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Steinbacher SD, Ameen A, Demeter K, Lun D, Derx J, Lindner G, Sommer R, Linke RB, Kolm C, Zuser K, Heckel M, Perschl A, Blöschl G, Blaschke AP, Kirschner AKT, Farnleitner AH. Assessing the impact of inland navigation on the faecal pollution status of large rivers: A novel integrated field approach. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 261:122029. [PMID: 38996728 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
The contribution of ships to the microbial faecal pollution status of water bodies is largely unknown but frequently of human health concern. No methodology for a comprehensive and target-orientated system analysis was available so far. We developed a novel approach for integrated and multistage impact evaluation. The approach includes, i) theoretical faecal pollution source profiling (PSP, i.e., size and pollution capacity estimation from municipal vs. ship sewage disposal) for impact scenario estimation and hypothesis generation, ii) high-resolution field assessment of faecal pollution levels and chemo-physical water quality at the selected river reaches, using standardized faecal indicators (cultivation-based) and genetic microbial source tracking markers (qPCR-based), and iii) integrated statistical analyses of the observed faecal pollution and the number of ships assessed by satellite-based automated ship tracking (i.e., automated identification system, AIS) at local and regional scales. The new approach was realised at a 230 km long Danube River reach in Austria, enabling detailed understanding of the complex pollution characteristics (i.e., longitudinal/cross-sectional river and upstream/downstream docking area analysis). Faecal impact of navigation was demonstrated to be remarkably low at regional and local scale (despite a high local contamination capacity), indicating predominantly correct disposal practices during the investigated period. Nonetheless, faecal emissions were sensitively traceable, attributable to the ship category (discriminated types: cruise, passenger and freight ships) and individual vessels (docking time analysis) at one docking area by the link with AIS data. The new innovative and sensitive approach is transferrable to any water body worldwide with available ship-tracking data, supporting target-orientated monitoring and evidence-based management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia D Steinbacher
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, A-3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics E166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ahmad Ameen
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management E222, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katalin Demeter
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics E166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - David Lun
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management E222, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Derx
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management E222, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Lindner
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Regina Sommer
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rita B Linke
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics E166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Kolm
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, A-3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Karen Zuser
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, A-3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Martina Heckel
- Abteilung Wasserwirtschaft (WA2), Government of Lower Austria, A-3109 St. Pölten, Landhausplatz 1, Haus 2, Austria
| | - Andrea Perschl
- Abteilung Wasserwirtschaft (WA2), Government of Lower Austria, A-3109 St. Pölten, Landhausplatz 1, Haus 2, Austria
| | - Günter Blöschl
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management E222, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alfred P Blaschke
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management E222, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, A-3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria; Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Microbiology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, A-3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics E166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria.
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2
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Schachner-Groehs I, Koller M, Leopold M, Kolm C, Linke RB, Jakwerth S, Kolarević S, Kračun-Kolarević M, Kandler W, Sulyok M, Vierheilig J, Toumi M, Farkas R, Toth E, Kittinger C, Zarfel G, Farnleitner AH, Kirschner AKT. Linking antibiotic resistance gene patterns with advanced faecal pollution assessment and environmental key parameters along 2300 km of the Danube River. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 252:121244. [PMID: 38340455 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121244] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment is a growing health threat. Large rivers are of particular concern as they are highly impacted by wastewater discharge while being vital lifelines serving various human needs. A comprehensive understanding of occurrence, spread and key drivers of AMR along whole river courses is largely lacking. We provide a holistic approach by studying spatiotemporal patterns and hotspots of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) along 2311 km of the navigable Danube River, combining a longitudinal and temporal monitoring campaign. The integration of advanced faecal pollution diagnostics and environmental and chemical key parameters allowed linking ARG concentrations to the major pollution sources and explaining the observed patterns. Nine AMR markers, including genes conferring resistance to five different antibiotic classes of clinical and environmental relevance, and one integrase gene were determined by probe-based qPCR. All AMR targets could be quantified in Danube River water, with intI1 and sul1 being ubiquitously abundant, qnrS, tetM, blaTEM with intermediate abundance and blaOXA-48like, blaCTX-M-1 group, blaCTX-M-9 group and blaKPC genes with rare occurrence. Human faecal pollution from municipal wastewater discharges was the dominant factor shaping ARG patterns along the Danube River. Other significant correlations of specific ARGs were observed with discharge, certain metals and pesticides. In contrast, intI1 was not associated with wastewater but was already established in the water microbiome. Animal contamination was detected only sporadically and was correlated with ARGs only in the temporal sampling set. During temporal monitoring, an extraordinary hotspot was identified emphasizing the variability within natural waters. This study provides the first comprehensive baseline concentrations of ARGs in the Danube River and lays the foundation for monitoring future trends and evaluating potential reduction measures. The applided holistic approach proved to be a valuable methodological contribution towards a better understanding of the environmental occurrence of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Schachner-Groehs
- Institute of Hygiene and Applied Immunology - Water Microbiology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Michael Koller
- Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Melanie Leopold
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, Krems an der Donau 3500, Austria
| | - Claudia Kolm
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, Krems an der Donau 3500, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Technische Universität Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, Vienna 1060, Austria
| | - Rita B Linke
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Technische Universität Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, Vienna 1060, Austria
| | - Stefan Jakwerth
- Institute of Hygiene and Applied Immunology - Water Microbiology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Stoimir Kolarević
- Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection, Institute for Biological Research ¨Siniša Stanković¨, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, Belgrade 11060, Serbia
| | - Margareta Kračun-Kolarević
- Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection, Institute for Biological Research ¨Siniša Stanković¨, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, Belgrade 11060, Serbia
| | - Wolfgang Kandler
- Department of Agrotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, Tulln an der Donau 3430, Austria
| | - Michael Sulyok
- Department of Agrotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, Tulln an der Donau 3430, Austria
| | - Julia Vierheilig
- Institute of Water Quality and Resource Management, Technische Universität Wien, Karlsplatz 13/226-1, Wien 1040, Austria
| | - Marwene Toumi
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C., H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Rózsa Farkas
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C., H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Erika Toth
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C., H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Clemens Kittinger
- Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Gernot Zarfel
- Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, Krems an der Donau 3500, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Technische Universität Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, Vienna 1060, Austria.
| | - A K T Kirschner
- Institute of Hygiene and Applied Immunology - Water Microbiology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, Vienna 1090, Austria; Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, Krems an der Donau 3500, Austria.
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3
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Monteiro S, Machado-Moreira B, Linke R, Blanch AR, Ballesté E, Méndez J, Maunula L, Oristo S, Stange C, Tiehm A, Farnleitner AH, Santos R, García-Aljaro C. Performance of bacterial and mitochondrial qPCR source tracking methods: A European multi-center study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 253:114241. [PMID: 37611533 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
With the advent of molecular biology diagnostics, different quantitative PCR assays have been developed for use in Source Tracking (ST), with none of them showing 100% specificity and sensitivity. Most studies have been conducted at a regional level and mainly in fecal slurry rather than in animal wastewater. The use of a single molecular assay has most often proven to fall short in discriminating with precision the sources of fecal contamination. This work is a multicenter European ST study to compare bacterial and mitochondrial molecular assays and was set to evaluate the efficiency of nine previously described qPCR assays targeting human-, cow/ruminant-, pig-, and poultry-associated fecal contamination. The study was conducted in five European countries with seven fecal indicators and nine ST assays being evaluated in a total of 77 samples. Animal fecal slurry samples and human and non-human wastewater samples were analyzed. Fecal indicators measured by culture and qPCR were generally ubiquitous in the samples. The ST qPCR markers performed at high levels in terms of quantitative sensitivity and specificity demonstrating large geographical application. Sensitivity varied between 73% (PLBif) and 100% for the majority of the tested markers. On the other hand, specificity ranged from 53% (CWMit) and 97% (BacR). Animal-associated ST qPCR markers were generally detected in concentrations greater than those found for the respective human-associated qPCR markers, with mean concentration for the Bacteroides qPCR markers varying between 8.74 and 7.22 log10 GC/10 mL for the pig and human markers, respectively. Bacteroides spp. and mitochondrial DNA qPCR markers generally presented higher Spearman's rank coefficient in the pooled fecal samples tested, particularly the human fecal markers with a coefficient of 0.79. The evaluation of the performance of Bacteroides spp., mitochondrial DNA and Bifidobacterium spp. ST qPCR markers support advanced pollution monitoring of impaired aquatic environments, aiming to elaborate strategies for target-oriented water quality management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Monteiro
- Laboratório de Análises, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal; CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, EN. 10, 2695-066, Bobadela, Portugal.
| | - Bernardino Machado-Moreira
- Laboratório de Análises, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita Linke
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstr. 1a, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anicet R Blanch
- Dept. Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Elisenda Ballesté
- Dept. Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Javier Méndez
- Dept. Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Leena Maunula
- Dept. Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Satu Oristo
- Dept. Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Claudia Stange
- Dept. Water Microbiology, DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser, Germany
| | - Andreas Tiehm
- Dept. Water Microbiology, DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser, Germany
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstr. 1a, 1060, Vienna, Austria; Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Research Division Water Quality and Health, Dr.- Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Ricardo Santos
- Laboratório de Análises, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal; CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, EN. 10, 2695-066, Bobadela, Portugal
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4
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Sresung M, Paisantham P, Ruksakul P, Kongprajug A, Chyerochana N, Gallage TP, Srathongneam T, Rattanakul S, Maneein S, Surasen C, Passananon S, Mongkolsuk S, Sirikanchana K. Microbial source tracking using molecular and cultivable methods in a tropical mixed-use drinking water source to support water safety plans. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 876:162689. [PMID: 36898534 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162689] [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: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microbial contamination deteriorates source water quality, posing a severe problem for drinking water suppliers worldwide and addressed by the Water Safety Plan framework to ensure high-quality and reliable drinking water. Microbial source tracking (MST) is used to examine different microbial pollution sources via host-specific intestinal markers for humans and different types of animals. However, the application of MST in tropical surface water catchments that provide raw water for drinking water supplies is limited. We analyzed a set of MST markers, namely, three cultivable bacteriophages and four molecular PCR and qPCR assays, together with 17 microbial and physicochemical parameters, to identify fecal pollution from general, human-, swine-, and cattle-specific sources. Seventy-two river water samples at six sampling sites were collected over 12 sampling events during wet and dry seasons. We found persistent fecal contamination via the general fecal marker GenBac3 (100 % detection; 2.10-5.42 log10 copies/100 mL), with humans (crAssphage; 74 % detection; 1.62-3.81 log10 copies/100 mL) and swine (Pig-2-Bac; 25 % detection; 1.92-2.91 log10 copies/100 mL). Higher contamination levels were observed during the wet season (p < 0.05). The conventional PCR screening used for the general and human markers showed 94.4 % and 69.8 % agreement with the respective qPCR results. Specifically, in the studied watershed, coliphage could be a screening parameter for the crAssphage marker (90.6 % and 73.7 % positive and negative predictive values; Spearman's rank correlation coefficient = 0.66; p < 0.001). The likelihood of detecting the crAssphage marker significantly increased when total and fecal coliforms exceeded 20,000 and 4000 MPN/100 mL, respectively, as Thailand Surface Water Quality Standards, with odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals of 15.75 (4.43-55.98) and 5.65 (1.39-23.05). Our study confirms the potential benefits of incorporating MST monitoring into water safety plans, supporting the use of this approach to ensure high-quality drinking water supplies worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montakarn Sresung
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Phongsawat Paisantham
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Pacharaporn Ruksakul
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Akechai Kongprajug
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Natcha Chyerochana
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Tharindu Pollwatta Gallage
- Program in Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Thitima Srathongneam
- Program in Applied Biological Sciences, Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Surapong Rattanakul
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
| | - Siriwara Maneein
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
| | - Chatsinee Surasen
- Water Resources and Environment Department, Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Somsak Passananon
- Line of Deputy Governor (Water Production), Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, 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, 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, Thailand.
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5
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Derx J, Kılıç HS, Linke R, Cervero-Aragó S, Frick C, Schijven J, Kirschner AKT, Lindner G, Walochnik J, Stalder G, Sommer R, Saracevic E, Zessner M, Blaschke AP, Farnleitner AH. Probabilistic fecal pollution source profiling and microbial source tracking for an urban river catchment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159533. [PMID: 36270368 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159533] [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: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We developed an innovative approach to estimate the occurrence and extent of fecal pollution sources for urban river catchments. The methodology consists of 1) catchment surveys complemented by literature data where needed for probabilistic estimates of daily produced fecal indicator (FIBs, E. coli, enterococci) and zoonotic reference pathogen numbers (Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium and Giardia) excreted by human and animal sources in a river catchment, 2) generating a hypothesis about the dominant sources of fecal pollution and selecting a source targeted monitoring design, and 3) verifying the results by comparing measured concentrations of the informed choice of parameters (i.e. chemical tracers, C. perfringensspores, and host-associated genetic microbial source tracking (MST) markers) in the river, and by multi-parametric correlation analysis. We tested the approach at a study area in Vienna, Austria. The daily produced microbial particle numbers according to the probabilistic estimates indicated that, for the dry weather scenario, the discharge of treated wastewater (WWTP) was the primary contributor to fecal pollution. For the wet weather scenario, 80-99 % of the daily produced FIBs and pathogens resulted from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) according to the probabilistic estimates. When testing our hypothesis in the river, the measured concentrations of the human genetic fecal marker were log10 4 higher than for selected animal genetic fecal markers. Our analyses showed for the first-time statistical relationships between C. perfringens spores (used as conservative microbial tracer for communal sewage) and a human genetic fecal marker (i.e. HF183/BacR287) with the reference pathogen Giardia in river water (Spearman rank correlation: 0.78-0.83, p < 0.05. The developed approach facilitates urban water safety management and provides a robust basis for microbial fate and transport models and microbial infection risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Derx
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Austria.
| | - H Seda Kılıç
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Austria
| | - Rita Linke
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Austria
| | - Sílvia Cervero-Aragó
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Christina Frick
- Vienna City Administration, Municipal Department 39, Division of Hygiene, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jack Schijven
- Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht, the Netherlands; National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Department of Statistics, Informatics and Modelling, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Division Water Quality and Health, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Gerhard Lindner
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Austria
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabrielle Stalder
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Regina Sommer
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Ernis Saracevic
- Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Zessner
- Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alfred P Blaschke
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Austria.; Division Water Quality and Health, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
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6
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Vucinic L, O’Connell D, Teixeira R, Coxon C, Gill L. Flow Cytometry and Fecal Indicator Bacteria Analyses for Fingerprinting Microbial Pollution in Karst Aquifer Systems. WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH 2022; 58:e2021WR029840. [PMID: 35859924 PMCID: PMC9285701 DOI: 10.1029/2021wr029840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microbial pollution of aquifers is a persistent water quality problem globally which poses significant risks to public health. Karst aquifer systems are exceptionally vulnerable to pollution from fecal contamination sources as a result of rapid recharge of water from the surface via discrete pathways linked to highly conductive, solutionally enlarged conduits alongside strong aquifer heterogeneity. Consequently, rapid changes in microbial water quality, which are difficult to monitor with expensive and time-consuming conventional microbiological methods, are a major concern in karst environments. This study examined flow cytometric (FCM) fingerprinting of bacterial cells in groundwater together with fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) at nine separate karst springs of varying catchment size over a 14 month period in order to assess whether such a technique can provide faster and more descriptive information about microbial pollution through such karst aquifer systems. Moreover, the data have also been evaluated with respect to the potential of using turbidity as an easy-to-measure proxy indicator of microbial pollution in a novel way. We argue that FCM provides additional data from which enhanced insights into fecal pollution sources and its fate and transport in such karst catchments can be gained. We also present valuable new information on the potential and limitations of turbidity as an indicator of fecal groundwater contamination in karst. FCM has the potential to become a more widely used tool in the field of contaminant hydrogeology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luka Vucinic
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of DublinTrinity CollegeDublinIreland
| | - David O’Connell
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of DublinTrinity CollegeDublinIreland
| | - Rui Teixeira
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of DublinTrinity CollegeDublinIreland
| | - Catherine Coxon
- Department of Geology and Trinity Centre for the EnvironmentUniversity of DublinTrinity CollegeDublinIreland
| | - Laurence Gill
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of DublinTrinity CollegeDublinIreland
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7
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Linke RB, Zeki S, Mayer R, Keiblinger K, Savio D, Kirschner AKT, Reischer GH, Mach RL, Sommer R, Farnleitner AH. Identifying Inorganic Turbidity in Water Samples as Potential Loss Factor During Nucleic Acid Extraction: Implications for Molecular Fecal Pollution Diagnostics and Source Tracking. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:660566. [PMID: 34745021 PMCID: PMC8565874 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.660566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular diagnostic methods are increasingly applied for food and environmental analysis. Since several steps are involved in sample processing which can affect the outcome (e.g., adhesion of DNA to the sample matrix, inefficient precipitation of DNA, pipetting errors and (partial) loss of the DNA pellet during DNA isolation), quality control is essential at all processing levels. In soil microbiology, particular attention has been paid to the inorganic component of the sample matrix affecting DNA extractability. In water quality testing, however, this aspect has mostly been neglected so far, although it is conceivable that these mechanisms have a similar impact. The present study was therefore dedicated to investigate possible matrix effects on results of water quality analysis. Field testing in an aquatic environment with pronounced chemo-physical gradients [total suspended solids (TSS), inorganic turbidity, total organic carbon (TOC), and conductivity] indicated a negative association between DNA extractability (using a standard phenol/chloroform extraction procedure) and turbidity (spearman ρ = −0.72, p < 0.001, n = 21). Further detailed laboratory experiments on sediment suspensions confirmed the hypothesis of inorganic turbidity being the main driver for reduced DNA extractability. The observed effects, as known from soil samples, were also indicated to result from competitive effects for free charges on clay minerals, leading to adsorption of DNA to these inorganic particles. A protocol modification by supplementing the extraction buffer with salmon sperm DNA, to coat charged surfaces prior to cell lysis, was then applied on environmental water samples and compared to the standard protocol. At sites characterized by high inorganic turbidity, DNA extractability was significantly improved or made possible in the first place by applying the adapted protocol. This became apparent from intestinal enterococci and microbial source tracking (MST)-marker levels measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (100 to 10,000-fold median increase in target concentrations). The present study emphasizes the need to consider inorganic turbidity as a potential loss factor in DNA extraction from water-matrices. Negligence of these effects can lead to a massive bias, by up to several orders of magnitude, in the results of molecular MST and fecal pollution diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita B Linke
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sibel Zeki
- Department of Marine Environment, Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - René Mayer
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Keiblinger
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Domenico Savio
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria.,Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H Reischer
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,Research Area Molecular Diagnostics, Department IFA-Tulln, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Tulln, Austria
| | - Robert L Mach
- Research Division Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Regina Sommer
- Unit of Water Microbiology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
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8
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Mohd Ramli M, Ahmad AL, Oluwasola EI, Leo CP. Non-solvent Flux Augmentation of an LDPE-Coated Polytetrafluoroethylene Hollow Fiber Membrane for Direct Contact Membrane Distillation. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:25201-25210. [PMID: 34632179 PMCID: PMC8495701 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c02887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Membrane distillation (MD) is a thermal technology for the desalination process that requires a hydrophobic microporous membrane to ensure that the membrane can maintain the liquid-vapor interface. This work aims to enhance the water permeation flux of the previously coated membrane by modifying the surface of the polytetrafluoroethylene hollow fiber (PTFE HF) membrane with a selected non-solvent such as acetone, cyclohexanone, and ethanol in low-density polyethylene as a polymeric coating solution. However, the modification using acetone and cyclohexanone solvents was unsuccessful because a reduction in membrane hydrophobicity was observed. The modified PTFE HF membrane with ethanol content exhibits high wetting resistance with a high water contact angle, which can withstand pore wetting during the direct contact MD process. Since MD operates under a lower operating temperature range (50-90 °C) compared to the conventional distillation, we herein demonstrated that higher flux could be obtained at 7.26 L m-2 h-1. Thus, the process is economically feasible because of lower energy consumption. Performance evaluation of the modified PTFE HF membrane showed a high rejection of 99.69% for sodium chloride (NaCl), indicating that the coated membrane preferentially allowed only water vapor to pass through.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad
Razif Mohd Ramli
- School
of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong
Tebal, 14300 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Abdul Latif Ahmad
- School
of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong
Tebal, 14300 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Ebenezer Idowu Oluwasola
- School
of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong
Tebal, 14300 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
- Food
Technology Department, The Federal Polytechnic
Ado Ekiti, Ado Ekiti, 360231 Ekiti state, Nigeria
| | - Choe Peng Leo
- School
of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong
Tebal, 14300 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
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9
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Derx J, Demeter K, Linke R, Cervero-Aragó S, Lindner G, Stalder G, Schijven J, Sommer R, Walochnik J, Kirschner AKT, Komma J, Blaschke AP, Farnleitner AH. Genetic Microbial Source Tracking Support QMRA Modeling for a Riverine Wetland Drinking Water Resource. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:668778. [PMID: 34335498 PMCID: PMC8317494 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.668778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Riverine wetlands are important natural habitats and contain valuable drinking water resources. The transport of human- and animal-associated fecal pathogens into the surface water bodies poses potential risks to water safety. The aim of this study was to develop a new integrative modeling approach supported by microbial source tracking (MST) markers for quantifying the transport pathways of two important reference pathogens, Cryptosporidium and Giardia, from external (allochthonous) and internal (autochthonous) fecal sources in riverine wetlands considering safe drinking water production. The probabilistic-deterministic model QMRAcatch (v 1.1 python backwater) was modified and extended to account for short-time variations in flow and microbial transport at hourly time steps. As input to the model, we determined the discharge rates, volumes and inundated areas of the backwater channel based on 2-D hydrodynamic flow simulations. To test if we considered all relevant fecal pollution sources and transport pathways, we validated QMRAcatch using measured concentrations of human, ruminant, pig and bird associated MST markers as well as E. coli in a Danube wetland area from 2010 to 2015. For the model validation, we obtained MST marker decay rates in water from the literature, adjusted them within confidence limits, and simulated the MST marker concentrations in the backwater channel, resulting in mean absolute errors of < 0.7 log10 particles/L (Kruskal–Wallis p > 0.05). In the scenarios, we investigated (i) the impact of river discharges into the backwater channel (allochthonous sources), (ii) the resuspension of pathogens from animal fecal deposits in inundated areas, and (iii) the pathogen release from animal fecal deposits after rainfall (autochthonous sources). Autochthonous and allochthonous human and animal sources resulted in mean loads and concentrations of Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts in the backwater channel of 3–13 × 109 particles/hour and 0.4–1.2 particles/L during floods and rainfall events, and in required pathogen treatment reductions to achieve safe drinking water of 5.0–6.2 log10. The integrative modeling approach supports the sustainable and proactive drinking water safety management of alluvial backwater areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Derx
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katalin Demeter
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics E166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rita Linke
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics E166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sílvia Cervero-Aragó
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Lindner
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabrielle Stalder
- Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jack Schijven
- Department of Statistics, Informatics and Modelling, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands.,Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Regina Sommer
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Division Water Quality and Health, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Jürgen Komma
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alfred P Blaschke
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics E166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Vienna, Austria.,Division Water Quality and Health, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
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10
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Monteiro S, Queiroz G, Ferreira F, Santos R. Characterization of Stormwater Runoff Based on Microbial Source Tracking Methods. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:674047. [PMID: 34177858 PMCID: PMC8222924 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.674047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Rainfall and associated urban runoff have been linked to an increased deterioration of environmental waters, carrying several pollutants including pathogenic microorganisms. Such happens because fecal matter is washed into storm drainage pipes that are afterward released into environmental waters. Stormwater has not been extensively characterized as it is, because most studies are performed either on drainage pipes that are often impacted by sewage leakage or directly in environmental waters following a rain event. In this study, stormwater collected directly from the streets, was monitored for the presence of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and three potential important sources of fecal contamination in urban environments (human, cats, and dogs) in three distinct basins in Lisbon, Portugal. Stormwater was collected in sterilized plastic boxes inserted in the storm drains, therefore collecting only runoff. High concentration of fecal contamination was detected with a high percentage of the samples displayed at least one source of contamination. A strong relationship was found between the number of detected sources and the precipitation levels. Although no statistical correlation was found between the locations and the presence of FIB or source markers, the results show a trend in geographical information on the type of urban use in each basin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the runoff collected directly from the streets. This study suggests that, in urban areas, stormwater runoff is highly impacted by fecal matter, not only from domestic animals but also from human origin, before any cross-contamination in the drainage system and may, by itself, pose a high risk to human health and the environment, particularly if water reuse of this water without further disinfection treatment is the final goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Monteiro
- Laboratório Análises, Tecnico Lisboa, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gaspar Queiroz
- Department of Civil Engineering, Tecnico Lisboa, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Filipa Ferreira
- Department of Civil Engineering, Tecnico Lisboa, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Santos
- Laboratório Análises, Tecnico Lisboa, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
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11
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Goshu G, Koelmans AA, de Klein JJM. Performance of faecal indicator bacteria, microbial source tracking, and pollution risk mapping in tropical water. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 276:116693. [PMID: 33631685 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are used for the assessment of faecal pollution and possible water quality deterioration. There is growing evidence that FIB used in temperate regions are not adequate and reliable to detect faecal pollution in tropical regions. Hence, this study evaluated the adequacy of FIB, including total coliforms (TC), Escherichia coli (EC), Enterococci (IEC), and Clostridium perfringens (CP) in the high-altitude, tropical country of Ethiopia. In addition to FIB, for microbial source tracking (MST), a ruminant-associated molecular marker was applied at different water types and altitudes, and faecal pollution risk mapping was conducted based on consensus FIB. The performances of the indicators were evaluated at 22 sites from different water types. The results indicate that EC cell enumeration and CP spore determination perform well for faecal contamination monitoring. Most of the sub-basins of Lake Tana were found to be moderately to highly polluted, and the levels of pollution were demonstrated to be higher in the rainy season than in the post-rainy season. Markers associated with ruminants (BacR) were identified in more than three quarters of the sites. A bacterial pollution risk map was developed for sub-basins of Lake Tana, including the un-gauged sub-basins. We demonstrate how bacterial pollution risk mapping can aid in improvements to water quality testing and reduce risk to the general population from stream bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goraw Goshu
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University &Research, P.O. Box, 47,6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands; College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and Blue Nile Water Institute, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 1701, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
| | - A A Koelmans
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University &Research, P.O. Box, 47,6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - J J M de Klein
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University &Research, P.O. Box, 47,6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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12
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Frick C, Vierheilig J, Nadiotis-Tsaka T, Ixenmaier S, Linke R, Reischer GH, Komma J, Kirschner AKT, Mach RL, Savio D, Seidl D, Blaschke AP, Sommer R, Derx J, Farnleitner AH. Elucidating fecal pollution patterns in alluvial water resources by linking standard fecal indicator bacteria to river connectivity and genetic microbial source tracking. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 184:116132. [PMID: 32777635 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A novel concept for fecal pollution analysis was applied at alluvial water resources to substantially extend the information provided by fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). FIB data were linked to river connectivity and genetic microbial source tracking (MST). The concept was demonstrated at the Danube River and its associated backwater area downstream of the city of Vienna, using a comprehensive 3-year data set (10 selected sites, n = 317 samples). Enumeration of Escherichia coli (ISO 16649-2), intestinal enterococci (ISO 7899-2) and Clostridium perfringens (ISO 14189) revealed a patchy distribution for the investigation area. Based on these parameters alone a clear interpretation of the observed fecal contamination patterns was not possible. Comparison of FIB concentrations to river connectivity allowed defining sites with dominating versus rare fecal pollution influence from the River Danube. A strong connectivity gradient at the selected backwater sites became obvious by 2D hydrodynamic surface water modeling, ranging from 278 days (25%) down to 5 days (<1%) of hydraulic connectivity to the River Danube within the 3-year study period. Human sewage pollution could be identified as the dominating fecal source at the highly connected sites by adding information from MST analysis. In contrast, animal fecal pollution proofed to be dominating in areas with low river connectivity. The selection of genetic MST markers was focusing on potentially important pollution sources in the backwater area, using human (BacHum, HF183II), ruminant (BacR) and pig (Pig2Bac) -associated quantitative PCR assays. The presented approach is assumed to be useful to characterize alluvial water resources for water safety management throughout the globe, by allocating fecal pollution to autochthonous, allochthonous, human or animal contamination components. The established river connectivity metric is not limited to bacterial fecal pollution, but can be applied to any type of chemical and microbiological contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Frick
- Municipal Department 39, Rinnböckstraße 15/2, 1110, Vienna, Austria; Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Julia Vierheilig
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division Water Quality and Health, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500, Krems an der Donau, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria.
| | | | - Simone Ixenmaier
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Rita Linke
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Georg H Reischer
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Jürgen Komma
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division Water Quality and Health, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500, Krems an der Donau, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Unit of Water Microbiology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Robert L Mach
- Research Division Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Domenico Savio
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division Water Quality and Health, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500, Krems an der Donau, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Dagmar Seidl
- Municipal Department 39, Rinnböckstraße 15/2, 1110, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Alfred P Blaschke
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Regina Sommer
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Unit of Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Julia Derx
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division Water Quality and Health, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500, Krems an der Donau, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
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13
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Stadler P, Blöschl G, Nemeth L, Oismüller M, Kumpan M, Krampe J, Farnleitner AH, Zessner M. Event-transport of beta-d-glucuronidase in an agricultural headwater stream: Assessment of seasonal patterns by on-line enzymatic activity measurements and environmental isotopes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 662:236-245. [PMID: 30690358 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the fate of fecal pollution in the landscape is required for microbial risk analysis. The aim of this study was to assess the patterns and dynamics of beta-d-glucuronidase (GLUC), which has been suggested as a surrogate for fecal pollution monitoring, in a stream draining an agricultural headwater catchment. Automated enzymatic on-site measurements of stream water and sediments were made over two years (2014-2016) to quantify the sources and pathways of GLUC in a stream. The event water fraction of streamflow was estimated by stable isotopes. Samples from field sediments on a hillslope, streambed sediment and stream water were analyzed for GLUC and with a standard E. coli assay. The results showed ten times higher GLUC and E. coli concentrations during the summer than during the winter for all compartments (field and streambed sediments and stream water). The E. coli concentrations in the streambed sediment were approximately 100 times those of the field sediments. Of the total GLUC load in the study period, 39% were transported during hydrological events (increased streamflow due to rainfall or snowmelt); of these, 44% were transported when the stream contained no recent rainwater. The results suggested that a large proportion of the GLUC and E. coli in the stream water stemmed from resuspended streambed sediments. Moreover, the results strongly indicated the existence of remnant populations of GLUC-active organisms in the catchment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Stadler
- Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria; Centre for Water Resource Systems, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Günter Blöschl
- Centre for Water Resource Systems, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria; Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Nemeth
- Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Oismüller
- Centre for Water Resource Systems, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Monika Kumpan
- Institute for Land & Water Management Research, Federal Agency for Water Management, A-3252 Petzenkirchen, Austria
| | - Jörg Krampe
- Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Centre for Water Resource Systems, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria; Division Water Quality and Health, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, A-3500 Krems a. d. Donau, Austria; Institute of Chemical and Bioscience Engineering, ICC Water and Health, Research Group 166/5/3TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Zessner
- Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
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14
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Savio D, Stadler P, Reischer GH, Demeter K, Linke RB, Blaschke AP, Mach RL, Kirschner AKT, Stadler H, Farnleitner AH. Spring Water of an Alpine Karst Aquifer Is Dominated by a Taxonomically Stable but Discharge-Responsive Bacterial Community. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:28. [PMID: 30828319 PMCID: PMC6385617 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpine karst aquifers are important groundwater resources for the provision of drinking water all around the world. Yet, due to difficult accessibility and long-standing methodological limitations, the microbiology of these systems has long been understudied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the structure and dynamics of bacterial communities in spring water of an alpine limestone karst aquifer (LKAS2) under different hydrological conditions (base vs. event flow). The study was based on high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, study design and sample selection were guided by hydrology and pollution microbiology data. Spanning more than 27 months, our analyses revealed a taxonomically highly stable bacterial community, comprising high proportions of yet uncultivated bacteria in the suspended bacterial community fraction. Only the three candidate phyla Parcubacteria (OD1), Gracilibacteria (GN02), Doudnabacteria (SM2F11) together with Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes contributed between 70.0 and 88.4% of total reads throughout the investigation period. A core-community of 300 OTUs consistently contributed between 37.6 and 56.3% of total reads, further supporting the hypothesis of a high temporal stability in the bacterial community in the spring water. Nonetheless, a detectable response in the bacterial community structure of the spring water was discernible during a high-discharge event. Sequence reads affiliated to the class Flavobacteriia clearly increased from a mean proportion of 2.3% during baseflow to a maximum of 12.7% during the early phase of the studied high-discharge event, suggesting direct impacts from changing hydrological conditions on the bacterial community structure in the spring water. This was further supported by an increase in species richness (Chao1) at higher discharge. The combination of these observations allowed the identification and characterization of three different discharge classes (Q1-Q3). In conclusion, we found a taxonomically stable bacterial community prevailing in spring waters from an alpine karst aquifer over the entire study period of more than 2 years. Clear response to changing discharge conditions could be detected for particular bacterial groups, whereas the most responsive group - bacteria affiliated to the class of Flavobacteriia - might harbor potential as a valuable natural indicator of "system disturbances" in karst aquifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Savio
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Stadler
- Centre for Water Resource Systems, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
- Research Unit for Water Quality Management, Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H. Reischer
- Molecular Diagnostics Group, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Department of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, TU Wien, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katalin Demeter
- Centre for Water Resource Systems, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
- Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rita B. Linke
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Vienna, Austria
- Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alfred P. Blaschke
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert L. Mach
- Research Division of Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander K. T. Kirschner
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Vienna, Austria
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hermann Stadler
- Department for Water Resources Management and Environmental Analytics, Institute for Water, Energy and Sustainability, Joanneum Research, Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas H. Farnleitner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Vienna, Austria
- Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
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15
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Kolm C, Martzy R, Führer M, Mach RL, Krska R, Baumgartner S, Farnleitner AH, Reischer GH. Detection of a microbial source tracking marker by isothermal helicase-dependent amplification and a nucleic acid lateral-flow strip test. Sci Rep 2019; 9:393. [PMID: 30674936 PMCID: PMC6344534 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36749-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decades, various PCR-based methods have been proposed that can identify sources of faecal pollution in environmental waters. These microbial source tracking (MST) methods are powerful tools to manage water quality and support public health risk assessment. However, their application is limited by the lack of specialized equipment and trained personnel in laboratories performing microbiological water quality assessment. Here, we describe a novel molecular method that combines helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) with a strip test for detecting ruminant faecal pollution sources. Unlike quantitative PCR (qPCR), the developed HDA-strip assay only requires a heating block to amplify the ruminant-associated Bacteroidetes 16S rRNA marker (BacR). Following HDA, the reaction mixture can be directly applied onto the test strip, which detects and displays the amplification products by marker-specific hybridization probes via an on-strip colorimetric reaction. The entire assay takes two hours and demands no extensive practical training. Furthermore, the BacR HDA-strip assay achieved comparable results in head-to-head performance tests with the qPCR reference, in which we investigated source-sensitivity and source-specificity, the analytical limit of detection, and the sample limit of detection. Although this approach only yields qualitative results, it can pave a way for future simple-to-use MST screening tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Kolm
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Tulln, Austria
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Martzy
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Tulln, Austria
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manuela Führer
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department IFA-Tulln, Center for Analytical Chemistry, Tulln, Austria
| | - Robert L Mach
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Division Biochemical Technology, Research Group Synthetic Biology and Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Krska
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department IFA-Tulln, Center for Analytical Chemistry, Tulln, Austria
- Queen's University Belfast, School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Sabine Baumgartner
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department IFA-Tulln, Center for Analytical Chemistry, Tulln, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Research Unit Water Quality and Health, Krems, Austria
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Division Biochemical Technology, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H Reischer
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Tulln, Austria.
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Division Biochemical Technology, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Vienna, Austria.
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16
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Hatvani IG, Kirschner AKT, Farnleitner AH, Tanos P, Herzig A. Hotspots and main drivers of fecal pollution in Neusiedler See, a large shallow lake in Central Europe. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:28884-28898. [PMID: 30105673 PMCID: PMC6153677 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2783-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
To minimize the risk of negative consequences for public health from fecal pollution in lakes, the continuous surveillance of microbiological water quality parameters, alongside other environmental variables, is necessary at defined bathing sites. Such routine surveillance may prove insufficient to elucidate the main drivers of fecal pollution in a complex lake/watershed ecosystem, and it may be that more comprehensive monitoring activities are required. In this study, the aims were to identify the hotspots and main driving factors of fecal pollution in a large shallow Central European lake, the Neusiedler See, and to determine to what degree its current monitoring network can be considered representative spatially. A stochastic and geostatistical analysis of a huge data set of water quality data (~ 164,000 data points, representing a 22-year time-series) of standard fecal indicator bacteria (SFIB), water quality and meteorological variables sampled at 26 sampling sites was conducted. It revealed that the hotspots of fecal pollution are exclusively related to sites with elevated anthropogenic activity. Background pollution from wildlife or diffuse agricultural run-off at more remote sites was comparatively low. The analysis also showed that variability in the incidence of SFIB was driven mainly by meteorological phenomena, above all, temperature, number of sunny hours, and wind (direction and speed). Due to antagonistic effects and temporal undersampling, the influence of precipitation on SFIB variance could not be clearly determined. Geostatistical analysis did reveal that the current spatial sampling density is insufficient to cover SFIB variance over the whole lake, and that the sites are therefore in the most part representative of local phenomena. Suggestions for the future monitoring and managing of fecal pollution are offered. The applied statistical approach may also serve as a model for the study of other such areas, and in general indicate a method for dealing with similarly large and spatiotemporally heterogeneous datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- István G Hatvani
- Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA), Budaörsi út 45, Budapest, H-1112, Hungary
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology-Water Hygiene, Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Karl Landsteiner University for Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, A-3500, Krems, Austria.
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Karl Landsteiner University for Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, A-3500, Krems, Austria
- Technische Universität Wien, Research Centre for Water and Health 057-08, Institute for Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Gumpendorferstrasse 1a, A-1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Péter Tanos
- Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Szent István University, Páter Károly utca 1, Gödöllő, H-2100, Hungary
| | - Alois Herzig
- Biological Research Institute Burgenland, A-7142, Illmitz, Austria
- Nationalpark Neusiedler See-Seewinkel, A-7143, Apetlon, Austria
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17
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Frick C, Vierheilig J, Linke R, Savio D, Zornig H, Antensteiner R, Baumgartner C, Bucher C, Blaschke AP, Derx J, Kirschner AKT, Ryzinska-Paier G, Mayer R, Seidl D, Nadiotis-Tsaka T, Sommer R, Farnleitner AH. Poikilothermic Animals as a Previously Unrecognized Source of Fecal Indicator Bacteria in a Backwater Ecosystem of a Large River. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:e00715-18. [PMID: 29884761 PMCID: PMC6070746 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00715-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative information regarding the presence of Escherichia coli, intestinal enterococci, and Clostridium perfringens in poikilotherms is notably scarce. Therefore, this study was designed to allow a systematic comparison of the occurrence of these standard fecal indicator bacteria (SFIB) in the excreta of wild homeothermic (ruminants, boars, carnivores, and birds) and poikilothermic (earthworms, gastropods, frogs, and fish) animals inhabiting an alluvial backwater area in eastern Austria. With the exception of earthworms, the average concentrations of E. coli and enterococci in the excreta of poikilotherms were equal to or only slightly lower than those observed in homeothermic excreta and were 1 to 4 orders of magnitude higher than the levels observed in the ambient soils and sediments. Enterococci reached extraordinarily high concentrations in gastropods. Additional estimates of the daily excreted SFIB (E. coli and enterococcus) loads (DESL) further supported the importance of poikilotherms as potential pollution sources. The newly established DESL metric also allowed comparison to the standing stock of SFIB in the sediment and soil of the investigated area. In agreement with its biological characteristics, the highest concentrations of C. perfringens were observed in carnivores. In conclusion, the long-standing hypothesis that only humans and homeothermic animals are primary sources of SFIB is challenged by the results of this study. It may be necessary to extend the fecal indicator concept by additionally considering poikilotherms as potential important primary habitats of SFIB. Further studies in other geographical areas are needed to evaluate the general significance of our results. We hypothesize that the importance of poikilotherms as sources of SFIB is strongly correlated with the ambient temperature and would therefore be of increased significance in subtropical and tropical habitats and water resources.IMPORTANCE The current fecal indicator concept is based on the assumption that the standard fecal indicator bacteria (SFIB) Escherichia coli, intestinal enterococci, and Clostridium perfringens multiply significantly only in the guts of humans and other homeothermic animals and can therefore indicate fecal pollution and the potential presence of pathogens from those groups. The findings of the present study showed that SFIB can also occur in high concentrations in poikilothermic animals (i.e., animals with body temperatures that vary with the ambient environmental temperature, such as fish, frogs, and snails) in an alluvial backwater area in a temperate region, indicating that a reconsideration of this long-standing indicator paradigm is needed. This study suggests that poikilotherms must be considered to be potential primary sources of SFIB in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Frick
- Vienna City Administration, Municipal Department 39, Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Vierheilig
- Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health‡
| | - Rita Linke
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health‡
| | - Domenico Savio
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division of Water Quality and Health, Krems, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health‡
| | | | | | | | - Christian Bucher
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Building Construction and Technology, Vienna University of Technology, Austria
| | - Alfred P Blaschke
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health‡
| | - Julia Derx
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health‡
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division of Water Quality and Health, Krems, Austria
- Unit of Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health‡
| | - Gabriela Ryzinska-Paier
- Vienna City Administration, Municipal Department 39, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - René Mayer
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health‡
| | - Dagmar Seidl
- Vienna City Administration, Municipal Department 39, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Regina Sommer
- Unit of Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health‡
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division of Water Quality and Health, Krems, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health‡
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18
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Mayer R, Reischer GH, Ixenmaier SK, Derx J, Blaschke AP, Ebdon JE, Linke R, Egle L, Ahmed W, Blanch AR, Byamukama D, Savill M, Mushi D, Cristóbal HA, Edge TA, Schade MA, Aslan A, Brooks YM, Sommer R, Masago Y, Sato MI, Taylor HD, Rose JB, Wuertz S, Shanks OC, Piringer H, Mach RL, Savio D, Zessner M, Farnleitner AH. Global Distribution of Human-Associated Fecal Genetic Markers in Reference Samples from Six Continents. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:5076-5084. [PMID: 29570973 PMCID: PMC5932593 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Numerous bacterial genetic markers are available for the molecular detection of human sources of fecal pollution in environmental waters. However, widespread application is hindered by a lack of knowledge regarding geographical stability, limiting implementation to a small number of well-characterized regions. This study investigates the geographic distribution of five human-associated genetic markers (HF183/BFDrev, HF183/BacR287, BacHum-UCD, BacH, and Lachno2) in municipal wastewaters (raw and treated) from 29 urban and rural wastewater treatment plants (750-4 400 000 population equivalents) from 13 countries spanning six continents. In addition, genetic markers were tested against 280 human and nonhuman fecal samples from domesticated, agricultural and wild animal sources. Findings revealed that all genetic markers are present in consistently high concentrations in raw (median log10 7.2-8.0 marker equivalents (ME) 100 mL-1) and biologically treated wastewater samples (median log10 4.6-6.0 ME 100 mL-1) regardless of location and population. The false positive rates of the various markers in nonhuman fecal samples ranged from 5% to 47%. Results suggest that several genetic markers have considerable potential for measuring human-associated contamination in polluted environmental waters. This will be helpful in water quality monitoring, pollution modeling and health risk assessment (as demonstrated by QMRAcatch) to guide target-oriented water safety management across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- René
E. Mayer
- Research
Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular
Diagnostics 166-5-3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H. Reischer
- Research
Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular
Diagnostics 166-5-3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Molecular
Diagnostics Group, IFA-Tulln, Institute
of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Simone K. Ixenmaier
- Research
Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular
Diagnostics 166-5-3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Derx
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Hydraulic
Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alfred Paul Blaschke
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Hydraulic
Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - James E. Ebdon
- Environment
& Public Health Research and Enterprise Group, School of Environment
and Technology, University of Brighton, BN2 4GJ Brighton, U.K.
| | - Rita Linke
- Research
Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular
Diagnostics 166-5-3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Egle
- Institute for Water Quality
and Resource Management, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO
Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Anicet R. Blanch
- Department
of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Denis Byamukama
- Department
of Biochemistry, Makerere University, P.O. Box 27755 Kampala, Uganda
| | - Marion Savill
- Affordable Water Limited, 1011 Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Douglas Mushi
- Department
of Biosciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO BOX 3038, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Héctor A. Cristóbal
- Laboratorio
de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria
Química (INIQUI), Consejo Nacional
de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas and Universidad
Nacional de Salta, CP 4400 Salta, Argentina
| | - Thomas A. Edge
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, L7S 1A1, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Asli Aslan
- Department
of Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, 30460 Georgia, United States
| | - Yolanda M. Brooks
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University East Lansing, 48824 Michigan, United States
| | - Regina Sommer
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
- Institute
for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Yoshifumi Masago
- New
Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku
University, 980-8579 Sendai, Japan
| | - Maria I. Sato
- Departamento
de Análises Ambientais, CETESB -
Cia. Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo, 05459-900 São
Paulo, Brasil
| | - Huw D. Taylor
- Environment
& Public Health Research and Enterprise Group, School of Environment
and Technology, University of Brighton, BN2 4GJ Brighton, U.K.
| | - Joan B. Rose
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University East Lansing, 48824 Michigan, United States
| | - Stefan Wuertz
- Singapore Centre
for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering and
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551 Singapore
| | - Orin C. Shanks
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office
of Research and Development, 45268 Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | | | - Robert L. Mach
- Research Division Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Domenico Savio
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Matthias Zessner
- Institute for Water Quality
and Resource Management, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H. Farnleitner
- Research
Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular
Diagnostics 166-5-3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
- Phone: +43 664 605882244; e-mail:
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19
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Savio D, Stadler P, Reischer GH, Kirschner AK, Demeter K, Linke R, Blaschke AP, Sommer R, Szewzyk U, Wilhartitz IC, Mach RL, Stadler H, Farnleitner AH. Opening the black box of spring water microbiology from alpine karst aquifers to support proactive drinking water resource management. WIRES. WATER 2018; 5:e1282. [PMID: 29780584 PMCID: PMC5947618 DOI: 10.1002/wat2.1282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 15 years, pioneering interdisciplinary research has been performed on the microbiology of hydrogeologically well-defined alpine karst springs located in the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA) of Austria. This article gives an overview on these activities and links them to other relevant research. Results from the NCA springs and comparable sites revealed that spring water harbors abundant natural microbial communities even in aquifers with high water residence times and the absence of immediate surface influence. Apparently, hydrogeology has a strong impact on the concentration and size of the observed microbes, and total cell counts (TCC) were suggested as a useful means for spring type classification. Measurement of microbial activities at the NCA springs revealed extremely low microbial growth rates in the base flow component of the studied spring waters and indicated the importance of biofilm-associated microbial activities in sediments and on rock surfaces. Based on genetic analysis, the autochthonous microbial endokarst community (AMEC) versus transient microbial endokarst community (TMEC) concept was proposed for the NCA springs, and further details within this overview article are given to prompt its future evaluation. In this regard, it is well known that during high-discharge situations, surface-associated microbes and nutrients such as from soil habitats or human settlements-potentially containing fecal-associated pathogens as the most critical water-quality hazard-may be rapidly flushed into vulnerable karst aquifers. In this context, a framework for the comprehensive analysis of microbial pollution has been proposed for the NCA springs to support the sustainable management of drinking water safety in accordance with recent World Health Organization guidelines. Near-real-time online water quality monitoring, microbial source tracking (MST) and MST-guided quantitative microbial-risk assessment (QMRA) are examples of the proposed analytical tools. In this context, this overview article also provides a short introduction to recently emerging methodologies in microbiological diagnostics to support reading for the practitioner. Finally, the article highlights future research and development needs. This article is categorized under: 1Engineering Water > Water, Health, and Sanitation2Science of Water > Water Extremes3Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Savio
- Division Water Quality and HealthDepartment Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health SciencesKrems a. d. DonauAustria
- Centre for Water Resource SystemsTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
| | - Philipp Stadler
- Centre for Water Resource SystemsTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Institute for Water Quality, Resource and Waste ManagementTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
| | - Georg H. Reischer
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics166/5/3, Technische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
| | - Alexander K.T. Kirschner
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
- Unit Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Katalin Demeter
- Centre for Water Resource SystemsTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics166/5/3, Technische Universität WienViennaAustria
| | - Rita Linke
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics166/5/3, Technische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
| | - Alfred P. Blaschke
- Centre for Water Resource SystemsTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources ManagementTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
| | - Regina Sommer
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
- Unit Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Ulrich Szewzyk
- Department of Environmental TechnologyTechnical University of BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Inés C. Wilhartitz
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyEawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Robert L. Mach
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics166/5/3, Technische Universität WienViennaAustria
| | - Hermann Stadler
- Department for Water Resources Management and Environmental AnalyticsInstitute for Water, Energy and Sustainability, Joanneum Research, GrazAustria
| | - Andreas H. Farnleitner
- Division Water Quality and HealthDepartment Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health SciencesKrems a. d. DonauAustria
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics166/5/3, Technische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
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20
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Martzy R, Kolm C, Brunner K, Mach RL, Krska R, Šinkovec H, Sommer R, Farnleitner AH, Reischer GH. A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of Enterococcus spp. in water. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 122:62-69. [PMID: 28591662 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Faecal pollution of water and the resulting potential presence of human enteric pathogens is a predominant threat to public health. Microbiological water quality can be assessed by the detection of standard faecal indicator bacteria (SFIB) such as E. coli or certain Enterococcus species. In recent years, isothermal amplification methods have become a useful alternative to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), allowing molecular diagnostics with simple or no instrumentation. In this study, a novel screening method for the molecular detection of Enterococcus spp. by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is described. A set of six specific LAMP primers was designed to amplify a diagnostic fragment of the Enterococcus 23S rRNA gene, which is present in several enterococcal species targeted by quantitative PCR (qPCR), which is the standard technique recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Sensitivity and specificity tests were performed using a set of 30 Enterococcus and non-target bacterial reference strains. It is shown that LAMP is equally sensitive and even more specific than the qPCR assay. A dilution series of Enterococcus faecalis DNA revealed that the LAMP method can reliably detect 130 DNA target copies per reaction within 45 min. Additionally, enterococci isolated from Austrian surface waterbodies, as well as a set of DNA extracts from environmental waters, were tested. Contingency analysis demonstrated a highly significant correlation between the results of the developed LAMP assay and the reference qPCR method. Furthermore, a simple staining procedure with a fluorescence dye demonstrated the identification of amplified products by eye. In conclusion, this method is an important component for the efficient screening and testing of water samples in low-resource settings lacking sophisticated laboratory equipment and highly trained personnel, requiring only a simple heating block.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Martzy
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, A-3430, Tulln, Austria; ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria(1)
| | - Claudia Kolm
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, A-3430, Tulln, Austria; ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria(1)
| | - Kurt Brunner
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, A-3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Robert L Mach
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Krska
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department IFA-Tulln, Center for Analytical Chemistry, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, A-3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Hana Šinkovec
- Medical University Vienna, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Section for Clinical Biometrics, Spitalgasse 23, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Regina Sommer
- Medical University Vienna, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Unit Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria; ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria(1)
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060, Vienna, Austria; Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Research Unit Water Quality and Health, A-3500, Krems, Austria; ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria(1)
| | - Georg H Reischer
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, A-3430, Tulln, Austria; TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060, Vienna, Austria.
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21
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Kolm C, Martzy R, Brunner K, Mach RL, Krska R, Heinze G, Sommer R, Reischer GH, Farnleitner AH. A Complementary Isothermal Amplification Method to the U.S. EPA Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Approach for the Detection of Enterococci in Environmental Waters. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:7028-7035. [PMID: 28541661 PMCID: PMC5573901 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b01074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
We report a novel molecular assay, based on helicase-dependent amplification (HDA), for the detection of enterococci as markers for fecal pollution in water. This isothermal assay targets the same Enterococcus 23S rRNA gene region as the existing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Methods 1611 and 1609 but can be entirely performed on a simple heating block. The developed Enterococcus HDA assay successfully discriminated 15 enterococcal from 15 non-enterococcal reference strains and reliably detected 48 environmental isolates of enterococci. The limit of detection was 25 target copies per reaction, only 3 times higher than that of qPCR. The applicability of the assay was tested on 30 environmental water sample DNA extracts, simulating a gradient of fecal pollution. Despite the isothermal nature of the reaction, the HDA results were consistent with those of the qPCR reference. Given this performance, we conclude that the developed Enterococcus HDA assay has great potential as a qualitative molecular screening method for resource-limited settings when combined with compatible up- and downstream processes. This amplification strategy can pave the way for developing a new generation of rapid, low-cost, and field-deployable molecular diagnostic tools for water quality monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Kolm
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department
IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße
20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
- ICC
Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (ICC Interuniversity
Cooperation Center Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (www.waterandhealth.at)
| | - Roland Martzy
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department
IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße
20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
- ICC
Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (ICC Interuniversity
Cooperation Center Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (www.waterandhealth.at)
| | - Kurt Brunner
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department
IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße
20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Robert L. Mach
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology
and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Krska
- University
of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department IFA-Tulln, Center for Analytical Chemistry, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Georg Heinze
- Medical
University Vienna, Center for Medical Statistics,
Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Section for Clinical Biometrics, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Regina Sommer
- Medical
University Vienna, Institute for Hygiene
and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- ICC
Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (ICC Interuniversity
Cooperation Center Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (www.waterandhealth.at)
| | - Georg H. Reischer
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department
IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße
20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology
and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H. Farnleitner
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology
and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner
University of Health Sciences, Research Unit Water Quality and Health, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500 Krems, Austria
- ICC
Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (ICC Interuniversity
Cooperation Center Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (www.waterandhealth.at)
- Telephone: +43-664-605882244. E-mail:
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22
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Wanjugi P, Sivaganesan M, Korajkic A, Kelty CA, McMinn B, Ulrich R, Harwood VJ, Shanks OC. Differential decomposition of bacterial and viral fecal indicators in common human pollution types. WATER RESEARCH 2016; 105:591-601. [PMID: 27693971 PMCID: PMC7440646 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.09.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the decomposition of microorganisms associated with different human fecal pollution types is necessary for proper implementation of many water quality management practices, as well as predicting associated public health risks. Here, the decomposition of select cultivated and molecular indicators of fecal pollution originating from fresh human feces, septage, and primary effluent sewage in a subtropical marine environment was assessed over a six day period with an emphasis on the influence of ambient sunlight and indigenous microbiota. Ambient water mixed with each fecal pollution type was placed in dialysis bags and incubated in situ in a submersible aquatic mesocosm. Genetic and cultivated fecal indicators including fecal indicator bacteria (enterococci, E. coli, and Bacteroidales), coliphage (somatic and F+), Bacteroides fragilis phage (GB-124), and human-associated genetic indicators (HF183/BacR287 and HumM2) were measured in each sample. Simple linear regression assessing treatment trends in each pollution type over time showed significant decay (p ≤ 0.05) in most treatments for feces and sewage (27/28 and 32/40, respectively), compared to septage (6/26). A two-way analysis of variance of log10 reduction values for sewage and feces experiments indicated that treatments differentially impact survival of cultivated bacteria, cultivated phage, and genetic indicators. Findings suggest that sunlight is critical for phage decay, and indigenous microbiota play a lesser role. For bacterial cultivated and genetic indicators, the influence of indigenous microbiota varied by pollution type. This study offers new insights on the decomposition of common human fecal pollution types in a subtropical marine environment with important implications for water quality management applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Wanjugi
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Mano Sivaganesan
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Asja Korajkic
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Catherine A Kelty
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Brian McMinn
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | | | - Valerie J Harwood
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Orin C Shanks
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
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23
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Frick C, Zoufal W, Zoufal-Hruza C, Kirschner AKT, Seidl D, Derx J, Sommer R, Blaschke AP, Nadiotis-Tsaka T, Farnleitner AH. The microbiological water quality of Vienna’s River Danube section and its associated water bodies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00506-016-0349-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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24
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Mayer RE, Bofill-Mas S, Egle L, Reischer GH, Schade M, Fernandez-Cassi X, Fuchs W, Mach RL, Lindner G, Kirschner A, Gaisbauer M, Piringer H, Blaschke AP, Girones R, Zessner M, Sommer R, Farnleitner AH. Occurrence of human-associated Bacteroidetes genetic source tracking markers in raw and treated wastewater of municipal and domestic origin and comparison to standard and alternative indicators of faecal pollution. WATER RESEARCH 2016; 90:265-276. [PMID: 26745175 PMCID: PMC4884448 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Revised: 12/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This was a detailed investigation of the seasonal occurrence, dynamics, removal and resistance of human-associated genetic Bacteroidetes faecal markers (GeBaM) compared with ISO-based standard faecal indicator bacteria (SFIB), human-specific viral faecal markers and one human-associated Bacteroidetes phage in raw and treated wastewater of municipal and domestic origin. Characteristics of the selected activated sludge wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) from Austria and Germany were studied in detail (WWTPs, n = 13, connected populations from 3 to 49000 individuals), supported by volume-proportional automated 24-h sampling and chemical water quality analysis. GeBaM were consistently detected in high concentrations in raw (median log10 8.6 marker equivalents (ME) 100 ml(-1)) and biologically treated wastewater samples (median log10 6.2-6.5 ME 100 ml(-1)), irrespective of plant size, type and time of the season (n = 53-65). GeBaM, Escherichia coli, and enterococci concentrations revealed the same range of statistical variability for raw (multiplicative standard deviations s* = 2.3-3.0) and treated wastewater (s* = 3.7-4.5), with increased variability after treatment. Clostridium perfringens spores revealed the lowest variability for raw wastewater (s* = 1.5). In raw wastewater correlations among microbiological parameters were only detectable between GeBaM, C. perfringens and JC polyomaviruses. Statistical associations amongst microbial parameters increased during wastewater treatment. Two plants with advanced treatment were also investigated, revealing a minimum log10 5.0 (10th percentile) reduction of GeBaM in the activated sludge membrane bioreactor, but no reduction of the genetic markers during UV irradiation (254 nm). This study highlights the potential of human-associated GeBaM to complement wastewater impact monitoring based on the determination of SFIB. In addition, human-specific JC polyomaviruses and adenoviruses seem to be a valuable support if highly specific markers are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Mayer
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060, Vienna, Austria; InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria
| | - S Bofill-Mas
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - L Egle
- Institute for Water Quality Resources and Waste Management, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/226, 1040, Vienna, Austria; Center of Water Resource Systems, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, 1040, Vienna, Austria
| | - G H Reischer
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060, Vienna, Austria; InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria
| | - M Schade
- Bavarian Environment Agency, Bürgermeister-Ulrich-Straße 160, 86179, Augsburg, Germany
| | - X Fernandez-Cassi
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - W Fuchs
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology at IFA, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180, Vienna, Austria
| | - R L Mach
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060, Vienna, Austria; InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria
| | - G Lindner
- InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Medical University Vienna, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Kirschner
- InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Medical University Vienna, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Gaisbauer
- Schreiber-AWATEC Umwelttechnik GmbH, Bergmillergasse 3/1, 1140, Vienna, Austria
| | - H Piringer
- VRVis Research Center, Donau-City-Strasse 1, 1220, Vienna, Austria
| | - A P Blaschke
- InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Center of Water Resource Systems, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, 1040, Vienna, Austria
| | - R Girones
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - M Zessner
- Institute for Water Quality Resources and Waste Management, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/226, 1040, Vienna, Austria; Center of Water Resource Systems, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, 1040, Vienna, Austria
| | - R Sommer
- InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Medical University Vienna, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - A H Farnleitner
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060, Vienna, Austria; InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria
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25
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Ahmed W, Harwood VJ, Nguyen K, Young S, Hamilton K, Toze S. Utility of Helicobacter spp. associated GFD markers for detecting avian fecal pollution in natural waters of two continents. WATER RESEARCH 2016; 88:613-622. [PMID: 26562798 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 10/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Avian fecal droppings may negatively impact environmental water quality due to the presence of high concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and zoonotic pathogens. This study was aimed at evaluating the performance characteristics and utility of a Helicobacter spp. associated GFD marker by screening 265 fecal and wastewater samples from a range of avian and non-avian host groups from two continents (Brisbane, Australia and Florida, USA). The host-prevalence and -specificity of this marker among fecal and wastewater samples tested from Brisbane were 0.58 and 0.94 (maximum value of 1.00). These values for the Florida fecal samples were 0.30 (host-prevalence) and 1.00 (host-specificity). The concentrations of the GFD markers in avian and non-avian fecal nucleic acid samples were measured at a test concentration of 10 ng of nucleic acid at Brisbane and Florida laboratories using the quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. The mean concentrations of the GFD marker in avian fecal nucleic acid samples (5.2 × 10(3) gene copies) were two orders of magnitude higher than non-avian fecal nucleic acid samples (8.6 × 10(1) gene copies). The utility of this marker was evaluated by testing water samples from the Brisbane River, Brisbane and a freshwater creek in Florida. Among the 18 water samples tested from the Brisbane River, 83% (n = 18) were positive for the GFD marker, and the concentrations ranged from 6.0 × 10(1)-3.2 × 10(2) gene copies per 100 mL water. In all, 92% (n = 25) water samples from the freshwater creek in Florida were also positive for the GFD marker with concentrations ranging from 2.8 × 10(1)-1.3 × 10(4) gene copies per 100 mL water. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the GFD marker is highly specific to avian host groups, and could be used as a reliable marker to detect the presence and amount of avian fecal pollution in environmental waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia; Faculty of Science, Health and Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, DC, Qld 4558, Australia.
| | - V J Harwood
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, SCA 110, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - K Nguyen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, SCA 110, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - S Young
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, SCA 110, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - K Hamilton
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia; Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - S Toze
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia; School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Qld 4006, Australia
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26
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Schijven J, Derx J, de Roda Husman AM, Blaschke AP, Farnleitner AH. QMRAcatch: Microbial Quality Simulation of Water Resources including Infection Risk Assessment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2015; 44:1491-502. [PMID: 26436266 PMCID: PMC4884445 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2015.01.0048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Given the complex hydrologic dynamics of water catchments and conflicts between nature protection and public water supply, models may help to understand catchment dynamics and evaluate contamination scenarios and may support best environmental practices and water safety management. A catchment model can be an educative tool for investigating water quality and for communication between parties with different interests in the catchment. This article introduces an interactive computational tool, QMRAcatch, that was developed to simulate concentrations in water resources of , a human-associated microbial source tracking (MST) marker, enterovirus, norovirus, , and as target microorganisms and viruses (TMVs). The model domain encompasses a main river with wastewater discharges and a floodplain with a floodplain river. Diffuse agricultural sources of TMVs that discharge into the main river are not included in this stage of development. The floodplain river is fed by the main river and may flood the plain. Discharged TMVs in the river are subject to dilution and temperature-dependent degradation. River travel times are calculated using the Manning-Gauckler-Strickler formula. Fecal deposits from wildlife, birds, and visitors in the floodplain are resuspended in flood water, runoff to the floodplain river, or infiltrate groundwater. Fecal indicator and MST marker data facilitate calibration. Infection risks from exposure to the pathogenic TMVs by swimming or drinking water consumption are calculated, and the required pathogen removal by treatment to meet a health-based quality target can be determined. Applicability of QMRAcatch is demonstrated by calibrating the tool for a study site at the River Danube near Vienna, Austria, using field TMV data, including a sensitivity analysis and evaluation of the model outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Derx
- Vienna Univ. of Technology, Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources
Management, E222/2, Karlsplatz, 13 A-1040 Vienna, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre
for Water and Health (ICC Water and Health), Vienna, Austria; Centre for Water Resource
Systems, Vienna University of Technology, E222/2, Karlsplatz, 13 A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ana Maria de Roda Husman
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Department of
Statistics, Informatics and Modelling, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Utrecht
Univ., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht, The
Netherlands
| | - Alfred Paul Blaschke
- Vienna Univ. of Technology, Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources
Management, E222/2, Karlsplatz, 13 A-1040 Vienna, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre
for Water and Health (ICC Water and Health), Vienna, Austria; Centre for Water Resource
Systems, Vienna University of Technology, E222/2, Karlsplatz, 13 A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H. Farnleitner
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health (ICC Water and Health),
Vienna, Austria; Vienna Univ. of Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Group
Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060 Vienna,
Austria
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27
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Diston D, Sinreich M, Zimmermann S, Baumgartner A, Felleisen R. Evaluation of molecular- and culture-dependent MST markers to detect fecal contamination and indicate viral presence in good quality groundwater. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:7142-51. [PMID: 25871525 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Microbial contamination of groundwater represents a significant health risk to resource users. Culture-dependent Bacteroides phage and molecular-dependent Bacteroidales 16S rRNA assays are employed in microbial source tracking (MST) studies globally, however little is known regarding how these important groups relate to each other in the environment and which is more suitable to indicate the presence of waterborne fecal pollution and human enteric viruses. This study addresses this knowledge gap by examining 64 groundwater samples from sites with varying hydrogeological properties using a MST toolbox containing two bacteriophage groups (phage infecting GB-124 and ARABA-84), and two Bacteroidales 16S rRNA markers (Hf183 and BacR); those were compared to fecal indicator bacteria, somatic coliphage, Bacteroidales 16S rRNA marker AllBac, four human enteric viruses (norovirus GI and II, enterovirus and group A rotavirus) and supplementary hydrogeological/chemical data. Bacteroidales 16S rRNA indicators offered a more sensitive assessment of both human-specific and general fecal contamination than phage indicators, but may overestimate the risk from enteric viral pathogens. Comparison with hydrogeological and land use site characteristics as well as auxiliary microbiological and chemical data proved the plausibility of the MST findings. Sites representing karst aquifers were of significantly worse microbial quality than those with unconsolidated or fissured aquifers, highlighting the vulnerability of these hydrogeological settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Diston
- †Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO, Bern 3003, Switzerland
| | - M Sinreich
- ‡Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, Bern 3003, Switzerland
| | - S Zimmermann
- ‡Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, Bern 3003, Switzerland
| | - A Baumgartner
- †Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO, Bern 3003, Switzerland
| | - R Felleisen
- †Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO, Bern 3003, Switzerland
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28
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Microbial Source Tracking in Adjacent Karst Springs. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:5037-47. [PMID: 26002893 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00855-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/26/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern man-made environments, including urban, agricultural, and industrial environments, have complex ecological interactions among themselves and with the natural surroundings. Microbial source tracking (MST) offers advanced tools to resolve the host source of fecal contamination beyond indicator monitoring. This study was intended to assess karst spring susceptibilities to different fecal sources using MST quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays targeting human, bovine, and swine markers. It involved a dual-time monitoring frame: (i) monthly throughout the calendar year and (ii) daily during a rainfall event. Data integration was taken from both monthly and daily MST profile monitoring and improved identification of spring susceptibility to host fecal contamination; three springs located in close geographic proximity revealed different MST profiles. The Giach spring showed moderate fluctuations of MST marker quantities amid wet and dry samplings, while the Zuf spring had the highest rise of the GenBac3 marker during the wet event, which was mirrored in other markers as well. The revelation of human fecal contamination during the dry season not connected to incidents of raining leachates suggests a continuous and direct exposure to septic systems. Pigpens were identified in the watersheds of Zuf, Shefa, and Giach springs and on the border of the Gaaton spring watershed. Their impact was correlated with partial detection of the Pig-2-Bac marker in Gaaton spring, which was lower than detection levels in all three of the other springs. Ruminant and swine markers were detected intermittently, and their contamination potential during the wet samplings was exposed. These results emphasized the importance of sampling design to utilize the MST approach to delineate subtleties of fecal contamination in the environment.
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29
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Biotin- and Glycoprotein-Coated Microspheres as Surrogates for Studying Filtration Removal of Cryptosporidium parvum in a Granular Limestone Aquifer Medium. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:4277-83. [PMID: 25888174 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00885-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the genus Cryptosporidium are waterborne protozoa of great health concern. Many studies have attempted to find appropriate surrogates for assessing Cryptosporidium filtration removal in porous media. In this study, we evaluated the filtration of Cryptosporidium parvum in granular limestone medium by the use of biotin- and glycoprotein-coated carboxylated polystyrene microspheres (CPMs) as surrogates. Column experiments were carried out with core material taken from a managed aquifer recharge site in Adelaide, Australia. For the experiments with injection of a single type of particle, we observed the total removal of the oocysts and glycoprotein-coated CPMs, a 4.6- to 6.3-log10 reduction of biotin-coated CPMs, and a 2.6-log10 reduction of unmodified CPMs. When two different types of particles were simultaneously injected, glycoprotein-coated CPMs showed a 5.3-log10 reduction, while the uncoated CPMs displayed a 3.7-log10 reduction, probably due to particle-particle interactions. Our results confirm that glycoprotein-coated CPMs are the most accurate surrogates for C. parvum; biotin-coated CPMs are slightly more conservative, while unmodified CPMs are markedly overly conservative for predicting C. parvum removal in granular limestone medium. The total removal of C. parvum observed in our study suggests that granular limestone medium is very effective for the filtration removal of C. parvum and could potentially be used for the pretreatment of drinking water and aquifer storage recovery of recycled water.
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30
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Åström J, Pettersson TJR, Reischer GH, Norberg T, Hermansson M. Incorporating expert judgments in utility evaluation of bacteroidales qPCR assays for microbial source tracking in a drinking water source. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:1311-8. [PMID: 25545113 PMCID: PMC5509012 DOI: 10.1021/es504579j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Several assays for the detection of host-specific genetic markers of the order Bacteroidales have been developed and used for microbial source tracking (MST) in environmental waters. It is recognized that the source-sensitivity and source-specificity are unknown and variable when introducing these assays in new geographic regions, which reduces their reliability and use. A Bayesian approach was developed to incorporate expert judgments with regional assay sensitivity and specificity assessments in a utility evaluation of a human and a ruminant-specific qPCR assay for MST in a drinking water source. Water samples from Lake Rådasjön were analyzed for E. coli, intestinal enterococci and somatic coliphages through cultivation and for human (BacH) and ruminant-specific (BacR) markers through qPCR assays. Expert judgments were collected regarding the probability of human and ruminant fecal contamination based on fecal indicator organism data and subjective information. Using Bayes formula, the conditional probability of a true human or ruminant fecal contamination given the presence of BacH or BacR was determined stochastically from expert judgments and regional qPCR assay performance, using Beta distributions to represent uncertainties. A web-based computational tool was developed for the procedure, which provides a measure of confidence to findings of host-specific markers and demonstrates the information value from these assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Åström
- Tyréns AB, Lilla Badhusgatan 2, SE-411 21 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Thomas J. R. Pettersson
- Water Environment Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Georg H. Reischer
- Interuniversity Center Water & Health, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tommy Norberg
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Malte Hermansson
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Corresponding Author Phone +46(0)31 786 2575; fax +46(0)31 786 2599; .
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Linke K, Rückerl I, Brugger K, Karpiskova R, Walland J, Muri-Klinger S, Tichy A, Wagner M, Stessl B. Reservoirs of listeria species in three environmental ecosystems. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:5583-92. [PMID: 25002422 PMCID: PMC4178586 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01018-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil and water are suggested to represent pivotal niches for the transmission of Listeria monocytogenes to plant material, animals, and the food chain. In the present study, 467 soil and 68 water samples were collected in 12 distinct geological and ecological sites in Austria from 2007 to 2009. Listeria was present in 30% and 26% of the investigated soil and water samples, respectively. Generally, the most dominant species in soil and water samples were Listeria seeligeri, L. innocua, and L. ivanovii. The human- and animal-pathogenic L. monocytogenes was isolated exclusively from 6% soil samples in regions A (mountainous region) and B (meadow). Distinct ecological preferences were observed for L. seeligeri and L. ivanovii, which were more often isolated from wildlife reserve region C (Lake Neusiedl) and from sites in proximity to wild and domestic ruminants (region A). The higher L. monocytogenes detection and antibiotic resistance rates in regions A and B could be explained by the proximity to agricultural land and urban environment. L. monocytogenes multilocus sequence typing corroborated this evidence since sequence type 37 (ST37), ST91, ST101, and ST517 were repeatedly isolated from regions A and B over several months. A higher L. monocytogenes detection and strain variability was observed during flooding of the river Schwarza (region A) and Danube (region B) in September 2007, indicating dispersion via watercourses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Linke
- Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Rückerl
- Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Brugger
- Institute for Veterinary Public Health, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Julia Walland
- Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria NeuroCenter, Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sonja Muri-Klinger
- Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Tichy
- Platform Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Wagner
- Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Christian Doppler Laboratory for Molecular Food Analytics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Beatrix Stessl
- Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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Zhang Y, Kelly WR, Panno SV, Liu WT. Tracing fecal pollution sources in karst groundwater by Bacteroidales genetic biomarkers, bacterial indicators, and environmental variables. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 490:1082-90. [PMID: 24922611 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Revised: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Fecal contamination in Midwestern karst regions was evaluated by simultaneously measuring traditional bacterial indicators (coliforms and Escherichia coli), Bacteroidales-based biomarkers, and environmental variables. Water samples from springs and wells were collected from karst regions in Illinois (IL), Wisconsin (WI), Kentucky (KY), and Missouri (MO). Quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) with seven primer sets targeting different members of Bacteroidales was used to determine the origin of fecal contamination (i.e., from human waste, livestock waste, or both). Most samples were contaminated by both human and animal waste, with a few samples showing pollution solely by one or the other. Spring water tended to have higher levels of contamination than well water, and higher concentrations of fecal biomarkers were detected in urban springs compared to rural spring systems. However, there were discrepancies on contamination profile determined by Bacteroidales-based biomarkers and by traditional bacterial indicators. Among all the environmental parameters examined, E. coli, sulfate, total dissolved solids (TDS), and silicon were significantly correlated (p<0.05) with the level of Bacteroidales-based fecal indicators. A rapid screening method using total nitrogen (TN) and chloride (Cl(-)) concentrations to determine fecal contamination was shown to be effective and correlated well with Bacteroidales-based MST. The results suggest that human and livestock feces co-contaminated a large portion of karst groundwater systems in Midwestern regions, and the inclusion of traditional bacterial indicators, environmental variables, and Bacteroidales-based MST is an effective approach for identifying fecal contamination in karst regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States
| | - Walton R Kelly
- Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States
| | - Samuel V Panno
- Illinois State Geological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States
| | - Wen-Tso Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States.
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Lee DY, Lee H, Trevors JT, Weir SC, Thomas JL, Habash M. Characterization of sources and loadings of fecal pollutants using microbial source tracking assays in urban and rural areas of the Grand River Watershed, Southwestern Ontario. WATER RESEARCH 2014; 53:123-131. [PMID: 24509346 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Revised: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 01/01/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Sources of fecal water pollution were assessed in the Grand River and two of its tributaries (Ontario, Canada) using total and host-specific (human and bovine) Bacteroidales genetic markers in conjunction with reference information, such as land use and weather. In-stream levels of the markers and culturable Escherichia coli were also monitored during multiple rain events to gain information on fecal loadings to catchment from diffuse sources. Elevated human-specific marker levels were accurately identified in river water impacted by a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent and at a downstream site in the Grand River. In contrast, the bovine-specific marker showed high levels of cattle fecal pollution in two tributaries, both of which are characterized as intensely farmed areas. The bovine-specific Bacteroidales marker increased with rainfall in the agricultural tributaries, indicating enhanced loading of cattle-derived fecal pollutants to river from non-point sources following rain events. However, rain-triggered fecal loading was not substantiated in urban settings, indicating continuous inputs of human-originated fecal pollutants from point sources, such as WWTP effluent. This study demonstrated that the Bacteroidales source tracking assays, in combination with land use information and hydrological data, may provide additional insight into the spatial and temporal distribution of source-specific fecal contamination in streams impacted by varying land uses. Using the approach described in this study may help to characterize impacted water sources and to design targeted land use management plans in other watersheds in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae-Young Lee
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Hung Lee
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Jack T Trevors
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Susan C Weir
- Laboratory Services Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada M9P 3V6
| | - Janis L Thomas
- Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada M9P 3V6
| | - Marc Habash
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
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Wang D, Farnleitner AH, Field KG, Green HC, Shanks OC, Boehm AB. Enterococcus and Escherichia coli fecal source apportionment with microbial source tracking genetic markers--is it feasible? WATER RESEARCH 2013; 47:6849-61. [PMID: 23890872 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.02.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Revised: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/01/2013] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Fecal pollution is measured in surface waters using culture-based measurements of enterococci and Escherichia coli bacteria. Source apportionment of these two fecal indicator bacteria is an urgent need for prioritizing remediation efforts and quantifying health risks associated with source-specific pathogens. There are a number of quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) assays that estimate concentrations of source-associated genetic markers; however, their concentrations are not necessarily amenable to source apportionment because the markers may differ in prevalence across sources. Here we mathematically derive and test, under ideal conditions, a method that utilizes the ratios of fecal source-associated genetic markers and culture and molecular measurements of general fecal indicators to apportion enterococci and E. coli. The source contribution is approximately equal to the ratio of the source-associated and the general fecal indicator concentrations in a water sample divided by their ratio in the source material, so long as cross-reactivity is negligible. We illustrate the utility of the ratio method using samples consisting of mixtures of various fecal pollution sources. The results from the ratio method correlated well with the actual source apportionment in artificial samples. However, aging of contamination can confound source allocation predictions. In particular, culturable enterococci and E. coli, the organisms presently regulated in the United States and much of the world, decay at different rates compared to source-associated markers and as a result cannot be apportioned using this method. However, limited data suggest a similar decay rate between source-associated and QPCR-measured Enterococcus and E. coli genetic markers, indicating that apportionment may be possible for these organisms; however further work is needed to confirm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Environmental and Water Studies, Dept. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Reischer GH, Ebdon JE, Bauer JM, Schuster N, Ahmed W, Aström J, Blanch AR, Blöschl G, Byamukama D, Coakley T, Ferguson C, Goshu G, Ko G, de Roda Husman AM, Mushi D, Poma R, Pradhan B, Rajal V, Schade MA, Sommer R, Taylor H, Toth EM, Vrajmasu V, Wuertz S, Mach RL, Farnleitner AH. Performance characteristics of qPCR assays targeting human- and ruminant-associated bacteroidetes for microbial source tracking across sixteen countries on six continents. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:8548-56. [PMID: 23755882 PMCID: PMC3737603 DOI: 10.1021/es304367t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2012] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Numerous quantitative PCR assays for microbial fecal source tracking (MST) have been developed and evaluated in recent years. Widespread application has been hindered by a lack of knowledge regarding the geographical stability and hence applicability of such methods beyond the regional level. This study assessed the performance of five previously reported quantitative PCR assays targeting human-, cattle-, or ruminant-associated Bacteroidetes populations on 280 human and animal fecal samples from 16 countries across six continents. The tested cattle-associated markers were shown to be ruminant-associated. The quantitative distributions of marker concentrations in target and nontarget samples proved to be essential for the assessment of assay performance and were used to establish a new metric for quantitative source-specificity. In general, this study demonstrates that stable target populations required for marker-based MST occur around the globe. Ruminant-associated marker concentrations were strongly correlated with total intestinal Bacteroidetes populations and with each other, indicating that the detected ruminant-associated populations seem to be part of the intestinal core microbiome of ruminants worldwide. Consequently tested ruminant-targeted assays appear to be suitable quantitative MST tools beyond the regional level while the targeted human-associated populations seem to be less prevalent and stable, suggesting potential for improvements in human-targeted methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg H Reischer
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.
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Tambalo DD, Fremaux B, Boa T, Yost CK. Persistence of host-associated Bacteroidales gene markers and their quantitative detection in an urban and agricultural mixed prairie watershed. WATER RESEARCH 2012; 46:2891-2904. [PMID: 22463862 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.02.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2011] [Revised: 02/27/2012] [Accepted: 02/29/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Microbial source tracking is an emerging tool developed to protect water sources from faecal pollution. In this study, we evaluated the suitability of real time-quantitative PCR (qPCR) Taqman assays developed for detection of host-associated Bacteroidales markers in a prairie watershed. The qPCR primers and probes used in this study exhibited high accuracy (88-96% sensitivity and ≥ 99% host specificity) in detecting Bacteroidales spp. that are associated with faeces from humans, ruminants, bovines, and horses. The ruminant- and human-associated markers were also found in high concentrations within individual faecal samples, ranging from 3.4 to 7.3 log(10) marker copy numberg(-1) of individual host faeces. Following validation of host sensitivity and specificity, the host-associated Bacteroidales markers were detected in the Qu'Appelle Valley watershed of Saskatchewan, Canada which experiences a diversity of anthropogenic inputs. Concentrations of the ruminant marker were well-correlated with proximity to cattle operations and there was a correlation between the marker and Escherichia coli concentrations at these sites. Low concentrations of the human faecal marker were measured throughout the sampling sites, and may indicate a consistent influx of human faecal pollution into the watershed area. Persistence of each of the Bacteroidales host-associated marker was also studied in situ. The results indicated that the markers persist for shorter periods of time (99% decay in <8 days) compared with the conventional E. coli marker (99% decay in >15 days), suggesting they are effective at detecting recent faecal contamination events. The levels of Bacteroidales markers and E. coli counts did not correlate with the presence of the pathogenic bacteria, Salmonella spp. or Campylobacter spp. detected in the Qu'Appelle Valley. Collectively, the results obtained in this study demonstrated that the qPCR approach for detecting host-associated Bacteroidales spp. markers can be a useful tool in helping to determine host-specific impacts of faecal pollution into a prairie watershed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinah D Tambalo
- Biology Department, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Vierheilig J, Farnleitner AH, Kollanur D, Blöschl G, Reischer GH. High abundance of genetic Bacteroidetes markers for total fecal pollution in pristine alpine soils suggests lack in specificity for feces. J Microbiol Methods 2012; 88:433-5. [PMID: 22285854 PMCID: PMC3314916 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2012.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2011] [Revised: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Two frequently applied genetic Bacteroidetes markers for total fecal pollution (AllBac and BacUni) were found in high numbers in pristine soil samples of two alpine catchment areas casting doubt on their value as fecal indicators. This finding underlines the necessity to evaluate assays locally and against non-intestinal samples before application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Vierheilig
- Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H. Farnleitner
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
- InterUniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health (ICC Water & Health), Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Denny Kollanur
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Günter Blöschl
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H. Reischer
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
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Sokolova E, Aström J, Pettersson TJR, Bergstedt O, Hermansson M. Decay of Bacteroidales genetic markers in relation to traditional fecal indicators for water quality modeling of drinking water sources. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2012; 46:892-900. [PMID: 22148545 DOI: 10.1021/es2024498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The implementation of microbial fecal source tracking (MST) methods in drinking water management is limited by the lack of knowledge on the transport and decay of host-specific genetic markers in water sources. To address these limitations, the decay and transport of human (BacH) and ruminant (BacR) fecal Bacteroidales 16S rRNA genetic markers in a drinking water source (Lake Rådasjön in Sweden) were simulated using a microbiological model coupled to a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. The microbiological model was calibrated using data from outdoor microcosm trials performed in March, August, and November 2010 to determine the decay of BacH and BacR markers in relation to traditional fecal indicators. The microcosm trials indicated that the persistence of BacH and BacR in the microcosms was not significantly different from the persistence of traditional fecal indicators. The modeling of BacH and BacR transport within the lake illustrated that the highest levels of genetic markers at the raw water intakes were associated with human fecal sources (on-site sewers and emergency sewer overflow). This novel modeling approach improves the interpretation of MST data, especially when fecal pollution from the same host group is released into the water source from different sites in the catchment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Sokolova
- Water Environment Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
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