecting vulnerable communities from the severe climate impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlu Guo
- Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
| | - Jacqueline Thomas
- Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Morogoro, Tanzania; School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, Australia.
| | | | | | - Fiona Johnson
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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Upfold NS, Luke GA, Knox C. Occurrence of Human Enteric Viruses in Water Sources and Shellfish: A Focus on Africa. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2021; 13:1-31. [PMID: 33501612 PMCID: PMC7837882 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-020-09456-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Enteric viruses are a diverse group of human pathogens which are primarily transmitted by the faecal-oral route and are a major cause of non-bacterial diarrhoeal disease in both developed and developing countries. Because they are shed in high numbers by infected individuals and can persist for a long time in the environment, they pose a serious threat to human health globally. Enteric viruses end up in the environment mainly through discharge or leakage of raw or inadequately treated sewage into water sources such as springs, rivers, dams, or marine estuaries. Human exposure then follows when contaminated water is used for drinking, cooking, or recreation and, importantly, when filter-feeding bivalve shellfish are consumed. The human health hazard posed by enteric viruses is particularly serious in Africa where rapid urbanisation in a relatively short period of time has led to the expansion of informal settlements with poor sanitation and failing or non-existent wastewater treatment infrastructure, and where rural communities with limited or no access to municipal water are dependent on nearby open water sources for their subsistence. The role of sewage-contaminated water and bivalve shellfish as vehicles for transmission of enteric viruses is well documented but, to our knowledge, has not been comprehensively reviewed in the African context. Here we provide an overview of enteric viruses and then review the growing body of research where these viruses have been detected in association with sewage-contaminated water or food in several African countries. These studies highlight the need for more research into the prevalence, molecular epidemiology and circulation of these viruses in Africa, as well as for development and application of innovative wastewater treatment approaches to reduce environmental pollution and its impact on human health on the continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S Upfold
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Garry A Luke
- Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, School of Biology, Biomolecular Sciences Building, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Caroline Knox
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
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Mao Y, Zeineldin M, Usmani M, Uprety S, Shisler JL, Jutla A, Unnikrishnan A, Nguyen TH. Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Salmonella enterica in Rural Areas of North Carolina After Hurricane Florence in 2018. GEOHEALTH 2021; 5:e2020GH000294. [PMID: 33709047 PMCID: PMC7892206 DOI: 10.1029/2020gh000294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study, water samples were analyzed from a rural area of North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2018 and the distribution of the ttrC virulence gene of Salmonella enterica were investigated. We also examined the distribution of culturable S. enterica and determined their antibiotic resistance profiles. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the classes of aminoglycoside, beta-lactam, and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) were targeted in this study. The ttrC gene was detected in 23 out of 25 locations. There was a wider and higher range of the ttrC gene in flooded water versus unflooded water samples (0-2.12 × 105 copies/L vs. 0-4.86 × 104 copies/L). Culturable S. enterica was isolated from 10 of 25 sampling locations, which was less prevalent than the distribution of the ttrC gene. The antibiotic resistance profiles were not distinct among the S. enterica isolates. The aminoglycoside resistance gene aac(6')-Iy had the highest relative abundance (around 0.05 copies/16S rRNA gene copy in all isolates) among all ARGs. These findings suggested that the 2018 flooding event led to higher copy numbers of the ttrC genes of S. enterica in some flooded water bodies compared to those in unflooded water bodies. The high ARG level and similar ARG profiles were observed in all S. enterica isolates from both flooded and unflooded samples, suggesting that the antibiotic resistance was prevalent in S. enterica within this region, regardless of flooding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Mao
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - Mohamed Zeineldin
- Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
- Animal Medicine DepartmentCollege of Veterinary MedicineBenha UniversityBenhaEgypt
| | - Moiz Usmani
- Environmental Engineering SciencesUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
| | - Sital Uprety
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - Joanna L. Shisler
- Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - Antarpreet Jutla
- Environmental Engineering SciencesUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
| | | | - Thanh H. Nguyen
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
- Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
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16
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Zhang W, Suyamud B, Lohwacharin J, Yang Y. Large-scale pattern of resistance genes and bacterial community in the tap water along the middle and low reaches of the Yangtze River. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 208:111517. [PMID: 33120256 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic and metal resistance genes (ARGs and MRGs) in tap water are of great public health concern. However, very fewer studies focused on the relationship between resistance genes and opportunistic pathogens in tap water. In this study, the diversity and abundance of resistance genes and bacterial community from tap water at a large-scale along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River were investigated. The total relative abundances of ARGs and MRGs were 2.95 × 10-3-1.22 × 10-1 and 1.93 × 10-3-1.20 × 10-1 copies/16S rRNA, respectively. The blaTEM and merP detected were major ARG and MRG subtypes, respectively. Mobile genetic elements (Intl1 and tnpA) showed significant correlations with the abundance of ARGs. Heavy metals also played a vital role in the co-selection of ARGs. Surprisingly, there were still eight opportunistic pathogens in tap water, among which Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Porphyromonas gingivalis were the potential host of ARGs and MRGs. Escherichia coli had the highest abundance, while Bacillus anthracis had the highest detected frequency (100%), a widespread opportunistic pathogen in tap water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China; Center of the Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Bongkotrat Suyamud
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Jenyuk Lohwacharin
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Yuyi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China; Center of the Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China.
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17
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Holcomb DA, Stewart JR. Microbial Indicators of Fecal Pollution: Recent Progress and Challenges in Assessing Water Quality. Curr Environ Health Rep 2020; 7:311-324. [PMID: 32542574 PMCID: PMC7458903 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-00278-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Fecal contamination of water is a major public health concern. This review summarizes recent developments and advancements in water quality indicators of fecal contamination. RECENT FINDINGS This review highlights a number of trends. First, fecal indicators continue to be a valuable tool to assess water quality and have expanded to include indicators able to detect sources of fecal contamination in water. Second, molecular methods, particularly PCR-based methods, have advanced considerably in their selected targets and rigor, but have added complexity that may prohibit adoption for routine monitoring activities at this time. Third, risk modeling is beginning to better connect indicators and human health risks, with the accuracy of assessments currently tied to the timing and conditions where risk is measured. Research has advanced although challenges remain for the effective use of both traditional and alternative fecal indicators for risk characterization, source attribution and apportionment, and impact evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Holcomb
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7435, USA
| | - Jill R Stewart
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7431, USA.
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18
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Ruprecht JE, Glamore WC, Dafforn KA, Wemheuer F, Crane SL, van Dorst J, Johnston EL, Mitrovic SM, Turner IL, Ferrari BC, Birrer SC. A novel real-world ecotoxicological dataset of pelagic microbial community responses to wastewater. Sci Data 2020; 7:158. [PMID: 32461582 PMCID: PMC7253417 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-020-0496-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Real-world observational datasets that record and quantify pressure-stressor-response linkages between effluent discharges and natural aquatic systems are rare. With global wastewater volumes increasing at unprecedented rates, it is urgent that the present dataset is available to provide the necessary information about microbial community structure and functioning. Field studies were performed at two time-points in the Austral summer. Single-species and microbial community whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing was performed at a complete range of effluent concentrations and two salinities, with accompanying environmental data to provide new insights into nutrient and organic matter cycling, and to identify ecotoxicological tipping points. The two salinity regimes were chosen to investigate future scenarios based on a predicted salinity increase at the study site, typical of coastal regions with rising sea levels globally. Flow cytometry, amplicon sequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA genes and micro-fluidic quantitative polymerase-chain reactions (MFQPCR) were used to determine chlorophyll-a and total bacterial cell numbers and size, as well as taxonomic and functional diversity of pelagic microbial communities. This strong pilot dataset could be replicated in other regions globally and would be of high value to scientists and engineers to support the next advances in microbial ecotoxicology, environmental biomonitoring and estuarine water quality modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Ruprecht
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - W C Glamore
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - K A Dafforn
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - F Wemheuer
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - S L Crane
- Ferrari Lab, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - J van Dorst
- Ferrari Lab, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - E L Johnston
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - S M Mitrovic
- Freshwater and Estuarine Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - I L Turner
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - B C Ferrari
- Ferrari Lab, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - S C Birrer
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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Guo D, Thomas J, Lazaro A, Mahundo C, Lwetoijera D, Mrimi E, Matwewe F, Johnson F. Understanding the Impacts of Short-Term Climate Variability on Drinking Water Source Quality: Observations From Three Distinct Climatic Regions in Tanzania. GEOHEALTH 2019; 3:84-103. [PMID: 32159034 PMCID: PMC7007091 DOI: 10.1029/2018gh000180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is expected to increase waterborne diseases especially in developing countries. However, we lack understanding of how different types of water sources (both improved and unimproved) are affected by climate change, and thus, where to prioritize future investments and improvements to maximize health outcomes. This is due to limited knowledge of the relationships between source water quality and the observed variability in climate conditions. To address this gap, a 20-month observational study was conducted in Tanzania, aiming to understand how water quality changes at various types of sources due to short-term climate variability. Nine rounds of microbiological water quality sampling were conducted for Escherichia coli and total coliforms, at three study sites within different climatic regions. Each round included approximately 233 samples from water sources and 632 samples from households. To identify relationships between water quality and short-term climate variability, Bayesian hierarchical modeling was adopted, allowing these relationships to vary with source types and sampling regions to account for potentially different physical processes. Across water sources, increases in E. coli/total coliform levels were most closely related to increases in recent heavy rainfall. Our key recommendations to future longitudinal studies are (a) demonstrated value of high sampling frequency and temporal coverage (a minimum of 3 years) especially during wet seasons; (b) utility of the Bayesian hierarchical models to pool data from multiple sites while allowing for variations across space and water sources; and (c) importance of a multidisciplinary team approach with consistent commitment and sharing of knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlu Guo
- Department of Infrastructure EngineeringThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Jacqueline Thomas
- Ifakara Health InstituteIfakaraTanzania
- School of Civil EngineeringThe University of SydneyDarlingtonWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Fiona Johnson
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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20
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Uprety S, Hong PY, Sadik N, Dangol B, Adhikari R, Jutla A, Shisler JL, Degnan P, Nguyen TH. The Effect of the 2015 Earthquake on the Bacterial Community Compositions in Water in Nepal. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2380. [PMID: 29270153 PMCID: PMC5724148 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted a study to examine the effect of seasonal variations and the disruptive effects of the 2015 Nepal earthquake on microbial communities associated with drinking water sources. We first characterized the microbial communities of water samples in two Nepali regions (Kathmandu and Jhapa) to understand the stability of microbial communities in water samples collected in 2014. We analyzed additional water samples from the same sources collected from May to August 2015, allowing the comparison of samples from dry-to-dry season and from dry-to-monsoon seasons. Emphasis was placed on microbes responsible for maintaining the geobiochemical characteristics of water (e.g., ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria and archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria) and opportunistic pathogens often found in water (Acinetobacter). When examining samples from Jhapa, we identified that most geobiochemical microbe populations remained similar. When examining samples from Kathmandu, the abundance of microbial genera responsible for maintaining the geobiochemical characteristics of water increased immediately after the earthquake and decreased 8 months later (December 2015). In addition, microbial source tracking was used to monitor human fecal contamination and revealed deteriorated water quality in some specific sampling sites in Kathmandu post-earthquake. This study highlights a disruption of the environmental microbiome after an earthquake and the restoration of these microbial communities as a function of time and sanitation practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sital Uprety
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Pei-Ying Hong
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nora Sadik
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Bipin Dangol
- Environment and Public Health Organization, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | - Antarpreet Jutla
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Joanna L. Shisler
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Patrick Degnan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Thanh H. Nguyen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
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