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Denpetkul T, Pumkaew M, Sittipunsakda O, Srathongneam T, Mongkolsuk S, Sirikanchana K. Risk-based critical concentrations of enteric pathogens for recreational water criteria and recommended minimum sample volumes for routine water monitoring. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 950:175234. [PMID: 39102962 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175234] [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: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Concerns are rising about the contamination of recreational waters from human and animal waste, along with associated risks to public health. However, existing guidelines for managing pathogens in these environments have not yet fully integrated risk-based pathogen-specific criteria, which, along with recent advancements in indicators and markers, are essential to improve the protection of public health. This study aimed to establish risk-based critical concentration benchmarks for significant enteric pathogens, i.e., norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia lamblia, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Applying a 0.036 risk benchmark to both marine and freshwater environments, the study identified the lowest critical concentrations for children, who are the most susceptible group. Norovirus, C. jejuni, and Cryptosporidium presented lowest median critical concentrations for virus, bacteria, and protozoa, respectively: 0.74 GC, 1.73 CFU, and 0.39 viable oocysts per 100 mL in freshwater for children. These values were then used to determine minimum sample volumes corresponding to different recovery rates for culture method, digital polymerase chain reaction and quantitative PCR methods. The results indicate that for children, norovirus required the largest sample volumes of freshwater and marine water (52.08 to 178.57 L, based on the 5th percentile with a 10 % recovery rate), reflecting its low critical concentration and high potential for causing illness. In contrast, adenovirus and rotavirus required significantly smaller volumes (approximately 0.24 to 1.33 L). C. jejuni and Cryptosporidium, which required the highest sampling volumes for bacteria and protozoa, needed 1.72 to 11.09 L and 4.17 to 25.51 L, respectively. Additionally, the presented risk-based framework could provide a model for establishing pathogen thresholds, potentially guiding the creation of extensive risk-based criteria for various pathogens in recreational waters, thus aiding public health authorities in decision-making, strengthening pathogen monitoring, and improving water quality testing accuracy for enhanced health protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thammanitchpol Denpetkul
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Monchai Pumkaew
- Environmental Engineering and Disaster Management Program, School of Multidisciplinary, Mahidol University, Kanchanaburi Campus, Kanchanaburi 71150, Thailand
| | - Oranoot Sittipunsakda
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Thitima Srathongneam
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Skorn Mongkolsuk
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), OPS, MHESI, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Kwanrawee Sirikanchana
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), OPS, MHESI, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
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Kim T, Zhao X, Hozalski RM, LaPara TM. Residual disinfectant effectively suppresses Legionella species in drinking water distribution systems supplied by surface water in Minnesota, USA. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 940:173317. [PMID: 38788954 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173317] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Seven public water systems in Minnesota, USA were analyzed from one to five times over a two-year period to assess temporal changes in the concentrations of total bacteria, Legionella spp., and Legionella pneumophila from source (i.e., raw water) through the water treatment process to the end water user. Bacterial biomass was collected by filtering large volumes of raw water (12 to 425 L, median: 38 L) or finished and tap water (27 to 1205 L, median: 448 L) using ultrafiltration membrane modules. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was then used to enumerate all bacteria (16S rRNA gene fragments), all Legionella spp. (ssrA), and Legionella pneumophila (mip). Total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and L. pneumophila also were quantified in the water samples via cultivation. Median concentrations of total bacteria and Legionella spp. (ssrA) in raw water (8.5 and 4.3 log copies/L, respectively) decreased by about 2 log units during water treatment. The concentration of Legionella spp. (ssrA) in water collected from distribution systems inversely correlated with the total chlorine concentration for chloraminated systems significantly (p = 0.03). Although only 8 samples were collected from drinking water distribution systems using free chlorine as a residual disinfectant, these samples had significantly lower concentrations of Legionella spp. (ssrA) than samples collected from the chloraminated systems (p = 5 × 10-4). There was considerable incongruity between the results obtained via cultivation-independent (qPCR) and cultivation-dependent assays. Numerous samples were positive for L. pneumophila via cultivation, none of which tested positive for L. pneumophilia (mip) via qPCR. Conversely, a single sample tested positive for L. pneumophilia (mip) via qPCR, but this sample tested negative for L. pneumophilia via cultivation. Overall, the results suggest that conventional treatment is effective at reducing, but not eliminating, Legionella spp. from surface water supplies and that residual disinfection is effective at suppressing these organisms within drinking water distribution systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taegyu Kim
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin-Cities, 500 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Xiaotian Zhao
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin-Cities, 500 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Raymond M Hozalski
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin-Cities, 500 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis, MN, USA; Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 1479 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Timothy M LaPara
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin-Cities, 500 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis, MN, USA; Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 1479 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN, USA.
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3
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Mejías-Molina C, Estarlich-Landajo I, Martínez-Puchol S, Bofill-Mas S, Rusiñol M. Exploring waterborne viruses in groundwater: Quantification and Virome characterization via passive sampling and targeted enrichment sequencing. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 266:122305. [PMID: 39216128 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Aquifers, which provide drinking water for nearly half the world's population, face significant challenges from microbial contamination, particularly from waterborne viruses such as human adenovirus (HAdV), norovirus (NoV) and enterovirus (EV). This study, conducted as part of the UPWATER project, investigates the sources of urban groundwater contamination using viral passive sampling (VPS) and target enrichment sequencing (TES). We assessed the abundance of eight viral pathogens (HAdV, EV, NoV genogroup I and II, rotavirus, influenza A virus, hepatitis E virus and SARS-CoV-2) and investigated the virome diversity of groundwater in the aquifer of the Besòs River Delta in Catalonia. Over a period of 7 months, we collected 114 samples from the aquifer using nylon and nitrocellulose membranes to adsorb viruses over a 10-day period. Human faecal contamination was detected in nearly 50 % of the groundwater samples, with mean HAdV total counts ranging from 1.23E+02 to 3.66E+03 GC, and occasional detections of EV and NoV GI and GII. In addition, deep sequencing revealed a diverse virome in the aquifer, with detection of human pathogens, including adenovirus, astrovirus, calicivirus, enterovirus, herpesvirus, papillomavirus and rotavirus. Time-integrated sampling using VPS increases the likelihood of virus detection and, when combined with TES, can provide a deeper understanding of virus prevalence in this important water compartment. This approach is expected to streamline long-term monitoring efforts and enable small communities or water managers with limited resources to effectively manage their groundwater reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Mejías-Molina
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08001 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignasi Estarlich-Landajo
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Martínez-Puchol
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Vicerectorat de Recerca, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sílvia Bofill-Mas
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08001 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Rusiñol
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08001 Barcelona, Spain.
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Walsh JF, Hunt RJ, Anderson AC, Owens DW, Rice N. Temporally dense monitoring of pathogen occurrence at four drinking-water well sites - Insights and Implications. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 259:121809. [PMID: 38815338 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121809] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Yearlong, event based, microbiological and chemical sampling was conducted at four public water supply well sites spanning a range of geologic settings and well depths to look for correlation between precipitation events and microbial occurrence. Near-continuous monitoring using autosamplers occurred just before, during, and after 5-7 sampling events triggered by rainfall and/or snowmelt. Microbial genetic material was noted at all four locations during all but one sampling event, but was exceedingly variable in time, where one sample would have no detections and the next sample could be a relatively high concentration. The highest microbial sums (microbial concentrations summed over an event) were observed during months in which precipitation exceeded historical averages. Extended wet conditions through the spring thaw resulted in the highest percentage of microbial positive samples, though at relatively low concentrations. Sampling events that followed drier than normal periods showed longer lag times between the onset of precipitation and microbial occurrence, as well as lower microbial detection rates. Although a general lag time pattern was observed at each site, the largest offset in time was observed at the site with the greatest depth to water. The study's temporally dense representation of drinking water pathogen characterization suggests that single event or infrequent periodic sampling of a drinking water supply cannot provide a representative characterization of the probability that pathogens are present, which likely has ramifications for calculating health risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Walsh
- Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert St. N, St. Paul, MN 55164, United States.
| | - Randall J Hunt
- USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center, 1 Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53726, United States
| | - Anita C Anderson
- Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert St. N, St. Paul, MN 55164, United States
| | - David W Owens
- USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center, 1 Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53726, United States
| | - Nancy Rice
- Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert St. N, St. Paul, MN 55164, United States
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Skiendzielewski K, Burch T, Stokdyk J, McGinnis S, McLoughlin S, Firnstahl A, Spencer S, Borchardt M, Murphy HM. Two risk assessments: Evaluating the use of indicator HF183 Bacteroides versus pathogen measurements for modelling recreational illness risks in an urban watershed. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 259:121852. [PMID: 38889662 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121852] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of HF183 Bacteroides for estimating pathogen exposures during recreational water activities. We compared the use of Bacteroides-based exposure assessment to exposure assessment that relied on pathogen measurements. We considered two types of recreational water sites: those impacted by combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and those not impacted by CSOs. Samples from CSO-impacted and non-CSO-impacted urban creeks were analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for HF183 Bacteroides and eight human gastrointestinal pathogens. Exposure assessment was conducted two ways for each type of site (CSO-impacted vs. non-CSO impacted): 1) by estimating pathogen concentrations from HF183 Bacteroides concentrations using published ratios of HF183 to pathogens in sewage and 2) by estimating pathogen concentrations from qPCR measurements. QMRA (quantitative microbial risk assessment) was then conducted for swimming, wading, and fishing exposures. Overall, mean risk estimates varied from 0.27 to 53 illnesses per 1,000 recreators depending on exposure assessment, site, activity, and norovirus dose-response model. HF183-based exposure assessment identified CSO-impacted sites as higher risk, and the recommended HF183 risk-based threshold of 525 genomic copies per 100 mL was generally protective of public health at the CSO-impacted sites but was not as protective at the non-CSO-impacted sites. In the context of our urban watershed, HF183-based exposure assessment over- and under-estimated risk relative to exposure assessment based on pathogen measurements, and the etiology of predicted pathogen-specific illnesses differed significantly. Across all sites, the HF183 model overestimated risk for norovirus, adenovirus, and Campylobacter jejuni, and it underestimated risk for E. coli and Cryptosporidium. To our knowledge, this study is the first to directly compare health risk estimates using HF183 and empirical pathogen measurements from the same waterways. Our work highlights the importance of site-specific hazard identification and exposure assessment to decide whether HF183 is applicable for monitoring risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Skiendzielewski
- Water, Health and Applied Microbiology Lab (WHAM Lab), Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Temple University College of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| | - T Burch
- US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, Marshfield, WI, United States
| | - J Stokdyk
- US Geological Survey Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Marshfield, WI, United States
| | - S McGinnis
- Water, Health and Applied Microbiology Lab (WHAM Lab), Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Temple University College of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - S McLoughlin
- Water, Health and Applied Microbiology Lab (WHAM Lab), Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Temple University College of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - A Firnstahl
- US Geological Survey Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Marshfield, WI, United States
| | - S Spencer
- US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, Marshfield, WI, United States
| | - M Borchardt
- US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, Marshfield, WI, United States
| | - H M Murphy
- Water, Health and Applied Microbiology Lab (WHAM Lab), Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Temple University College of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Water, Health and Applied Microbiology Lab (WHAM Lab), Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
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6
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Mirabile A, Sangiorgio G, Bonacci PG, Bivona D, Nicitra E, Bonomo C, Bongiorno D, Stefani S, Musso N. Advancing Pathogen Identification: The Role of Digital PCR in Enhancing Diagnostic Power in Different Settings. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:1598. [PMID: 39125474 PMCID: PMC11311727 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14151598] [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: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) has emerged as a groundbreaking technology in molecular biology and diagnostics, offering exceptional precision and sensitivity in nucleic acid detection and quantification. This review highlights the core principles and transformative potential of dPCR, particularly in infectious disease diagnostics and environmental surveillance. Emphasizing its evolution from traditional PCR, dPCR provides accurate absolute quantification of target nucleic acids through advanced partitioning techniques. The review addresses the significant impact of dPCR in sepsis diagnosis and management, showcasing its superior sensitivity and specificity in early pathogen detection and identification of drug-resistant genes. Despite its advantages, challenges such as optimization of experimental conditions, standardization of data analysis workflows, and high costs are discussed. Furthermore, we compare various commercially available dPCR platforms, detailing their features and applications in clinical and research settings. Additionally, the review explores dPCR's role in water microbiology, particularly in wastewater surveillance and monitoring of waterborne pathogens, underscoring its importance in public health protection. In conclusion, future prospects of dPCR, including methodological optimization, integration with innovative technologies, and expansion into new sectors like metagenomics, are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Mirabile
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (G.S.); (P.G.B.); (D.B.); (E.N.); (C.B.); (S.S.); (N.M.)
| | - Giuseppe Sangiorgio
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (G.S.); (P.G.B.); (D.B.); (E.N.); (C.B.); (S.S.); (N.M.)
| | - Paolo Giuseppe Bonacci
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (G.S.); (P.G.B.); (D.B.); (E.N.); (C.B.); (S.S.); (N.M.)
| | - Dalida Bivona
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (G.S.); (P.G.B.); (D.B.); (E.N.); (C.B.); (S.S.); (N.M.)
| | - Emanuele Nicitra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (G.S.); (P.G.B.); (D.B.); (E.N.); (C.B.); (S.S.); (N.M.)
| | - Carmelo Bonomo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (G.S.); (P.G.B.); (D.B.); (E.N.); (C.B.); (S.S.); (N.M.)
| | - Dafne Bongiorno
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (G.S.); (P.G.B.); (D.B.); (E.N.); (C.B.); (S.S.); (N.M.)
| | - Stefania Stefani
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (G.S.); (P.G.B.); (D.B.); (E.N.); (C.B.); (S.S.); (N.M.)
- U.O.C. Laboratory Analysis Unit, University Hospital Policlinico-San Marco, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Nicolò Musso
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (G.S.); (P.G.B.); (D.B.); (E.N.); (C.B.); (S.S.); (N.M.)
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7
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Petculescu I, Hynds P, Brown RS, Boudou M, McDermott K, Majury A. Development of a "big data" groundwater microbial contamination index and spatial comparisons with enteric infection rates in southern Ontario. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174408. [PMID: 38972407 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Big data have become increasingly important for policymakers and scientists but have yet to be employed for the development of spatially specific groundwater contamination indices or protecting human and environmental health. The current study sought to develop a series of indices via analyses of three variables: Non-E. coli coliform (NEC) concentration, E. coli concentration, and the calculated NEC:E. coli concentration ratio. A large microbial water quality dataset comprising 1,104,094 samples collected from 292,638 Ontarian wells between 2010 and 2021 was used. Getis-Ord Gi* (Gi*), Local Moran's I (LMI), and space-time scanning were employed for index development based on identified cluster recurrence. Gi* and LMI identify hot and cold spots, i.e., spatially proximal subregions with similarly high or low contamination magnitudes. Indices were statistically compared with mapped well density and age-adjusted enteric infection rates (i.e., campylobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) enteritis) at a subregional (N = 298) resolution for evaluation and final index selection. Findings suggest that index development via Gi* represented the most efficacious approach. Developed Gi* indices exhibited no correlation with well density, implying that indices are not biased by rural population density. Gi* indices exhibited positive correlations with mapped infection rates, and were particularly associated with higher bacterial (Campylobacter, VTEC) infection rates among younger sub-populations (p < 0.05). Conversely, no association was found between developed indices and giardiasis rates, an infection not typically associated with private groundwater contamination. Findings suggest that a notable proportion of bacterial infections are associated with groundwater and that the developed Gi* index represents an appropriate spatiotemporal reflection of long-term groundwater quality. Bacterial infection correlations with the NEC:E. coli ratio index (p < 0.001) were markedly different compared to correlations with the E. coli index, implying that the ratio may supplement E. coli monitoring as a groundwater assessment metric capable of elucidating contamination mechanisms. This study may serve as a methodological blueprint for the development of big data-based groundwater contamination indices across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioan Petculescu
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, 99 University Ave, Kingston, ON, Canada.
| | - Paul Hynds
- Technological University Dublin, Park House, 191 N Circular Rd, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - R Stephen Brown
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, 99 University Ave, Kingston, ON, Canada.
| | - Martin Boudou
- Technological University Dublin, Park House, 191 N Circular Rd, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Anna Majury
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, 99 University Ave, Kingston, ON, Canada; Public Health Ontario, 181 Barrie St, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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8
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Walsh JF, Scher DP, de Lambert JR, Anderson AC. Risk factors for Cryptosporidium contamination in Minnesota public supply wells. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2024; 22:612-626. [PMID: 38557575 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2024.361] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
In a recent monitoring study of Minnesota's public supply wells, Cryptosporidium was commonly detected with 40% of the wells having at least one detection. Risk factors for Cryptosporidium occurrence in drinking water supply wells, beyond surface water influence, remain poorly understood. To address this gap, physical and chemical factors were assessed as potential predictors of Cryptosporidium occurrence in 135 public supply wells in Minnesota. Univariable analysis, regression techniques, and classification trees were used to analyze the data. Many variables were identified as significant risk factors in univariable analysis and several remained significant throughout the succeeding analysis techniques. These factors fell into general categories of well use and construction, aquifer characteristics, and connectedness to the land surface, well capture zones, and land use therein, existence of potential contaminant sources within 200-feet of the well, and variability in the chemical and isotopic parameters measured during the study. These risk categories, and the specific variables and threshold values we have identified, can help guide future research on factors influencing Cryptosporidium contamination of wells and can be used by environmental health programs to develop risk-based sampling plans and design interventions that reduce associated health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Walsh
- Minnesota Department of Health (retired), Saint Paul, MN 55164-0975, USA
| | - Deanna P Scher
- Minnesota Department of Health, Saint Paul, MN 55164-0975, USA E-mail:
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9
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Hozalski RM, Zhao X, Kim T, LaPara TM. On-site filtration of large sample volumes improves the detection of opportunistic pathogens in drinking water distribution systems. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0165823. [PMID: 38236032 PMCID: PMC10880612 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01658-23] [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: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we compared conventional vacuum filtration of small volumes through disc membranes (effective sample volumes for potable water: 0.3-1.0 L) with filtration of high volumes using ultrafiltration (UF) modules (effective sample volumes for potable water: 10.6-84.5 L) for collecting bacterial biomass from raw, finished, and tap water at seven drinking water systems. Total bacteria, Legionella spp., Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium spp., and Mycobacterium avium complex in these samples were enumerated using both conventional quantitative PCR (qPCR) and viability qPCR (using propidium monoazide). In addition, PCR-amplified gene fragments were sequenced for microbial community analysis. The frequency of detection (FOD) of Legionella spp. in finished and tap water samples was much greater using UF modules (83% and 77%, respectively) than disc filters (24% and 33%, respectively). The FODs for Mycobacterium spp. in raw, finished, and tap water samples were also consistently greater using UF modules than disc filters. Furthermore, the number of observed operational taxonomic units and diversity index values for finished and tap water samples were often substantially greater when using UF modules as compared to disc filters. Conventional and viability qPCR yielded similar results, suggesting that membrane-compromised cells represented a minor fraction of total bacterial biomass. In conclusion, our research demonstrates that large-volume filtration using UF modules improved the detection of opportunistic pathogens at the low concentrations typically found in public drinking water systems and that the majority of bacteria in these systems appear to be viable in spite of disinfection with free chlorine and/or chloramine.IMPORTANCEOpportunistic pathogens, such as Legionella pneumophila, are a growing public health concern. In this study, we compared sample collection and enumeration methods on raw, finished, and tap water at seven water systems throughout the State of Minnesota, USA. The results showed that on-site filtration of large water volumes (i.e., 500-1,000 L) using ultrafiltration membrane modules improved the frequency of detection of relatively rare organisms, including opportunistic pathogens, compared to the common approach of filtering about 1 L using disc membranes. Furthermore, results from viability quantitative PCR (qPCR) with propidium monoazide were similar to conventional qPCR, suggesting that membrane-compromised cells represent an insignificant fraction of microorganisms. Results from these ultrafiltration membrane modules should lead to a better understanding of the microbial ecology of drinking water distribution systems and their potential to inoculate premise plumbing systems with opportunistic pathogens where conditions are more favorable for their growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond M. Hozalski
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Xiaotian Zhao
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Taegyu Kim
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Timothy M. LaPara
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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10
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Race AS, Spoelstra J, Parker BL. Wastewater contaminants in a fractured bedrock aquifer and their potential use as enteric virus indicators. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0121323. [PMID: 38231263 PMCID: PMC10880619 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01213-23] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Domestic wastewater is a source of persistent organic pollutants and pathogens to the aquatic environment, including groundwater aquifers. Wastewater contaminants include a variety of personal care products, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupters, bacteria, and viruses. Groundwater from 22 wells completed in a semi-confined to confined, fractured Silurian dolostone aquifer in southern Wellington County, Ontario, Canada, was analyzed for 14 organic wastewater contaminants (4 artificial sweeteners, 10 pharmaceuticals) as well as E. coli, total coliforms, and 6 human enteric viruses. Enteric viruses were detected in 8.6% of 116 samples, and at least one organic wastewater contaminant was detected in 82% of the wells (in order of decreasing detection frequency: acesulfame, ibuprofen, sulfamethoxazole, triclosan, carbamazepine, and saccharin). Virus indicator metrics [positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), sensitivity, specificity] were calculated at the sample and well level for the organic wastewater compounds, E. coli, and total coliforms. Fecal bacteria were not good predictors of virus presence (PPV = 0%-8%). Of the potential chemical indicators, triclosan performed the best at the sample level (PPV = 50%, NPV = 100%), and ibuprofen performed the best at the well level (PPV = 60%, NPV = 67%); however, no samples had triclosan or ibuprofen concentrations above their practical quantification limits. Therefore, none of the compounds performed sufficiently well to be considered reliable for assessing the potential threat of enteric viruses in wastewater-impacted groundwater in this bedrock aquifer. Future studies need to evaluate the indicator potential of persistent organic wastewater contaminants in different types of aquifers, especially in fractured rock where heterogeneity is strong.IMPORTANCEAssessing the potential risk that human enteric viruses pose in groundwater aquifers used for potable water supply is complicated by several factors, including: (i) labor-intensive methods for the isolation and quantification of viruses in groundwater, (ii) the temporal variability of these viruses in domestic wastewater, and (iii) their potentially rapid transport in the subsurface, especially in fractured rock aquifers. Therefore, aquifer risk assessment would benefit from the identification of suitable proxy indicators of enteric viruses that are easier to analyze and less variable in wastewater sources. Traditional fecal indicators (e.g., E. coli and coliforms) are generally poor indicators of enteric viruses in groundwater. While many studies have examined the use of pharmaceutical and personal care products as tracers of domestic wastewater and fecal pollution in the environment, there is a paucity of data on the potential use of these chemical tracers as enteric virus indicators, especially in groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy S. Race
- Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Now with: Tesla, Spring Creek, Nevada, USA
| | - John Spoelstra
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | - Beth L. Parker
- Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Pramanik A, Kolawole OP, Gates K, Kundu S, Shukla MK, Moser RD, Ucak-Astarlioglu M, Al-Ostaz A, Ray PC. 2D Fluorinated Graphene Oxide (FGO)-Polyethyleneimine (PEI) Based 3D Porous Nanoplatform for Effective Removal of Forever Toxic Chemicals, Pharmaceutical Toxins, and Waterborne Pathogens from Environmental Water Samples. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:44942-44954. [PMID: 38046318 PMCID: PMC10688155 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Although water is essential for life, as per the United Nations, around 2 billion people in this world lack access to safely managed drinking water services at home. Herein we report the development of a two-dimensional (2D) fluorinated graphene oxide (FGO) and polyethylenimine (PEI) based three-dimensional (3D) porous nanoplatform for the effective removal of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceutical toxins, and waterborne pathogens from contaminated water. Experimental data show that the FGO-PEI based nanoplatform has an estimated adsorption capacity (qm) of ∼219 mg g-1 for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and can be used for 99% removal of several short- and long-chain PFAS. A comparative PFNA capturing study using different types of nanoplatforms indicates that the qm value is in the order FGO-PEI > FGO > GO-PEI, which indicates that fluorophilic, electrostatic, and hydrophobic interactions play important roles for the removal of PFAS. Reported data show that the FGO-PEI based nanoplatform has a capability for 100% removal of moxifloxacin antibiotics with an estimated qm of ∼299 mg g-1. Furthermore, because the pore size of the nanoplatform is much smaller than the size of pathogens, it has a capability for 100% removal of Salmonella and Escherichia coli from water. Moreover, reported data show around 96% removal of PFAS, pharmaceutical toxins, and pathogens simultaneously from spiked river, lake, and tap water samples using the nanoplatform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avijit Pramanik
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State
University, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, United States
| | - Olorunsola Praise Kolawole
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State
University, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, United States
| | - Kaelin Gates
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State
University, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, United States
| | - Sanchita Kundu
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State
University, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, United States
| | - Manoj K. Shukla
- US
Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180-6199, United States
| | - Robert D Moser
- US
Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180-6199, United States
| | - Mine Ucak-Astarlioglu
- US
Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180-6199, United States
| | - Ahmed Al-Ostaz
- Department
of Civil Engineering, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Paresh Chandra Ray
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State
University, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, United States
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12
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Hayes EK, Gouthro MT, Fuller M, Redden DJ, Gagnon GA. Enhanced detection of viruses for improved water safety. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17336. [PMID: 37833399 PMCID: PMC10575868 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44528-2] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Human viruses pose a significant health risk in freshwater environments, but current monitoring methods are inadequate for detecting viral presence efficiently. We evaluated a novel passive in-situ concentration method using granular activated carbon (GAC). This study detected and quantified eight enteric and non-enteric, pathogenic viruses in a freshwater recreational lake in paired grab and GAC passive samples. The results found that GAC passive sampling had a higher detection rate for all viruses compared to grab samples, with adenovirus found to be the most prevalent virus, followed by respiratory syncytial virus, norovirus, enterovirus, influenza A, SARS-CoV-2, and rotavirus. GAC in-situ concentration allowed for the capture and recovery of viral gene copy targets that ranged from one to three orders of magnitude higher than conventional ex-situ concentration methods used in viral monitoring. This simple and affordable sampling method may have far-reaching implications for reducing barriers associated with viral monitoring across various environmental contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emalie K Hayes
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Madison T Gouthro
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Megan Fuller
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - David J Redden
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Graham A Gagnon
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
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13
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Panizzolo M, Gea M, Carraro E, Gilli G, Bonetta S, Pignata C. Occurrence of human pathogenic viruses in drinking water and in its sources: A review. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 132:145-161. [PMID: 37336605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Since many waterborne diseases are caused by human pathogenic viruses, virus monitoring of drinking water (DW) and DW sources is crucial for public health. Therefore, the aim of this review was to describe the occurrence of human pathogenic viruses in DW and DW sources; the occurrence of two viruses proposed as novel indicators of human faecal contamination (Pepper mild mottle virus and Tobacco mosaic virus) was also reported. This research was focused on articles that assessed viral occurrence using molecular methods in the surface water used for DW production (SW-D), groundwater used for DW production (GW-D), DW and bottled-DW (BW). A total of 1544 studies published in the last 10 years were analysed, and 79 were ultimately included. In considering the detection methods, filtration is the most common concentration technique, while quantitative polymerase chain reaction is the most common quantification technique. Regarding virus occurrence in SW-D, GW-D, and DW, high percentages of positive samples were reported for adenovirus, polyomavirus and Pepper mild mottle virus. Viral genomes were frequently detected in SW-D and rarely in GW-D, suggesting that GW-D may be a safe DW source. Viral genomes were also detected in DW, posing a possible threat to human health. The lowest percentages of positive samples were found in Europe, while the highest were found in Asia and South America. Only three articles assessed viral occurrence in BW. This review highlights the lack of method standardization and the need for legislation updates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Panizzolo
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Marta Gea
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126, Torino, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Carraro
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Giorgio Gilli
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Silvia Bonetta
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristina Pignata
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126, Torino, Italy
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14
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Borchardt MA, Kieke BA, Spencer SK, Lambertini E, Burch TR, Loge FJ. Community intervention trial for estimating risk of acute gastrointestinal illness from groundwater-supplied non-disinfected drinking water. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2023; 21:1209-1227. [PMID: 37756190 PMCID: wh_2023_071 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
By community intervention in 14 non-disinfecting municipal water systems, we quantified sporadic acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) attributable to groundwater. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection was installed on all supply wells of intervention communities. In control communities, residents continued to drink non-disinfected groundwater. Intervention and control communities switched treatments by moving UV disinfection units at the study midpoint (crossover design). Study participants (n = 1,659) completed weekly health diaries during four 12-week surveillance periods. Water supply wells were analyzed monthly for enteric pathogenic viruses. Using the crossover design, groundwater-borne AGI was not observed. However, virus types and quantity in supply wells changed through the study, suggesting that exposure was not constant. Alternatively, we compared AGI incidence between intervention and control communities within the same surveillance period. During Period 1, norovirus contaminated wells and AGI attributable risk from well water was 19% (95% CI, -4%, 36%) for children <5 years and 15% (95% CI, -9%, 33%) for adults. During Period 3, echovirus 11 contaminated wells and UV disinfection slightly reduced AGI in adults. Estimates of AGI attributable risks from drinking non-disinfected groundwater were highly variable, but appeared greatest during times when supply wells were contaminated with specific AGI-etiologic viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Borchardt
- National Farm Medicine Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, WI, USA; Current address: USDA-ARS, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, Marshfield, WI, USA E-mail:
| | - Burney A Kieke
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, WI, USA
| | - Susan K Spencer
- National Farm Medicine Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, WI, USA; Current address: USDA-ARS, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, Marshfield, WI, USA
| | - Elisabetta Lambertini
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; Current address: Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Tucker R Burch
- U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Marshfield, WI, USA
| | - Frank J Loge
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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15
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Zhong S, Hou B, Zhang J, Wang Y, Xu X, Li B, Ni J. Ecological differentiation and assembly processes of abundant and rare bacterial subcommunities in karst groundwater. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1111383. [PMID: 37560528 PMCID: PMC10407230 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1111383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The ecological health of karst groundwater has been of global concern due to increasing anthropogenic activities. Bacteria comprising a few abundant taxa (AT) and plentiful rare taxa (RT) play essential roles in maintaining ecosystem stability, yet limited information is known about their ecological differentiation and assembly processes in karst groundwater. Based on a metabarcoding analysis of 64 groundwater samples from typical karst regions in southwest China, we revealed the environmental drivers, ecological roles, and assembly mechanisms of abundant and rare bacterial communities. We found a relatively high abundance of potential functional groups associated with parasites and pathogens in karst groundwater, which might be linked to the frequent regional anthropogenic activities. Our study confirmed that AT was dominated by Proteobacteria and Campilobacterota, while Patescibacteria and Chloroflexi flourished more in the RT subcommunity. The node-level topological features of the co-occurrence network indicated that AT might share similar niches and play more important roles in maintaining bacterial community stability. RT in karst groundwater was less environmentally constrained and showed a wider environmental threshold response to various environmental factors than AT. Deterministic processes, especially homogeneous selection, tended to be more important in the community assembly of AT, whereas the community assembly of RT was mainly controlled by stochastic processes. This study expanded our knowledge of the karst groundwater microbiome and was of great significance to the assessment of ecological stability and drinking water safety in karst regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sining Zhong
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environment Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Bowen Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Jinzheng Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environment Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yichu Wang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuming Xu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Li
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinren Ni
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
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16
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Agga GE, Kaiser R, Polk J, Allard M. Prevalence and whole-genome sequencing characterization of Salmonella in urban karst groundwater and predominantly groundwater-fed surface waters for serotypes and antimicrobial resistance. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2023; 52:691-705. [PMID: 36852718 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Karst aquifers provide a significant source of drinking water around the world; however, they are prone to bacterial contamination. We investigated the prevalence, serotypes, and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) of Salmonella in urban karst groundwater and groundwater-fed surface waters. Weekly water samples (n = 443) were collected from nine groundwater sites and the Barren River in Bowling Green, KY. Additionally, cross-sectional samples were collected from 45 sites, including groundwaters and two rivers, in Tampa, FL. Salmonella was detected in 14.5% of Bowling Green samples resulting in 176 isolates representing 18 serotypes. Two (4.4%) of the Tampa samples were positive yielding eight isolates representing two serotypes. In Bowling Green, Salmonella prevalence varied by sampling site, week, month, and season, with the highest prevalence in surface water in the month of November and during summer. Salmonella Newport was the most common serotype detected. Nine of the serotypes detected in the study were among the top 20 serotypes commonly associated with human infections in the United States. Isolates were clustered with human clinical isolates, or isolates obtained from food animals, suggesting the importance of humans and agricultural practices as a source of water contamination. ARGs were detected in 12.5% (n = 176) of the Bowling Green isolates; overall, 81.8% (n = 22) of these were multidrug-resistant (resistance to ≥3 antimicrobial classes). Notably, the four Salmonella Agona isolates were resistant to four antimicrobial classes, mercury, and quaternary ammonium compounds. Seasonality and the widespread occurrence of Salmonella both in the groundwater and groundwater-fed surface waters is a potential risk to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Getahun E Agga
- USDA-ARS, Food Animal Environmental Systems Research Unit, Bowling Green, KY, USA
| | - Rachel Kaiser
- Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, USA
| | - Jason Polk
- Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, USA
| | - Marc Allard
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA
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17
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Xia L, Yin J, Zhuang J, Yin W, Zou Z, Mu Y. Adsorption-Free Self-Priming Direct Digital Dual-crRNA CRISPR/Cas12a-Assisted Chip for Ultrasensitive Detection of Pathogens. Anal Chem 2023; 95:4744-4752. [PMID: 36867551 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Rapid and sensitive pathogen detection methods are critical for disease diagnosis and treatment. RPA-CRISPR/Cas12 systems have displayed remarkable potential in pathogen detection. A self-priming digital PCR chip is a powerful and attractive tool for nucleic detection. However, the application of the RPA-CRISPR/Cas12 system to the self-priming chip still has great challenges due to the problems of protein adsorption and two-step detection mode of RPA-CRISPR/Cas12. In this study, an adsorption-free self-priming digital chip was developed and a direct digital dual-crRNAs (3D) assay was established based on the chip for ultrasensitive detection of pathogens. This 3D assay combined the advantages of rapid amplification of RPA, specific cleavage of Cas12a, accurate quantification of digital PCR, and point-of-care testing (POCT) of microfluidics, enabling accurate and reliable digital absolute quantification of Salmonella in POCT. Our method can provide a good linear relationship of Salmonella detection in the range from 2.58 × 101 to 2.58 × 104 cells/mL with a limit of detection ∼0.2 cells/mL within 30 min in a digital chip by targeting the invA gene of Salmonella. Moreover, the assay could directly detect Salmonella in milk without nucleic acid extraction. Therefore, the 3D assay has the significant potential to provide accurate and rapid pathogen detection in POCT. This study provides a powerful nucleic detection platform and facilitates the application of CRISPR/Cas-assisted detection and microfluidic chips.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Xia
- School of Information and Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310015, China.,Research Centre for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310027, China
| | - Juxin Yin
- School of Information and Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310015, China.,Research Centre for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310027, China
| | - Jianjian Zhuang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Cancer Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Weihong Yin
- Research Centre for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310027, China
| | - Zheyu Zou
- Research Centre for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310027, China
| | - Ying Mu
- Research Centre for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310027, China.,Huzhou Institute of Zhejiang University, Huzhou 313002, China
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18
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Burch TR, Stokdyk JP, Firnstahl AD, Kieke BA, Cook RM, Opelt SA, Spencer SK, Durso LM, Borchardt MA. Microbial source tracking and land use associations for antibiotic resistance genes in private wells influenced by human and livestock fecal sources. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2023; 52:270-286. [PMID: 36479898 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health problem that requires an integrated approach among human, agricultural, and environmental sectors. However, few studies address all three components simultaneously. We investigated the occurrence of five antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the class 1 integron gene (intI1) in private wells drawing water from a vulnerable aquifer influenced by residential septic systems and land-applied dairy manure. Samples (n = 138) were collected across four seasons from a randomized sample of private wells in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin. Measurements of ARGs and intI1 were related to microbial source tracking (MST) markers specific to human and bovine feces; they were also related to 54 risk factors for contamination representing land use, rainfall, hydrogeology, and well construction. ARGs and intI1 occurred in 5%-40% of samples depending on target. Detection frequencies for ARGs and intI1 were lowest in the absence of human and bovine MST markers (1%-30%), highest when co-occurring with human and bovine markers together (11%-78%), and intermediate when co-occurring with just one type of MST marker (4%-46%). Gene targets were associated with septic system density more often than agricultural land, potentially because of the variable presence of manure on the landscape. Determining ARG prevalence in a rural setting with mixed land use allowed an assessment of the relative contribution of human and bovine fecal sources. Because fecal sources co-occurred with ARGs at similar rates, interventions intended to reduce ARG occurrence may be most effective if both sources are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tucker R Burch
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, Marshfield, WI, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment, Marshfield, WI, USA
| | - Joel P Stokdyk
- U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment, Marshfield, WI, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Marshfield, WI, USA
| | - Aaron D Firnstahl
- U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment, Marshfield, WI, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Marshfield, WI, USA
| | - Burney A Kieke
- Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health, Marshfield, WI, USA
| | - Rachel M Cook
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, Marshfield, WI, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment, Marshfield, WI, USA
| | - Sarah A Opelt
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, Marshfield, WI, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment, Marshfield, WI, USA
| | - Susan K Spencer
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, Marshfield, WI, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment, Marshfield, WI, USA
| | - Lisa M Durso
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Agroecosystem Management Research Unit, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Mark A Borchardt
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, Marshfield, WI, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment, Marshfield, WI, USA
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19
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Liu C, Chen J, Shan X, Yang Y, Song L, Teng Y, Chen H. Meta-analysis addressing the characterization and risk identification of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in global groundwater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 860:160513. [PMID: 36442629 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the significant global issues to public health. Compared to other aquatic environments, research on AMR in groundwater is scarce. In the study, a meta-analysis was conducted to explore the characteristics and risks of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in global groundwater, using a data set of antibiotic concentrations collected from publications during 2000-2021 and a large-scale metagenomes of groundwater samples (n = 330). The ecotoxicological risks of antibiotics in the global groundwater were evaluated using mixture risk quotient with concentration addition model to consider the synergistic effects of multiple antibiotics. Bioinformatic annotations identified 1413 ARGs belonging to 37 ARG types in the global groundwater, dominated by rifamycin, polyketide, and quinolone resistance genes and including some emerging ARGs such as mcr-family and carbapenem genes. Relatively, the level of ARGs in the groundwater from spring was significantly higher (ANOVA, p < 0.01) than those from the riparian zone, sand and deep aquifer. Similarly, metal resistance genes (MRGs) were prevalent in the global groundwater, and network analysis suggested the MRGs presented non-random co-occurrence with the ARGs in such environments. Taxonomic annotations showed Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Eukaryota, Acidobacteria and Thaumarchaeota were the dominant phylum in the groundwater, and the microbial community largely shaped profile of ARGs in the environment. Notably, the ARGs presented co-occurrence with mobile genetic elements, virulence factors and human bacterial pathogens, indicating potential dissemination risk of ARGs in the groundwater. Furthermore, an omics-based approach was used for health risk assessment of antibiotic resistome and screened out 152 risk ARGs in the global groundwater. Comparatively, spring and cold creek presented higher risk index, which deserves more attention to ensure the safety of water supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jinping Chen
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xin Shan
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yuyi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Liuting Song
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yanguo Teng
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Haiyang Chen
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100875, China.
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20
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Takuissu GR, Kenmoe S, Ebogo-Belobo JT, Kengne-Ndé C, Mbaga DS, Bowo-Ngandji A, Ndzie Ondigui JL, Kenfack-Momo R, Tchatchouang S, Kenfack-Zanguim J, Lontuo Fogang R, Zeuko’o Menkem E, Kame-Ngasse GI, Magoudjou-Pekam JN, Veneri C, Mancini P, Bonanno Ferraro G, Iaconelli M, Orlandi L, Del Giudice C, Suffredini E, La Rosa G. Occurrence of Hepatitis A Virus in Water Matrices: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1054. [PMID: 36673812 PMCID: PMC9859052 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis A is a common form of viral hepatitis. It is usually transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food and water. This systematic review was carried out to summarise the overall prevalence of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) in different water matrices: untreated and treated wastewater, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, and others (e.g., irrigation water and floodwater). The literature search was performed in four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Global Index Medicus, and Excerpta Medica Database. Heterogeneity (I2) was assessed using the χ2 test on the Cochran Q statistic and H parameters. A total of 200 prevalence data from 144 articles were included in this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of HAV in water matrices was 16.7% (95% CI: 13.4−20.3). The prevalence for individual matrix was as follows: 31.4% (95% CI: 23.0−40.4) untreated wastewater, 18.0% (95% CI: 9.5−28.2) treated wastewater, 15.0% (95% CI: 10.1−20.5) surface water, 2.3% (95% CI: 0.1−6.0) in groundwater, 0.3% (95% CI: 0.0−1.7) in drinking water, and 8.5% (95% CI: 3.1−15.6) in other matrices. The prevalence was higher in low-income economies (29.0%). Africa and Eastern Mediterranean were the regions with higher HAV prevalence values. This study showed a high heterogeneity (I2 > 75%) with a significant publication bias (p value Egger test < 0.001). The results of this review suggest that water matrices could be an important route of HAV transmission even in industrialized countries, despite the lower prevalence compared to less industrialized countries, and the availability of advanced water management systems. More effective water/wastewater treatment strategies are needed in developing countries to limit the environmental circulation of HAV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Roussel Takuissu
- Centre for Food, Food Security and Nutrition Research, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Sebastien Kenmoe
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Jean Thierry Ebogo-Belobo
- Medical Research Centre, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Cyprien Kengne-Ndé
- Epidemiological Surveillance, Evaluation and Research Unit, National AIDS Control Committee, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | | | - Arnol Bowo-Ngandji
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | | | - Raoul Kenfack-Momo
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | | | | | | | | | - Ginette Irma Kame-Ngasse
- Medical Research Centre, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | | | - Carolina Veneri
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Pamela Mancini
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giusy Bonanno Ferraro
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Iaconelli
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Lidia Orlandi
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Del Giudice
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Suffredini
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina La Rosa
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
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21
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Halla FF, Massawa SM, Joseph EK, Acharya K, Sabai SM, Mgana SM, Werner D. Attenuation of bacterial hazard indicators in the subsurface of an informal settlement and their application in quantitative microbial risk assessment. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107429. [PMID: 35914337 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pit latrines provide essential onsite sanitation services to over a billion people, but there are concerns about their role in infectious disease transmission, and impacts on groundwater resources. We conducted fieldwork in an informal settlement in Dar es Salaam, where cholera is endemic. We combined plate counting with portable MinION sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods for characterization of bacteria in pit latrine sludge, leachate, shallow and deep groundwater resources. Pit latrine sludge was characterized by log10 marker gene concentrations per 100 mL of 11.2 ± 0.2, 9.9 ± 0.9, 6.0 ± 0.3, and 4.4 ± 0.8, for total bacteria (16S rRNA), E. coli (rodA), human-host-associated Bacteroides (HF183), and Vibrio cholerae (ompW), respectively. The ompW gene observations suggested 5 % asymptomatic Vibrio cholerae carriers amongst pit latrine users. Pit leachate percolation through one-meter-thick sand beds attenuated bacterial hazard indicators by 1 to 4 log10 units. But first-order removal rates derived from these data substantially overestimated the longer-range hazard attenuation in the sand aquifers. Cooccurrence of human sewage marker gene HF183 in all shallow groundwater samples testing positive for ompW genes demonstrated the human origin of Vibrio cholerae hazards in the subsurface. All borehole water samples tested negative for ompW and HF183 genes, but 16S rRNA gene sequencing data suggested ingress of faecal pollution into boreholes at the peak of the "long rainy season". Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) predicted a gastrointestinal disease burden of 0.05 DALY per person per year for the community, well above WHO targets of 10-4-10-6 DALY for disease related to drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franella Francos Halla
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Said Maneno Massawa
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Elihaika Kengalo Joseph
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Kishor Acharya
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Shadrack Mwita Sabai
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Shaaban Mrisho Mgana
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - David Werner
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.
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22
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Tiwari A, Ahmed W, Oikarinen S, Sherchan SP, Heikinheimo A, Jiang G, Simpson SL, Greaves J, Bivins A. Application of digital PCR for public health-related water quality monitoring. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 837:155663. [PMID: 35523326 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) is emerging as a reliable platform for quantifying microorganisms in the field of water microbiology. This paper reviews the fundamental principles of dPCR and its application for health-related water microbiology. The relevant literature indicates increasing adoption of dPCR for measuring fecal indicator bacteria, microbial source tracking marker genes, and pathogens in various aquatic environments. The adoption of dPCR has accelerated recently due to increasing use for wastewater surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) - the virus that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The collective experience in the scientific literature indicates that well-optimized dPCR assays can quantify genetic material from microorganisms without the need for a calibration curve and often with superior analytical performance (i.e., greater sensitivity, precision, and reproducibility) than quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Nonetheless, dPCR should not be viewed as a panacea for the fundamental uncertainties and limitations associated with measuring microorganisms in water microbiology. With dPCR platforms, the sample analysis cost and processing time are typically greater than qPCR. However, if improved analytical performance (i.e., sensitivity and accuracy) is critical, dPCR can be an alternative option for quantifying microorganisms, including pathogens, in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananda Tiwari
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sami Oikarinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Samendra P Sherchan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA; Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA; BioEnvironmental Science Program, Department of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA
| | - Annamari Heikinheimo
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland; Finnish Food Authority, Seinäjoki, Finland
| | - Guangming Jiang
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | | | - Justin Greaves
- School of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago, 6364 N. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, LA, USA.
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23
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Passos LS, de Almeida ÉC, Villela A, Fernandes AN, Marinho MM, Gomes LC, Pinto E. Cyanotoxins and water quality parameters as risk assessment indicators for aquatic life in reservoirs. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 241:113828. [PMID: 36068755 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113828] [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: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the extent of pollution in an essential public water supply reservoir (southeastern Brazil). An environmental monitoring study was performed at the Billings Reservoir (at the water catchment site) to assess the water quality in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Physicochemical parameters were analyzed, quantifying the total cyanobacteria and the cyanotoxins microcystins (MCs) and saxitoxins (SXTs), as well as their possible ecological risk to the aquatic environment. We also determined metals and metalloids (As, Ba, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Sb) and fecal bacteria (Escherichia coli). Monthly samplings were performed for 2017, 2018, and 2019 (totaling 36 sampling campaigns). Metals, metalloids, and E. coli values were below the maximum limit allowed by the Brazilian legislation. High concentrations of total cyanobacteria (3.07 × 104 - 3.23 × 105 cells/mL), microcystin variants MC-LR (0.67-23.63 μg/L), MC-LA (0.03-8.66 μg/L), MC-RR (0.56-7.92 μg/L), and MC-YR (0.04-1.24 μg/L), as well as the saxitoxins GTX2 (0.18-5.37 μg/L), GTX3 (0.13-4.40 μg/L), and STX (0.12-2.92 μg/L) were detected. From an ecotoxicological point of view, the estimated values for the risk quotient (RQ) for microcystins and saxitoxins were largely greater than 1, indicating a high risk to aquatic life. Therefore, further efforts need to be made to delay the eutrophication of the reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Souza Passos
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Av. Centenário, 13416-000 Piracicaba, Brazil; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Éryka Costa de Almeida
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Villela
- Laboratory of Ictiology of Altamira, Federal University of Pará, Rua Cel. José Porfírio, 68378-000 Altamira, Brazil
| | - Adilson Nunes Fernandes
- Departamento de Recursos Hídricos Metropolitanos (MAR), Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo (SABESP), Rua Costa Carvalho, 05429-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Manzi Marinho
- Department of Plant Biology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 20550-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Levy Carvalho Gomes
- Laboratory of Applied Ichthyology, Vila Velha University, Rua José Dantas de Melo, 29102-770 Vila Velha, Brazil
| | - Ernani Pinto
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Av. Centenário, 13416-000 Piracicaba, Brazil; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil; Food Research Center (FoRC-CEPID), University of São Paulo, Rua do Lago, 05508-080 São Paulo, Brazil
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24
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Dhakar V, Geetanjali AS. Role of pepper mild mottle virus as a tracking tool for fecal pollution in aquatic environments. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:513. [PMID: 35864362 PMCID: PMC9303839 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-03121-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The plant pathogen pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) has recently been proposed as a water quality indicator, it is a RNA virus belonging to the genus Tobamovirus in the family Virgoviridae that causes harm to the pepper crops. After consuming processed food products containing infected peppers, such as hot sauces, PMMoV is excreted in high concentrations in feces; therefore, this is the most common RNA virus, constantly found in the feces of humans. The fecal-oral pathway is emerging as an environmental problem. The presence of high concentrations of pathogens associated with human excreta in environmental waters or water reuse supplies poses a threat to public health. Due to the difficulty in determining the presence of pathogens effectively in water, attempts to monitor microbial water quality often use surrogates or indicator organisms that can be easily detected; therefore, PMMoV is used as a viral surrogate in aquatic environment. This paper describes the incidence and persistence of PMMoV in aquatic environments and in waste treatment plants and its usefulness for quantifying virus reductions by advanced water treatment technologies. In recent research, SARS-CoV-2 was reported to be found in wastewater and utilized for the purpose of monitoring coronavirus illness outbreaks. Since PMMoV is readily identified in the human feces and can also serve as an indicator of human waste, the determined PMMoV concentrations may be utilized to give the normalized report of the SARS-CoV-2 concentration, so that, the amount of human waste found in the wastewater can be taken into consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishali Dhakar
- Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu India
| | - A. Swapna Geetanjali
- Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu India
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25
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The UV Dose Used for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Sweden Inadequately Inactivates Enteric Virus with Double-Stranded Genomes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148669. [PMID: 35886521 PMCID: PMC9316100 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Irradiation with ultraviolet light (UV) at 254 nm is effective in inactivating a wide range of human pathogens. In Sweden, a UV dose of 400 J/m2 is often used for the treatment of drinking water. To investigate its effect on virus inactivation, enteric viruses with different genomic organizations were irradiated with three UV doses (400, 600, and 1000 J/m2), after which their viability on cell cultures was examined. Adenovirus type 2 (double-stranded DNA), simian rotavirus 11 (double-stranded RNA), and echovirus 30 (single-stranded RNA) were suspended in tap water and pumped into a laboratory-scale Aquada 1 UV reactor. Echovirus 30 was reduced by 3.6-log10 by a UV dose of 400 J/m2. Simian rotavirus 11 and adenovirus type 2 were more UV resistant with only 1-log10 reduction at 400 J/m2 and needed 600 J/m2 for 2.9-log10 and 3.1-log10 reductions, respectively. There was no significant increase in the reduction of viral viability at higher UV doses, which may indicate the presence of UV-resistant viruses. These results show that higher UV doses than those usually used in Swedish drinking water treatment plants should be considered in combination with other barriers to disinfect the water when there is a risk of fecal contamination of the water.
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26
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Rocha ADDL, Ferrari RG, Pereira WE, de Lima LA, Givisiez PEN, Moreno-Switt AI, Toro M, Delgado-Suárez EJ, Meng J, de Oliveira CJB. Revisiting the Biological Behavior of Salmonella enterica in Hydric Resources: A Meta-Analysis Study Addressing the Critical Role of Environmental Water on Food Safety and Public Health. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:802625. [PMID: 35722289 PMCID: PMC9201643 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.802625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing number of studies reporting the presence of Salmonella in environmental water sources suggests that it is beyond incidental findings originated from sparse fecal contamination events. However, there is no consensus on the occurrence of Salmonella as its relative serovar representation across non-recycled water sources. We conducted a meta-analysis of proportions by fitting a random-effects model using the restricted maximum-likelihood estimator to obtain the weighted average proportion and between-study variance associated with the occurrence of Salmonella in water sources. Moreover, meta-regression and non-parametric supervised machine learning method were performed to predict the effect of moderators on the frequency of Salmonella in non-recycled water sources. Three sequential steps (identification of information sources, screening and eligibility) were performed to obtain a preliminary selection from identified abstracts and article titles. Questions related to the frequency of Salmonella in aquatic environments, as well as putative differences in the relative frequencies of the reported Salmonella serovars and the role of potential variable moderators (sample source, country, and sample volume) were formulated according to the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome method (PICO). The results were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyzes statement (PRISMA). A total of 26 eligible papers reporting 148 different Salmonella serovars were retrieved. According to our model, the Salmonella frequency in non-recycled water sources was 0.19 [CI: 0.14; 0.25]. The source of water was identified as the most import variable affecting the frequency of Salmonella, estimated as 0.31 and 0.17% for surface and groundwater, respectively. There was a higher frequency of Salmonella in countries with lower human development index (HDI). Small volume samples of surface water resulted in lower detectable Salmonella frequencies both in high and low HDI regions. Relative frequencies of the 148 serovars were significantly affected only by HDI and volume. Considering that serovars representation can also be affected by water sample volume, efforts toward the standardization of water samplings for monitoring purposes should be considered. Further approaches such as metagenomics could provide more comprehensive insights about the microbial ecology of fresh water and its importance for the quality and safety of agricultural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Douglas de Lima Rocha
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Laboratório de Avaliação de Produtos de Origem Animal (LAPOA), Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Areia, Brazil
| | - Rafaela Gomes Ferrari
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Laboratório de Avaliação de Produtos de Origem Animal (LAPOA), Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Areia, Brazil
| | - Walter Esfrain Pereira
- Departamento de Ciências Fundamentais e Sociais, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Areia, Brazil
| | - Laiorayne Araújo de Lima
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Laboratório de Avaliação de Produtos de Origem Animal (LAPOA), Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Areia, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Emília Naves Givisiez
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Laboratório de Avaliação de Produtos de Origem Animal (LAPOA), Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Areia, Brazil
| | - Andrea Isabel Moreno-Switt
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestla, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Magaly Toro
- Laboratorio de Microbiologia y Probioticos, Instituto de Nutricion y Tecnologia de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Jianghong Meng
- Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN), University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Celso José Bruno de Oliveira
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Laboratório de Avaliação de Produtos de Origem Animal (LAPOA), Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Areia, Brazil
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27
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Fradette MS, Culley AI, Charette SJ. Detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in Environmental Water Samples: A Journey into the Past and New Perspectives. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061175. [PMID: 35744692 PMCID: PMC9228427 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the major issues linked with producing safe water for consumption is the presence of the parasitic protozoa Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. Since they are both responsible for gastrointestinal illnesses that can be waterborne, their monitoring is crucial, especially in water sources feeding treatment plants. Although their discovery was made in the early 1900s and even before, it was only in 1999 that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a standardized protocol for the detection of these parasites, modified and named today the U.S. EPA 1623.1 Method. It involves the flow-through filtration of a large volume of the water of interest, the elution of the biological material retained on the filter, the purification of the (oo)cysts, and the detection by immunofluorescence of the target parasites. Since the 1990s, several molecular-biology-based techniques were also developed to detect Cryptosporidium and Giardia cells from environmental or clinical samples. The application of U.S. EPA 1623.1 as well as numerous biomolecular methods are reviewed in this article, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed guiding the readers, such as graduate students, researchers, drinking water managers, epidemiologists, and public health specialists, through the ever-expanding number of techniques available in the literature for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Stéphanie Fradette
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.I.C.); (S.J.C.)
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et Génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Aménagement et Développement du Territoire (CRAD), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Correspondence:
| | - Alexander I. Culley
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.I.C.); (S.J.C.)
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et Génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Buccale (GREB), Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Steve J. Charette
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.I.C.); (S.J.C.)
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Faculté des Sciences et Génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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Zhang D, Prigiobbe V. Measuring and modeling the influence of salinity change on the transport behaviour of Escherichia coli through quartz sand. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2022; 248:104016. [PMID: 35512510 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2022.104016] [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: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic bacteria can be discharged in the environment through natural as well as anthropogenic activities. Once in the environment, they may contaminate soil and sediments and migrate towards water bodies. Transient chemical conditions may occur in soil/sediments and favor mobilization of bacteria, e.g., upon the reduction of salinity (or ionic strength). However, the magnitude of this phenomenon and its relationship with particle size is not well understood, yet. In this work, we investigated the transport of Escherichia coli under variable salinity conditions (between 1 and 20 part per thousand, ppt) and for different soil grain sizes (between 150 and 710 μm). A model developed in our group was applied in this work. It couples bacteria and salinity transport equations in order to account for transient water composition in the description of bacteria migration. The model was calibrated and validated with laboratory experiments. The tests were monitored continuously with UV-Vis spectroscopy, which allowed to record highly resolved concentration fronts. The results show that salinity increases the retardation of the bacteria. Upon salinity drop, a release of bacteria occurs forming a peak whose magnitude increases with salinity change. This effect becomes more important as the grain size decreases. Simulations suggest that the dominant retention mechanism is attachment for coarse sand and straining for fine sand. The retention can be reversed as the salinity is reduced causing a sudden bacteria mobilization. Such a behaviour may have important implications on microbial contamination of water bodies when soil/sediments undergo transient chemical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Zhang
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken, NJ 07030, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - Valentina Prigiobbe
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken, NJ 07030, United States.
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29
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Burch TR, Stokdyk JP, Rice N, Anderson AC, Walsh JF, Spencer SK, Firnstahl AD, Borchardt MA. Statewide Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Waterborne Viruses, Bacteria, and Protozoa in Public Water Supply Wells in Minnesota. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6315-6324. [PMID: 35507527 PMCID: PMC9118547 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c06472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Infection risk from waterborne pathogens can be estimated via quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) and forms an important consideration in the management of public groundwater systems. However, few groundwater QMRAs use site-specific hazard identification and exposure assessment, so prevailing risks in these systems remain poorly defined. We estimated the infection risk for 9 waterborne pathogens based on a 2-year pathogen occurrence study in which 964 water samples were collected from 145 public wells throughout Minnesota, USA. Annual risk across all nine pathogens combined was 3.3 × 10-1 (95% CI: 2.3 × 10-1 to 4.2 × 10-1), 3.9 × 10-2 (2.3 × 10-2 to 5.4 × 10-2), and 1.2 × 10-1 (2.6 × 10-2 to 2.7 × 10-1) infections person-1 year-1 for noncommunity, nondisinfecting community, and disinfecting community wells, respectively. Risk estimates exceeded the U.S. benchmark of 10-4 infections person-1 year-1 in 59% of well-years, indicating that the risk was widespread. While the annual risk for all pathogens combined was relatively high, the average daily doses for individual pathogens were low, indicating that significant risk results from sporadic pathogen exposure. Cryptosporidium dominated annual risk, so improved identification of wells susceptible to Cryptosporidium contamination may be important for risk mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tucker R. Burch
- U.S.
Department of Agriculture−Agricultural Research Service (USDA−ARS),
Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
- Laboratory
for Infectious Disease and the Environment (An Interagency Laboratory Supported By USDA-ARS and the U.S. Geological
Survey), 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
- . Phone: 715-207-9244
| | - Joel P. Stokdyk
- Laboratory
for Infectious Disease and the Environment (An Interagency Laboratory Supported By USDA-ARS and the U.S. Geological
Survey), 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
| | - Nancy Rice
- Minnesota
Department of Health, P.O. Box 64975, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164, United States
| | - Anita C. Anderson
- Minnesota
Department of Health, P.O. Box 64975, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164, United States
| | - James F. Walsh
- Minnesota
Department of Health, P.O. Box 64975, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164, United States
| | - Susan K. Spencer
- U.S.
Department of Agriculture−Agricultural Research Service (USDA−ARS),
Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
- Laboratory
for Infectious Disease and the Environment (An Interagency Laboratory Supported By USDA-ARS and the U.S. Geological
Survey), 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
| | - Aaron D. Firnstahl
- Laboratory
for Infectious Disease and the Environment (An Interagency Laboratory Supported By USDA-ARS and the U.S. Geological
Survey), 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
| | - Mark A. Borchardt
- U.S.
Department of Agriculture−Agricultural Research Service (USDA−ARS),
Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
- Laboratory
for Infectious Disease and the Environment (An Interagency Laboratory Supported By USDA-ARS and the U.S. Geological
Survey), 2615 Yellowstone Drive, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449, United States
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30
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Lapworth DJ, Boving TB, Kreamer DK, Kebede S, Smedley PL. Groundwater quality: Global threats, opportunities and realising the potential of groundwater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 811:152471. [PMID: 34915019 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater is a critical resource enabling adaptation due to land use change, population growth, environmental degradation, and climate change. It can be a driver of change and adaptation, as well as effectively mitigate impacts brought about by a range of human activities. Groundwater quality is key to assessing groundwater resources and we need to improve our understanding and coverage of groundwater quality threats if we are to use groundwater sustainably to not further burden future generations by limiting resources and/or increasing treatment or abstraction costs. Good groundwater quality is key to progress on a range of Sustainable Development Goals, but achievement of those goals most affected by groundwater contamination is often hindered by of a lack of resources to enable adaptation. A range of threats to groundwater quality exist, both natural and anthropogenic, which may constrain groundwater use. However, groundwater often provides good quality water for a range of purposes and is the most important water resource in many settings. This special issue explores some of the key groundwater quality challenges we face today as well as the opportunities good groundwater quality and treatment solutions bring to enhance safe groundwater use. Legacy anthropogenic contaminants and geogenic contaminants may be well documented in certain places, such as N America, Europe and parts of Asia. However, there is a real issue of data accessibility in some regions, even for more common contaminants. This paucity of information can restrict our understanding and ability to manage and protect groundwater sources. Compared to surface water quality, large scale assessments for groundwater quality are still scarce and often rely on inadequate data sets. Better access to existing data sets and more research is needed on many groundwater quality threats. Identification and quantification of these threats will support the wise use and protection of this subsurface resource, allow society to adequately address future challenges, and help communities realise the full potential of groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Lapworth
- British Geological Survey, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK.
| | - T B Boving
- Department of Geosciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - D K Kreamer
- Department of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - S Kebede
- Centre for Water Resources Research, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - P L Smedley
- British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire NG12 5GG, UK
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Monitoring coliphages to reduce waterborne infectious disease transmission in the One Water framework. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 240:113921. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Sorensen JPR, Aldous P, Bunting SY, McNally S, Townsend BR, Barnett MJ, Harding T, La Ragione RM, Stuart ME, Tipper HJ, Pedley S. Seasonality of enteric viruses in groundwater-derived public water sources. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 207:117813. [PMID: 34785409 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the seasonal prevalence of seven enteric viruses in groundwater-derived public water sources distributed across the dominant aquifers of England. Sampling targeted four periods in the hydrological cycle with typically varying microbial risks, as indicated using a decade of Escherichia coli prevalence data. Viruses were concentrated onsite by filtration of raw groundwater, and extracted nucleic acid (NA) was amplified by qPCR or RT-qPCR. Seven out of eight sources, all aquifers, and 31% of samples were positive for viral NA. The most frequently detected viral NA targets were Hepatitis A virus (17% samples, 63% sites), norovirus GI (14% samples, 38% sites), and Hepatitis E virus (7% samples, 25% sites). Viral NA presence was episodic, being most prevalent and at its highest concentration during November and January, the main groundwater recharge season, with 89% of all positive detects occurring during a rising water table. Seasonal norovirus NA detections matched its seasonal incidence within the population. Viral NA is arriving with groundwater recharge, as opposed to persisting for long-periods within the saturated zone. Neither total coliforms nor E. coli were significant predictors of viral NA presence-absence, and there was limited co-occurrence between viruses. Nevertheless, a source with an absence of E. coli in regularly collected historical data is unlikely to be at risk of viral contamination. To manage potential groundwater viral contamination via risk assessment, larger scale studies are required to understand key risk factors, with the evidence here suggesting viral NA is widespread across a range of typical microbial risk settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Phil Aldous
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; AECOM, Alencon Link, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 7PP, UK
| | - Sarah Y Bunting
- British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Susan McNally
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7AL, UK
| | - Barry R Townsend
- British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Megan J Barnett
- British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Tessa Harding
- Thomson Environmental Consultants, Compass House, Surrey Research Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7AG, UK
| | - Roberto M La Ragione
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7AL, UK
| | - Marianne E Stuart
- British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Holly J Tipper
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), Maclean Building, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Steve Pedley
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
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Cao Q, Yang L, Wang Z, Liang C, Wang Y. Investigation and source analysis of bacterial contamination in groundwater in Liuzhou City, China. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:760. [PMID: 34719740 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09540-x] [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: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater is an important water source to consider when ensuring the safety of urban water supply. Groundwater contaminated by bacteria poses a potential health risk to the drinking water supply. This study focuses on the water supply of Liuzhou City, a famous industrial city in China. Analyses of the concentrations, spatial distribution, and pollution sources of bacteria in the groundwater were conducted based on samples collected from 27 wells during the wet and dry seasons in 2018. The total colony counts and total coliform were high during both the wet and dry seasons, posing a severe threat to the emergency water supply security for more than one million people in the city. The groundwater in Liuzhou City is generally contaminated by bacteria, with higher pollution levels in the northern urban-rural fringe and central urban areas. Domestic pollution is the main sources of groundwater bacteria. In addition, bacterially contaminated rivers (Liujiang River) passing through the urban area likely transfer bacteria to the groundwater due to the circulation of the groundwater and surface river water. Controlling the bacterial pollution of groundwater in this region requires adherence to a long-term management plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyi Cao
- College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Liu Yang
- College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Zhiying Wang
- College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chaoming Liang
- College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yuetian Wang
- College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China
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34
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Hunter B, Walker I, Lassiter R, Lassiter V, Gibson JM, Ferguson PL, Deshusses MA. Evaluation of private well contaminants in an underserved North Carolina community. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 789:147823. [PMID: 34082211 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
On-site sewage treatment systems can be an important source of antibiotic resistant bacteria and organic micropollutants into adjacent groundwater. Due to the frequent proximity of private wells to septic systems, this contamination is a concern to communities that do not have access to public municipal services. In both rural and urban environments, low-income communities, indigenous communities and those of color are disproportionately affected by well contamination. The objective of this study was to assess well water quality in an underserved North Carolina community by performing a comprehensive evaluation of microbial and organic micropollutant occurrence and determining possible sources of contamination. Well water, septic tanks, and adjacent municipal water were sampled. Culture- and molecular biology-based microbial analysis and non-targeted, high resolution mass spectrometry chemical analysis were conducted to assess water quality in comparison to nearby municipal water. Three of thirteen homes had between 1 and 6.3 CFUs/100 mL of E. coli and two homes had fecal bacteria resistant to antibiotics in their well water. The water of four homes showed concentrations of the artificial sweetener sucralose, a wastewater tracer, higher than the municipal water (range ~ 60-1500 ng L-1). The human-specific HF183 fecal marker was detected in 79% of the wells tested. The presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in four home wells, along with the presence of pesticides and insecticides in two homes, suggest possible contamination from septic tanks and lawn care runoff. The implications of this work highlight the necessity of wider scale contaminant evaluation of well water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Hunter
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Imari Walker
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - P Lee Ferguson
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Marc A Deshusses
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Pang X, Gao T, Qiu Y, Caffrey N, Popadynetz J, Younger J, Lee BE, Neumann N, Checkley S. The prevalence and levels of enteric viruses in groundwater of private wells in rural Alberta, Canada. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 202:117425. [PMID: 34284123 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence and levels of enteric viruses in untreated groundwater of private wells used for drinking and/or agricultural practices in rural Alberta were studied using the qPCR panel assay, integrated cell culture with qPCR and cell culture in the volume of 500 liters per sample through serial sampling. Seven viruses were assessed including adenovirus, rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, sapovirus, reovirus and JC virus. Five viruses were detected with an overall positive detection rate of 6.33 % (45 of 711 samples). The most frequently detected virus was adenovirus (48.9%, 22/45) followed by rotavirus (44.4%, 20/45), reovirus (20%, 9/45), JC virus (6.7%, 3/45) and norovirus (6.7%, 3/45). There was no significant difference in the positive detection rates, ranging from 1.1% to 3.4% by various well settings used for broiler farms, cow/calf farms, feedlots and rural acreages. Effects of well characteristics (aquifer type, well depth, static level of water, well seal) and well completion lithology on potential viral contamination of groundwater of private wells were also analyzed upon available data. The findings demonstrate that occurrence of enteric viruses is low and viral contamination is sporadic in groundwater of private wells in rural Alberta. Conventional fecal bacterial indicators (coliform and/or E. coli) were not a representative marker for viral contamination in groundwater wells in rural Alberta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Pang
- The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, 4B1.19 Walter Mackenzie Centre, 8440 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2B7, Canada; Alberta Precision Laboratories, 2B4.58 Walter Mackenzie Centre, 8440 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J2, Canada.
| | - Tiejun Gao
- The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, 4B1.19 Walter Mackenzie Centre, 8440 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2B7, Canada
| | - Yuanyuan Qiu
- The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, 4B1.19 Walter Mackenzie Centre, 8440 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2B7, Canada
| | - Niamh Caffrey
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, TRW 2D01 Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Jessica Popadynetz
- Alberta Health Services, 10055 - 106 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 2Y2, Canada
| | - John Younger
- Alberta Health Services, 10055 - 106 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 2Y2, Canada
| | - Bonita E Lee
- The Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Norman Neumann
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 AveEdmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Sylvia Checkley
- Alberta Precision Laboratories, 2B4.58 Walter Mackenzie Centre, 8440 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J2, Canada; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, TRW 2D01 Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
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Recovery of Nucleic Acids of Enteric Viruses and Host-Specific Bacteroidales from Groundwater by Using an Adsorption-Direct Extraction Method. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e0071021. [PMID: 34232739 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00710-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the adsorption-elution method was modified to concentrate viral particles in water samples and investigate the contamination of groundwater with norovirus genogroup II (NoV GII), rotavirus A (RVA), and Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV). The mean recovery rate of a murine norovirus strain, which was inoculated into groundwater samples collected from a deep well, was the highest (39%) when the viral RNA was directly extracted from the membrane instead of eluting the adsorbed viral particles. This adsorption-direct extraction method was applied to groundwater samples (20 liters) collected from deep wells used for the public drinking water supply (n = 22) and private wells (n = 9). RVA (85 copies/liter) and NoV GII (35 copies/liter) were detected in water samples from a deep well and a private well, respectively. PMMoV was detected in 95% and 89% of water samples from deep wells and private wells, respectively, at concentrations of up to 990 copies/liter. The modified method was also used to extract bacterial DNA from the membrane (recovery rate of inoculated Escherichia coli K-12 was 22%). The Bacteroidales genetic markers specific to ruminants (BacR) and pigs (Pig2Bac) were detected in samples from a deep well and a private well, respectively. The modified virus concentration method has important implications for the management of microbiological safety in the groundwater supply. IMPORTANCE We investigated the presence of enteric viruses and bacterial genetic markers to determine fecal contamination in groundwater samples from deep wells used for the public drinking water supply and private wells in Japan. Groundwater is often subjected to chlorination; malfunctions in chlorine treatment result in waterborne disease outbreaks. The modified method successfully concentrated both viruses and bacteria in 20-liter groundwater samples. Norovirus genogroup II (GII), rotavirus A, Pepper mild mottle virus, and Bacteroidales genetic markers specific to ruminants and pigs were detected. Frequent flooding caused by increased incidences of extreme rainfall events promotes the infiltration of surface runoff containing livestock wastes and untreated wastewater into wells, possibly increasing groundwater contamination risk. The practical and efficient method developed in this study will enable waterworks and the environmental health departments of municipal/prefectural governments to monitor water quality. Additionally, the modified method will contribute to improving the microbiological safety of groundwater.
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Burch TR, Stokdyk JP, Spencer SK, Kieke BA, Firnstahl AD, Muldoon MA, Borchardt MA. Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Contaminated Private Wells in the Fractured Dolomite Aquifer of Kewaunee County, Wisconsin. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:67003. [PMID: 34160247 PMCID: PMC8221031 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Private wells are an important source of drinking water in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin. Due to the region's fractured dolomite aquifer, these wells are vulnerable to contamination by human and zoonotic gastrointestinal pathogens originating from land-applied cattle manure and private septic systems. OBJECTIVE We determined the magnitude of the health burden associated with contamination of private wells in Kewaunee County by feces-borne gastrointestinal pathogens. METHODS This study used data from a year-long countywide pathogen occurrence study as inputs into a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to predict the total cases of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) caused by private well contamination in the county. Microbial source tracking was used to associate predicted cases of illness with bovine, human, or unknown fecal sources. RESULTS Results suggest that private well contamination could be responsible for as many as 301 AGI cases per year in Kewaunee County, and that 230 and 12 cases per year were associated with a bovine and human fecal source, respectively. Furthermore, Cryptosporidium parvum was predicted to cause 190 cases per year, the most out of all 8 pathogens included in the QMRA. DISCUSSION This study has important implications for land use and water resource management in Kewaunee County and informs the public health impacts of consuming drinking water produced in other similarly vulnerable hydrogeological settings. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7815.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tucker R. Burch
- Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Joel P. Stokdyk
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Susan K. Spencer
- Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Burney A. Kieke
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Aaron D. Firnstahl
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Maureen A. Muldoon
- Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mark A. Borchardt
- Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
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38
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Borchardt MA, Stokdyk JP, Kieke BA, Muldoon MA, Spencer SK, Firnstahl AD, Bonness DE, Hunt RJ, Burch TR. Sources and Risk Factors for Nitrate and Microbial Contamination of Private Household Wells in the Fractured Dolomite Aquifer of Northeastern Wisconsin. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:67004. [PMID: 34160249 PMCID: PMC8221036 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Groundwater quality in the Silurian dolomite aquifer in northeastern Wisconsin, USA, has become contentious as dairy farms and exurban development expand. OBJECTIVES We investigated private household wells in the region, determining the extent, sources, and risk factors of nitrate and microbial contamination. METHODS Total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and nitrate were evaluated by synoptic sampling during groundwater recharge and no-recharge periods. Additional seasonal sampling measured genetic markers of human and bovine fecal-associated microbes and enteric zoonotic pathogens. We constructed multivariable regression models of detection probability (log-binomial) and concentration (gamma) for each contaminant to identify risk factors related to land use, precipitation, hydrogeology, and well construction. RESULTS Total coliforms and nitrate were strongly associated with depth-to-bedrock at well sites and nearby agricultural land use, but not septic systems. Both human wastewater and cattle manure contributed to well contamination. Rotavirus group A, Cryptosporidium, and Salmonella were the most frequently detected pathogens. Wells positive for human fecal markers were associated with depth-to-groundwater and number of septic system drainfield within 229m. Manure-contaminated wells were associated with groundwater recharge and the area size of nearby agricultural land. Wells positive for any fecal-associated microbe, regardless of source, were associated with septic system density and manure storage proximity modified by bedrock depth. Well construction was generally not related to contamination, indicating land use, groundwater recharge, and bedrock depth were the most important risk factors. DISCUSSION These findings may inform policies to minimize contamination of the Silurian dolomite aquifer, a major water supply for the U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes region. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7813.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Borchardt
- Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Joel P. Stokdyk
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Burney A. Kieke
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Maureen A. Muldoon
- Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Susan K. Spencer
- Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Aaron D. Firnstahl
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Davina E. Bonness
- Kewaunee County Department of Land and Water Conservation, Luxemburg, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Randall J. Hunt
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Middleton, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Tucker R. Burch
- Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA
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Hayward JL, Huang Y, Hansen LT, Yost CK, Lake C, Jamieson RC. Fate and distribution of determinants of antimicrobial resistance in lateral flow sand filters used for treatment of domestic wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 767:145481. [PMID: 33636762 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145481] [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: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Residuals of antimicrobial products from anthropogenic uses can create a selective environment in domestic wastewater treatment systems and receiving environments and contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). On-site wastewater treatment systems are widely used for domestic wastewater management in rural and remote regions, but the fate of determinants of AMR in these types of environments has received little attention. In this study, the mechanisms responsible for the attenuation of determinants of AMR in lateral flow sand filters were explored using a combination of lab, field and modeling investigations. The degradation kinetics and adsorption potential in the sand filter medium of three antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs; sul1, tetO, and ermB) and culturable bacteria resistant to sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and erythromycin were measured using lab experiments. The spatial distribution of ARGs and antibiotic resistant bacteria were also assessed in field scale sand filters, and mechanistic modeling was conducted to characterize filtration processes. The results indicated that the primary mechanisms responsible for AMR attenuation within the sand filters were degradation and filtration. The spatial distribution of AMR determinants illustrated that attenuation was occurring along the entire length of each filter. This study provides new insights on primary mechanisms of AMR attenuation in on-site wastewater treatment systems and supports the use of conservative design guidelines and separation distances for reducing AMR transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Hayward
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil & Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Yannan Huang
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil & Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | | | - Christopher K Yost
- Department of Biology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2, Canada.
| | - Craig Lake
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil & Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Rob C Jamieson
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil & Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
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Abstract
This study aimed to assess and compare the quality of groundwater in the city of Al-Marj in Libya with the international standard guidelines for drinking water recommended by the World Health Organisation. An evaluation of the groundwater wells in the study area was conducted. Standard techniques, such as Minitab (v. 16) and ArcGIS (v.10.2), were used for the analytics of the physicochemical and biological parameters of the groundwater samples. An assessment of the calculation of groundwater quality was conducted on the basis of temperature, pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, chloride, sulphate, bicarbonate, total hardness, calcium, potassium, magnesium, ammonia, ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrate, sodium, copper, iron, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, Escherichia coli and total coliform bacteria. Results indicated that most groundwater wells in the study area display a higher concentration of several parameters compared with the permissible limits of drinking water; thus, the water in these wells is chemically and biologically unsafe for drinking purposes. On the basis of the above results, routine water quality monitoring should be performed and additional water filtration plants should be installed by the local government to obtain safe drinking water.
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Chique C, Hynds P, Burke LP, Morris D, Ryan MP, O'Dwyer J. Contamination of domestic groundwater systems by verotoxigenic escherichia coli (VTEC), 2003-2019: A global scoping review. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 188:116496. [PMID: 33059158 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) are important agents of diarrhoeal disease in humans globally. As a noted waterborne disease, emphasis has been given to the study VTEC in surface waters, readily susceptible to microbial contamination. Conversely, the status of VTEC in potable groundwater sources, generally regarded as a "safe" drinking-water supply remains largely understudied. As such, this investigation presents the first scoping review seeking to determine the global prevalence of VTEC in groundwater supply sources intended for human consumption. Twenty-three peer-reviewed studies were identified and included for data extraction. Groundwater sample and supply detection rates (estimated 0.6 and 1.3%, respectively) indicate VTEC is infrequently present in domestic groundwater sources. However, where generic (fecal indicator) E. coli are present, the VTEC to E. coli ratio was found to be 9.9%, representing a latent health concern for groundwater consumers. Geographically, extracted data indicates higher VTEC detection rates in urban (5.4%) and peri‑urban (4.9%) environments than in rural areas (0.9%); however, this finding is confounded by the predominance of research studies in lower income regions. Climate trends indicate local environments classified as 'temperate' (14/554; 2.5%) and 'cold' (8/392; 2%) accounted for a majority of supply sources with VTEC present, with similar detection rates encountered among supplies sampled during periods typically characterized by 'high' precipitation (15/649; 2.3%). Proposed prevalence figures may find application in preventive risk-based catchment and groundwater quality management including development of Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessments (QMRA). Notwithstanding, to an extent, a large geographical disparity in available investigations, lack of standardized reporting, and bias in source selection, restrict the transferability of research findings. Overall, the mechanisms responsible for VTEC transport and ingress into groundwater supplies remain ambiguous, representing a critical knowledge gap, and denoting a distinctive lack of integration between hydrogeological and public health research. Key recommendations and guidelines are provided for prospective studies directed at increasingly integrative and multi-disciplinary research.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Chique
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - P Hynds
- Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute (ESHI), Technological University Dublin.
| | - L P Burke
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - D Morris
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - M P Ryan
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - J O'Dwyer
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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