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Carson LR, Goodman C, van Duin B, Neumann NF. Application of a microbial and pathogen source tracking toolbox to identify infrastructure problems in stormwater drainage networks: a case study. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0033724. [PMID: 39109868 PMCID: PMC11371268 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00337-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Water scarcity and increasing urbanization are forcing municipalities to consider alternative water sources, such as stormwater, to fill in water supply gaps or address hydromodification of receiving urban streams. Mounting evidence suggests that stormwater is often contaminated with human feces, even in stormwater drainage systems separate from sanitary sewers. Pinpointing sources of human contamination in drainage networks is challenging given the diverse sources of fecal pollution that can impact these systems and the non-specificity of traditional fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) for identifying these host sources. As such, we used a toolbox approach that encompassed microbial source tracking (MST), FIB monitoring, and bacterial pathogen monitoring to investigate microbial contamination of stormwater in an urban municipality. We demonstrate that human sewage frequently contaminated stormwater (in >50% of routine samples), based on the presence of the human fecal marker HF183, and often exceeded microbial water quality criteria. Arcobacter butzleri, a pathogen of emerging concern, was also detected in >50% of routine samples, with 75% of these pathogen-positive samples also being positive for the human fecal marker HF183, suggesting human municipal sewage as the likely source for this pathogen. MST and FIB were used to track human fecal pollution in the drainage network to the most likely point source of contamination, for which a sewage cross-connection was identified and confirmed using tracer dyes. These results point to the ubiquitous presence of human sewage in stormwater and also provide municipalities with the tools to identify sources of anthropogenic contamination in storm drainage networks.IMPORTANCEWater scarcity, increased urbanization, and population growth are driving municipalities worldwide to consider stormwater as an alternative water source in urban environments. However, many studies suggest that stormwater is relatively poor in terms of microbial water quality, is frequently contaminated with human sewage, and therefore could represent a potential health risk depending on the type of exposure (e.g., irrigation of community gardens). Traditional monitoring of water quality based on fecal bacteria does not provide any information about the sources of fecal pollution contaminating stormwater (i.e., animals/human feces). Herein, we present a case study that uses fecal bacterial monitoring, microbial source tracking, and bacterial pathogen analysis to identify a cross-connection that contributed to human fecal intrusion into an urban stormwater network. This microbial toolbox approach can be useful for municipalities in identifying infrastructure problems in stormwater drainage networks to reduce risks associated with water reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam R. Carson
- School of Public
Health, University of Alberta,
Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada
| | - Clint Goodman
- Community
Infrastructure, City of Airdrie,
Airdrie, Alberta,
Canada
| | - Bert van Duin
- City & Regional
Planning, City of Calgary,
Calgary, Alberta,
Canada
| | - Norman F. Neumann
- School of Public
Health, University of Alberta,
Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada
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Carson LR, Beaudry M, Valeo C, He J, Banting G, van Duin B, Goodman C, Scott C, Neumann NF. Occurrence, Sources and Virulence Potential of Arcobacter butzleri in Urban Municipal Stormwater Systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:13065-13075. [PMID: 38989840 PMCID: PMC11271002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
A. butzleri is an underappreciated emerging global pathogen, despite growing evidence that it is a major contributor of diarrheal illness. Few studies have investigated the occurrence and public health risks that this organism possesses from waterborne exposure routes including through stormwater use. In this study, we assessed the prevalence, virulence potential, and primary sources of stormwater-isolated A. butzleri in fecally contaminated urban stormwater systems. Based on qPCR, A. butzleri was the most common enteric bacterial pathogen [25%] found in stormwater among a panel of pathogens surveyed, including Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) [6%], Campylobacter spp. [4%], and Salmonella spp. [<1%]. Concentrations of the bacteria, based on qPCR amplification of the single copy gene hsp60, were as high as 6.2 log10 copies/100 mL, suggesting significant loading of this pathogen in some stormwater systems. Importantly, out of 73 unique stormwater culture isolates, 90% were positive for the putative virulence genes cadF, ciaB, tlyA, cjl349, pldA, and mviN, while 50-75% of isolates also possessed the virulence genes irgA, hecA, and hecB. Occurrence of A. butzleri was most often associated with the human fecal pollution marker HF183 in stormwater samples. These results suggest that A. butzleri may be an important bacterial pathogen in stormwater, warranting further study on the risks it represents to public health during stormwater use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam R. Carson
- School
of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Megan Beaudry
- Daicel
Arbor Biosciences, Ann Arbor, Michigan 30606, United States
| | - Caterina Valeo
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, University of
Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 2Y2
| | - Jianxun He
- Department
of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
| | | | - Bert van Duin
- City &
Regional Planning, City of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 2M5
| | - Clint Goodman
- Community
Infrastructure, City of Airdrie, Airdrie, Alberta, Canada T4A 2K3
| | - Candis Scott
- School
of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Norman F. Neumann
- School
of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
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Shahirnia M, Vidrio-Sahagún CT, He J, Valeo C, van Duin B, Beaudry M, Neumann NF. Land use and rainfall influences on bacterial levels and sources in stormwater ponds. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:112236-112251. [PMID: 37831263 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30264-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Urban stormwater runoff is a known source of microbial contamination of stormwater ponds. However, less is known about the influences of land use and rainfall on microbial quality over time in these receiving waters. In this study, two fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), namely Escherichia coli and thermotolerant coliforms, were monitored in three stormwater ponds in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The stormwater ponds were selected due to their potential as water sources for beneficial uses such as irrigation, which requires lower water quality than drinking water, thereby alleviating the pressure on the city's potable water demands. The selected stormwater ponds vary in size and shape, contribution catchment size, and percentages of several primary land use types. Microbial source tracking for human, dog, seagull, Canada goose, ruminant, and muskrat was also conducted to determine sources of bacterial contamination in the stormwater ponds. Sampling was conducted near the pond surface and adjacent to the shoreline, specifically near the outfalls that discharge stormwater runoff into the ponds and the inlets that convey water out of the ponds. Overall, the FIB concentrations in the vicinity of pond outfalls were significantly or relatively higher than those near pond inlets. The contamination in the McCall Lake and the Country Hills stormwater ponds showed higher amounts of human markers (40 to 60%) compared to the Inverness stormwater pond (< 20%), which coincided with their higher FIB concentration medians. The results revealed that stormwater drained from catchments with a higher percentage of commercial land use was more contaminated than those with primary residential land use, while the impacts of residential development on the FIB levels in the Inverness stormwater pond were not obvious. Furthermore, FIB concentrations in the ponds increased in response to both rain events and inter-event dry periods, with human-specific markers being predominant despite the high levels of animal markers during inter-event dry periods. Human-origin sources might be among the main microbial loading contributors in the pond catchments in general. All these findings can inform the development or improvement of measures for mitigating microbial pollution, strategies for reusing stormwater, and maintenance programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Shahirnia
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | | | - Jianxun He
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Caterina Valeo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Bert van Duin
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
- City of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Megan Beaudry
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Norman F Neumann
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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Wang D, Guan F, Feng C, Mathivanan K, Zhang R, Sand W. Review on Microbially Influenced Concrete Corrosion. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2076. [PMID: 37630635 PMCID: PMC10458460 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbially influenced concrete corrosion (MICC) causes substantial financial losses to modern societies. Concrete corrosion with various environmental factors has been studied extensively over several decades. With the enhancement of public awareness on the environmental and economic impacts of microbial corrosion, MICC draws increasingly public attention. In this review, the roles of various microbial communities on MICC and corresponding protective measures against MICC are described. Also, the current status and research methodology of MICC are discussed. Thus, this review aims at providing insight into MICC and its mechanisms as well as the development of protection possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Corrosion and Bio-Fouling, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (D.W.); (F.G.); (K.M.)
- School of Civil Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China;
| | - Fang Guan
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Corrosion and Bio-Fouling, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (D.W.); (F.G.); (K.M.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Corrosion Protection, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Chao Feng
- School of Civil Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China;
| | - Krishnamurthy Mathivanan
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Corrosion and Bio-Fouling, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (D.W.); (F.G.); (K.M.)
| | - Ruiyong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Corrosion and Bio-Fouling, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (D.W.); (F.G.); (K.M.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Corrosion Protection, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Wolfgang Sand
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Corrosion and Bio-Fouling, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (D.W.); (F.G.); (K.M.)
- Aquatic Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Institute of Biosciences, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
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Damashek J, Westrich JR, McDonald JMB, Teachey ME, Jackson CR, Frye JG, Lipp EK, Capps KA, Ottesen EA. Non-point source fecal contamination from aging wastewater infrastructure is a primary driver of antibiotic resistance in surface waters. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 222:118853. [PMID: 35870389 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a global threat to human health. Many surface water resources are environmental hotspots of antibiotic resistant gene (ARG) transfer, with agricultural runoff and human waste highlighted as common sources of ARGs to aquatic systems. Here we quantified fecal marker genes and ARGs in 992 stream water samples collected seasonally during a 5-year period from 115 sites across the Upper Oconee watershed (Georgia, USA), an area characterized by gradients of agricultural and urban development. Widespread fecal contamination was found from humans (48% of samples), ruminants (55%), and poultry (19%), and 73% of samples tested positive for at least one of the six targeted ARGs (ermB, tet(B), blaCTX-M-1, blaKPC, blaSHV, and qnrS). While ARGs were strongly correlated with human fecal markers, many highly contaminated samples were not associated with sewage outfalls, an expected source of fecal and ARG pollution. To determine sources of contamination, we synthesized ARG and fecal marker data with geospatial data on land use/land cover and wastewater infrastructure across the watershed. This novel analysis found strong correlations between ARGs and measures of sewer density, sewer length, and septic system age within sample watersheds, indicating non-point sources of fecal contamination from aging wastewater infrastructure can be critical disseminators of anthropogenic ARGs in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Damashek
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 120 Cedar Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jason R Westrich
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 120 Cedar Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jacob M Bateman McDonald
- Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis, University of North Georgia, 2636 Mathis Drive, Oakwood, GA 30566, USA
| | - Morgan E Teachey
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 120 Cedar Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Charlene R Jackson
- Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit, U.S. National Poultry Research Center, USDA-ARS, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Jonathan G Frye
- Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit, U.S. National Poultry Research Center, USDA-ARS, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Erin K Lipp
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, 150 East Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Krista A Capps
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 East Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, SRS Building 737A, Aiken, SC 29808, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Ottesen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 120 Cedar Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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Lindner BG, Suttner B, Zhu KJ, Conrad RE, Rodriguez-R LM, Hatt JK, Brown J, Konstantinidis KT. Toward shotgun metagenomic approaches for microbial source tracking sewage spills based on laboratory mesocosms. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 210:117993. [PMID: 34979467 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the genomic diversity of the microbial communities associated with raw municipal wastewater (sewage), including whether microbial populations specific to sewage exist and how such populations could be used to improve source attribution and apportioning in contaminated waters. Herein, we used the influent of three wastewater treatment plants in Atlanta, Georgia (USA) to perturb laboratory freshwater mesocosms, simulating sewage contamination events, and followed these mesocosms with shotgun metagenomics over a 7-day observational period. We describe 15 abundant non-redundant bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) ubiquitous within all sewage inocula yet absent from the unperturbed freshwater control at our analytical limit of detection. Tracking the dynamics of the populations represented by these MAGs revealed varied decay kinetics, depending on (inferred) phenotypes, e.g., anaerobes decayed faster than aerobes under the well-aerated incubation conditions. Notably, a portion of these populations showed decay patterns similar to those of common markers, Enterococcus and HF183. Despite the apparent decay of these populations, the abundance of β-lactamase encoding genes remained high throughout incubation relative to the control. Lastly, we constructed genomic libraries representing several different fecal sources and outline a bioinformatic approach which leverages these libraries for identifying and apportioning contamination signal among multiple probable sources using shotgun metagenomic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake G Lindner
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Brittany Suttner
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Kevin J Zhu
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Roth E Conrad
- Ocean Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, ES&T Building, Room 3321, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Luis M Rodriguez-R
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; Department of Microbiology and Digital Science Center (DiSC), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Tyrol 6020, Austria
| | - Janet K Hatt
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Joe Brown
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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Borchardt MA, Boehm AB, Salit M, Spencer SK, Wigginton KR, Noble RT. The Environmental Microbiology Minimum Information (EMMI) Guidelines: qPCR and dPCR Quality and Reporting for Environmental Microbiology. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10210-10223. [PMID: 34286966 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and digital PCR (dPCR) methods have revolutionized environmental microbiology, yielding quantitative organism-specific data of nucleic acid targets in the environment. Such data are essential for characterizing interactions and processes of microbial communities, assessing microbial contaminants in the environment (water, air, fomites), and developing interventions (water treatment, surface disinfection, air purification) to curb infectious disease transmission. However, our review of recent qPCR and dPCR literature in our field of health-related environmental microbiology showed that many researchers are not reporting necessary and sufficient controls and methods, which would serve to strengthen their study results and conclusions. Here, we describe the application, utility, and interpretation of the suite of controls needed to make high quality qPCR and dPCR measurements of microorganisms in the environment. Our presentation is organized by the discrete steps and operations typical of this measurement process. We propose systematic terminology to minimize ambiguity and aid comparisons among studies. Example schemes for batching and combining controls for efficient work flow are demonstrated. We describe critical reporting elements for enhancing data credibility, and we provide an element checklist in the Supporting Information. Additionally, we present several key principles in metrology as context for laboratories to devise their own quality assurance and quality control reporting framework. Following the EMMI guidelines will improve comparability and reproducibility among qPCR and dPCR studies in environmental microbiology, better inform engineering and public health actions for preventing disease transmission through environmental pathways, and for the most pressing issues in the discipline, focus the weight of evidence in the direction toward solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Borchardt
- Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
| | - Alexandria B Boehm
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Marc Salit
- Departments of Pathology and Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Joint Initiative for Metrology in Biology, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Susan K Spencer
- Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
| | - Krista R Wigginton
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Rachel T Noble
- Insitute for the Environment, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517, United States
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