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Denpetkul T, Pumkaew M, Sittipunsakda O, Srathongneam T, Mongkolsuk S, Sirikanchana K. Risk-based critical concentrations of enteric pathogens for recreational water criteria and recommended minimum sample volumes for routine water monitoring. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 950:175234. [PMID: 39102962 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Concerns are rising about the contamination of recreational waters from human and animal waste, along with associated risks to public health. However, existing guidelines for managing pathogens in these environments have not yet fully integrated risk-based pathogen-specific criteria, which, along with recent advancements in indicators and markers, are essential to improve the protection of public health. This study aimed to establish risk-based critical concentration benchmarks for significant enteric pathogens, i.e., norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia lamblia, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Applying a 0.036 risk benchmark to both marine and freshwater environments, the study identified the lowest critical concentrations for children, who are the most susceptible group. Norovirus, C. jejuni, and Cryptosporidium presented lowest median critical concentrations for virus, bacteria, and protozoa, respectively: 0.74 GC, 1.73 CFU, and 0.39 viable oocysts per 100 mL in freshwater for children. These values were then used to determine minimum sample volumes corresponding to different recovery rates for culture method, digital polymerase chain reaction and quantitative PCR methods. The results indicate that for children, norovirus required the largest sample volumes of freshwater and marine water (52.08 to 178.57 L, based on the 5th percentile with a 10 % recovery rate), reflecting its low critical concentration and high potential for causing illness. In contrast, adenovirus and rotavirus required significantly smaller volumes (approximately 0.24 to 1.33 L). C. jejuni and Cryptosporidium, which required the highest sampling volumes for bacteria and protozoa, needed 1.72 to 11.09 L and 4.17 to 25.51 L, respectively. Additionally, the presented risk-based framework could provide a model for establishing pathogen thresholds, potentially guiding the creation of extensive risk-based criteria for various pathogens in recreational waters, thus aiding public health authorities in decision-making, strengthening pathogen monitoring, and improving water quality testing accuracy for enhanced health protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thammanitchpol Denpetkul
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Monchai Pumkaew
- Environmental Engineering and Disaster Management Program, School of Multidisciplinary, Mahidol University, Kanchanaburi Campus, Kanchanaburi 71150, Thailand
| | - Oranoot Sittipunsakda
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Thitima Srathongneam
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Skorn Mongkolsuk
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), OPS, MHESI, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Kwanrawee Sirikanchana
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), OPS, MHESI, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
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2
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Díaz SM, Barrios ME, Galli L, Cammarata RV, Torres C, Fortunato MS, García López G, Costa M, Sanguino Jorquera DG, Oderiz S, Rogé A, Gentiluomo J, Carbonari C, Rajal VB, Korol SE, Gallego A, Blanco Fernández MD, Mbayed VA. Microbiological hazard identification in river waters used for recreational activities. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 247:118161. [PMID: 38220078 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites can cause waterborne disease outbreaks. The study of coastal water quality contributes to identifying potential risks to human health and to improving water management practices. The Río de la Plata River, a wide estuary in South America, is used for recreational activities, as a water source for consumption and as a site for sewage discharges. In the present study, as the first step of a quantitative microbial risk assessment of the coastal water quality of this river, a descriptive study was performed to identify the microbial pathogens prevalent in its waters and in the sewage discharged into the river. Two sites, representing two different potential risk scenarios, were chosen: a heavily polluted beach and an apparently safe beach. Conductivity and fecal contamination indicators including enterococci, Escherichia coli, F + RNA bacteriophages, and human polyomaviruses showed high levels. Regarding enterococci, differences between sites were significant (p-values <0.001). 93.3% and 56.5% of the apparently safe beach exceeded the recreational water limits for E. coli and enterococci. Regarding pathogens, diarrheagenic E. coli, Salmonella, and noroviruses were detected with different frequencies between sites. The parasites Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis were frequently detected in both sites. The results regarding viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens, even without correlation with conventional indicators, showed the importance of monitoring a variety of microorganisms to determine water quality more reliably and accurately, and to facilitate further studies of health risk assessment. The taxonomic description of microbial pathogens in river waters allow identifying the microorganisms that infect the population living on its shores but also pathogens not previously reported by the clinical surveillance system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Micaela Díaz
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBAVIM), Cátedra de Virología, Junín 956 (C1113AAD), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Melina Elizabeth Barrios
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBAVIM), Cátedra de Virología, Junín 956 (C1113AAD), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía Galli
- IGEVET - Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ing. Fernando N. Dulout" (UNLP-CONICET LA PLATA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Av. 60 y 118 (B1900), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Robertina Viviana Cammarata
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBAVIM), Cátedra de Virología, Junín 956 (C1113AAD), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Torres
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBAVIM), Cátedra de Virología, Junín 956 (C1113AAD), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Susana Fortunato
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Salud Pública e Higiene Ambiental, Junín 954 (C1113AAD), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guadalupe García López
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Salud Pública e Higiene Ambiental, Junín 954 (C1113AAD), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Magdalena Costa
- IGEVET - Instituto de Genética Veterinaria "Ing. Fernando N. Dulout" (UNLP-CONICET LA PLATA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Av. 60 y 118 (B1900), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Diego Gastón Sanguino Jorquera
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150 (A4408FVY), Salta, Argentina
| | - Sebastian Oderiz
- Servicio Fisiopatogenia, Departamento Bacteriología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas-ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Av. Vélez Sarsfield 563 (C1282AFF), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ariel Rogé
- Servicio Fisiopatogenia, Departamento Bacteriología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas-ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Av. Vélez Sarsfield 563 (C1282AFF), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jimena Gentiluomo
- Servicio Fisiopatogenia, Departamento Bacteriología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas-ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Av. Vélez Sarsfield 563 (C1282AFF), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Carbonari
- Servicio Fisiopatogenia, Departamento Bacteriología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas-ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Av. Vélez Sarsfield 563 (C1282AFF), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Verónica Beatriz Rajal
- Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Bolivia 5150 (A4408FVY), Salta, Argentina; Facultad de Ingeniería. UNSa, Av. Bolivia 5150 (A4408FVY), Salta, Argentina
| | - Sonia Edith Korol
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Salud Pública e Higiene Ambiental, Junín 954 (C1113AAD), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alfredo Gallego
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Salud Pública e Higiene Ambiental, Junín 954 (C1113AAD), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Dolores Blanco Fernández
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBAVIM), Cátedra de Virología, Junín 956 (C1113AAD), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Viviana Andrea Mbayed
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBAVIM), Cátedra de Virología, Junín 956 (C1113AAD), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Blanch AR, Méndez J, Lucena F, Casas-Mangas R, Chesa-Marro MJ, Llopart-Mascaró A, Jofre J. Somatic Coliphages as an Operational Tool to Assess Loss of Bathing Water Quality after Heavy Rain Events. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 249:120981. [PMID: 38091698 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Rapid population growth and coastal development has led to increased fecal contamination of coastal surface waters worldwide, enhancing the potential risk of waterborne human pathogens in bathing areas. More frequent heavy rainfall events, attributed to global warming, have further exacerbated the problem by causing sometimes sewer overflows into recreational waters. As traditional bacterial indicators have limited accuracy for predicting health risks associated with waterborne viruses, the additional use of viral indicators such as coliphages is recommended. In this study, we compared the behavior of bacterial and viral indicators of water quality at 10 Barcelona beaches during three bathing seasons, in dry conditions, and after four rainstorms that caused specific pollution events due to rain runoff with combined sewer overflows (CSO). Levels of all target indicators increased after the rainstorms, but compared to Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci, somatic coliphages exhibited a slower decline and higher environmental persistence following a rain event. Daily continuous sampling carried out during the days following a rainstorm allowed not only the determination of the decay kinetics of each target indicator but also the day when the water quality recovered the values established in the current European regulation in approximately 2 -3 days after each CSO. These observations indicate that the combined use of bacterial and viral indicators can enhance the surveillance of microbial quality of bathing waters. Moreover, coliphages can swiftly provide insights into transient fecal pollution linked to rainfall episodes, thanks to available analytical techniques that enable same-day recommendations. The management of urban wastewater and recreational water regulations should consistently employ microbial indicators to address rainwater runoff or sewer overflows resulting from heavy rainfall.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Blanch
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - J Méndez
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Lucena
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - R Casas-Mangas
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - M J Chesa-Marro
- Barcelona Cicle de l'Aigua, S.A. (BCASA). Ajuntament de Barcelona. Barcelona. Spain
| | - A Llopart-Mascaró
- Barcelona Cicle de l'Aigua, S.A. (BCASA). Ajuntament de Barcelona. Barcelona. Spain
| | - J Jofre
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Reial Acadèmia de Ciències i Arts de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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4
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Safarirad M, Shahdadi M, Berizi E, Mazloomi SM, Hosseinzadeh S, Montaseri M, Derakhshan Z. A systematic review and modeling of the effect of bacteriophages on E. coli O157:H7 reduction in vegetables. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22961. [PMID: 38058426 PMCID: PMC10696239 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prevention and control of food pathogens are important for public health and E. coli O157:H7 infections are known as one of the most important food-borne bacterial diseases transmitted to humans. Vegetables can be a major source of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. Bacteriophages have been considered in recent years as a natural method for controlling pathogens with minimal damage to the quality of vegetables. The performance of these natural antimicrobial agents is affected by various factors including time, temperature, phage and bacterial dose, method of phage application and origin of phages. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the works that have examined the effect of different factors to reduce E. coli O157:H7 bacteria by its specific phages and model their effect. In our study, 10 articles were chosen after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria mentioned in the methodology. The multivariate regression results showed that time, temperature, and method of phage application revealed a positive influence on the phage function, and with each unit of increase, the E. coli O157:H7 reduction increases by 0.4 %, 3 % and 0.94 % respectively, and 6 % for phage dose, but not statistically significant (P = 0.44). In addition, commercial-type phages were more effective than wild-type phages and this result was statistically significant (Beta = 0.99; P = 0.001). The results of this study indicate that the various factors, such as temperature, time, method of phage application and type of vegetables can play an important role to reduce E. coli O157:H7 in vegetables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Safarirad
- Student Research Committee, Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohsen Shahdadi
- Student Research Committee, Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Enayat Berizi
- Nutrition Research Center, Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Mazloomi
- Nutrition Research Center, Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Saeid Hosseinzadeh
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Montaseri
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Zahra Derakhshan
- Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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5
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Shayan MNM, Tanaka Y, Hirano R, Nakaya Y, Satoh H. A simple and rapid method for detecting fecal pollution in urban rivers by measuring the intrinsic β-D-glucuronidase activity of Escherichia coli. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 246:120689. [PMID: 37801983 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
As urban rivers are domestic, industrial, and agricultural water resources, fecal pollution poses human health and environmental risks. In this study, we developed a simple and rapid method to detect fecal pollution in urban rivers. Water samples were mixed with liquid medium, including a fluorescent substrate and fluorescence intensity (F.I.) was measured using a microplate reader to determine Escherichia coli (E. coli) β-D-glucuronidase (GUS) activity instead of E. coli concentration. GUS activities measurements in pure E. coli cultures revealed that E. coli incubated with a GUS substrate accumulated GUS enzymes in their cells, whereas those incubated without a GUS substrate did not. The increase in GUS activity corresponded to the proliferation of E. coli and the GUS activity increased linearly even during the lag growth phase of E. coli, indicating the presence of intrinsic GUS (iGUS) in E. coli cells before incubation. iGUS activity persisted at 81 % in the chlorinated samples, even though the E. coli concentration was reduced by a factor of 106. The iGUS activity persisted for approximately three days. Therefore, we assumed that E. coli present in fecal contaminants, in which GUS substrates are present, could be distinguished from those surviving in the natural environment for three days or longer by measuring iGUS activity. River water samples were collected upstream and downstream of the discharge outlets of municipal wastewater treatment plants and a combined sewer outlet. The iGUS activities were <0.24 mMFU/mL for the upstream samples and >0.21 mMFU/mL for the downstream samples. Interestingly, E. coli concentrations were not necessarily associated with fecal pollution. This indicates that by setting a threshold for iGUS activity, our method can be used as a simple and rapid method for detecting fecal pollution in urban rivers. Because the limit of detection for our method is 20 CFU/mL, our method is applicable to detecting high fecal pollution in a small river.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohomed N M Shayan
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North-13, West-8, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
| | - Yuna Tanaka
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North-13, West-8, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
| | - Reiko Hirano
- Cellspect Co., Ltd., 2-4-23 Kitaiioka, Morioka, Iwate 020-0857, Japan
| | - Yuki Nakaya
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North-13, West-8, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
| | - Hisashi Satoh
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North-13, West-8, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
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Gholipour S, Nikaeen M, Rabbani D, Mohammadi F, Manesh RM, Besharatipour N, Bina B. Occurrence of enteric and non-enteric microorganisms in coastal waters impacted by anthropogenic activities: A multi-route QMRA for swimmers. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114716. [PMID: 36860014 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microbial characteristics of coastal waters which are impacted by anthropogenic pollution as well as estimate the health risks associated with exposure to enteric and non-enteric microorganisms during swimming. Fecal indicator bacteria were highly detected in samples. Moreover, pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms were found, with the highest frequency for Pseudomonas aeruginosa followed by Adenovirus 40/41, Acanthamoeba spp., Salmonella enterica, and Cryptosporidium parvum. The median risk of gastrointestinal illness through ingestion of water was estimated to be above the benchmark value of 0.05 per event recommended by WHO. Cryptosporidium followed by Adenovirus, showed higher illness risks than Salmonella. The potential risks of Acanthamoeba and P. aeruginosa were estimated to be low for both dermal and ocular exposure routes. However, there are uncertainties about the infectious fraction of pathogens existing in coastal waters and the delivered dose of microorganisms from dermal/ocular exposure during recreational activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Gholipour
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mahnaz Nikaeen
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Davarkhah Rabbani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Mohammadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Reza Mohammadi Manesh
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Nayereh Besharatipour
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Bijan Bina
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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7
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Zimmer-Faust AG, Griffith JF, Steele JA, Santos B, Cao Y, Asato L, Chiem T, Choi S, Diaz A, Guzman J, Laak D, Padilla M, Quach-Cu J, Ruiz V, Woo M, Weisberg SB. Relationship between coliphage and Enterococcus at southern California beaches and implications for beach water quality management. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 230:119383. [PMID: 36630853 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Coliphage have been suggested as an alternative to fecal indicator bacteria for assessing recreational beach water quality, but it is unclear how frequently and at what types of beaches coliphage produces a different management outcome. Here we conducted side-by-side sampling of male-specific and somatic coliphage by the new EPA dead-end hollow fiber ultrafiltration (D-HFUF-SAL) method and Enterococcus at southern California beaches over two years. When samples were combined for all beach sites, somatic and male-specific coliphage both correlated with Enterococcus. When examined categorically, Enterococcus would have resulted in approximately two times the number of health advisories as somatic coliphage and four times that of male-specific coliphage,using recently proposed thresholds of 60 PFU/100 mL for somatic and 30 PFU/100 mL for male-specific coliphage. Overall, only 12% of total exceedances would have been for coliphage alone. Somatic coliphage exceedances that occurred in the absence of an Enterococcus exceedance were limited to a single site during south swell events, when this beach is known to be affected by nearby minimally treated sewage. Thus, somatic coliphage provided additional valuable health protection information, but may be more appropriate as a supplement to FIB measurements rather than as replacement because: (a) EPA-approved PCR methods for Enterococcus allow a more rapid response, (b) coliphage is more challenging owing to its greater sampling volume and laboratory time requirements, and (c) Enterococcus' long data history has yielded predictive management models that would need to be recreated for coliphage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amity G Zimmer-Faust
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States.
| | - John F Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States
| | - Joshua A Steele
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States
| | - Bryan Santos
- City of San Diego, Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services, United States
| | - Yiping Cao
- Orange County Sanitation District, United States
| | - Laralyn Asato
- City of San Diego, Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services, United States
| | - Tania Chiem
- Orange County Public Health Laboratory, United States
| | - Samuel Choi
- Orange County Sanitation District, United States
| | - Arturo Diaz
- Orange County Sanitation District, United States
| | - Joe Guzman
- Orange County Public Health Laboratory, United States
| | - David Laak
- Ventura County Public Works Agency, United States
| | | | | | - Victor Ruiz
- Los Angeles City Sanitation Department, United States
| | - Mary Woo
- California State University Channel Islands, Ventura, CA, United States
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States
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8
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Shin H, Kim Y, Unno T, Hur HG. Prevalence and Characterization of CRISPR Locus 2.1 Spacers in Escherichia coli Isolates Obtained from Feces of Animals and Humans. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0493422. [PMID: 36719193 PMCID: PMC10101085 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04934-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) has been studied as an immune system in prokaryotes for the survival of bacteriophages. The CRISPR system in prokaryotes records the invasion of bacteriophages or other genetic materials in CRISPR loci. Accordingly, CRISPR loci can reveal a history of infection records of bacteriophages and other genetic materials. Therefore, identification of the CRISPR array may help trace the events that bacteria have undergone. In this study, we characterized and identified the spacers of the CRISPR loci in Escherichia coli isolates obtained from the feces of animals and humans. Most CRISPR spacers were found to stem from phages. Although we did not find any patterns in CRISPR spacers according to sources, our results showed that phage-derived spacers mainly originated from the families Inoviridae, Myoviridae, Podoviridae, and Siphoviridae and the order Caudovirales, whereas plasmid-derived CRISPR spacers were mainly from the Enterobacteriaceae family. In addition, it is worth noting that the isolates from each animal and human source harbored source-specific spacers. Considering that some of these taxa are likely found in the gut of mammalian animals, CRISPR spacers identified in these E. coli isolates were likely derived from the bacteriophageome and microbiome in closed gut environments. Although the bacteriophageome database limits the characterization of CRISPR arrays, the present study showed that some spacers were specifically found in both animal and human sources. Thus, this finding may suggest the possible use of E. coli CRISPR spacers as a microbial source tracking tool. IMPORTANCE We characterized spacers of CRISPR locus 2.1 in E. coli isolates obtained from the feces of various sources. Phage-derived CRISPR spacers are mainly acquired from the order Caudovirales, and plasmid-derived CRISPR spacers are mostly from the Enterobacteriaceae family. This is thought to reflect the microbiome and phageome of the gut environment of the sources. Hence, spacers may help track the encounter of bacterial cells with bacterial cells, viruses, or other genetic materials. Interestingly, source-specific spacers are also observed. The identification of source-specific spacers is thought to help develop the methodology of microbial source tracking and understanding the interactions between viruses and bacteria. However, very few spacers have been uncovered to track where they originate. The accumulation of genome sequences can help identify the hosts of spacers and can be applied for microbial source tracking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanseob Shin
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongjin Kim
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Tatsuya Unno
- Faculty of Biotechnology, College of Applied Life Sciences, SARI, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hor-Gil Hur
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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9
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Health risks to children from exposure to fecally-contaminated recreational water. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266749. [PMID: 35413082 PMCID: PMC9004770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Children may be at higher risk for swimming-associated illness following exposure to fecally-contaminated recreational waters. We analyzed a pooled data set of over 80,000 beachgoers from 13 beach sites across the United States to compare risks associated with the fecal indicator bacteria Enterococcus spp. (measured by colony forming units, CFU and quantitative polymerase chain reaction cell equivalents, qPCR CE) for different age groups across different exposures, sites and health endpoints.
Methods
Sites were categorized according to the predominant type of fecal contamination (human or non-human). Swimming exposures of varying intensity were considered according to degree of contact and time spent in the water. Health endpoints included gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms and skin rashes. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk of illness as a function of fecal contamination in water as measured by Enterococcus spp. among the exposed groups. Non-swimmers (those who did not enter the water) were excluded from the models to reduce bias and facilitate comparison across groups.
Results
Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most sensitive health endpoint and strongest associations were observed with Enterococcus qPCR CE at sites impacted by human fecal contamination. Under several exposure scenarios, associations between illness and Enterococcus spp. levels were significantly higher among children compared to adolescents and adults. Respiratory symptoms were also associated with Enterococcus spp. exposures among young children at sites affected by human fecal sources, although small sample sizes resulted in imprecise estimates for these associations.
Conclusion
Under many exposure scenarios, children were at higher risk of illness associated with exposure to fecal contamination as measured by the indicator bacteria Enterococcus spp. The source of fecal contamination and the intensity of swimming exposure were also important factors affecting the association between Enterococcus spp. and swimming-associated illness.
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10
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Zimmer‐Faust AG, Griffith J, Steele J, Asato L, Chiem T, Choi S, Diaz A, Guzman J, Padilla M, Quach‐Cu J, Ruiz V, Santos B, Woo M, Weisberg SB. Assessing cross‐laboratory performance for quantifying coliphage using
EPA
Method 1642. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 133:340-348. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.15523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - John Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority
| | - Joshua Steele
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority
| | - Laralyn Asato
- City of San Diego, Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bryan Santos
- City of San Diego, Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services
| | - Mary Woo
- California State University – Channel Islands
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11
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Monitoring coliphages to reduce waterborne infectious disease transmission in the One Water framework. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 240:113921. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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12
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Biological Indicators for Fecal Pollution Detection and Source Tracking: A Review. Processes (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9112058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Fecal pollution, commonly detected in untreated or less treated sewage, is associated with health risks (e.g., waterborne diseases and antibiotic resistance dissemination), ecological issues (e.g., release of harmful gases in fecal sludge composting, proliferative bacterial/algal growth due to high nutrient loads) and economy losses (e.g., reduced aqua farm harvesting). Therefore, the discharge of untreated domestic sewage to the environment and its agricultural reuse are growing concerns. The goals of fecal pollution detection include fecal waste source tracking and identifying the presence of pathogens, therefore assessing potential health risks. This review summarizes available biological fecal indicators focusing on host specificity, degree of association with fecal pollution, environmental persistence, and quantification methods in fecal pollution assessment. The development of practical tools is a crucial requirement for the implementation of mitigation strategies that may help confine the types of host-specific pathogens and determine the source control point, such as sourcing fecal wastes from point sources and nonpoint sources. Emerging multidisciplinary bacterial enumeration platforms are also discussed, including individual working mechanisms, applications, advantages, and limitations.
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13
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Bacteriophages as Fecal Pollution Indicators. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061089. [PMID: 34200458 PMCID: PMC8229503 DOI: 10.3390/v13061089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are promising tools for the detection of fecal pollution in different environments, and particularly for viral pathogen risk assessment. Having similar morphological and biological characteristics, bacteriophages mimic the fate and transport of enteric viruses. Enteric bacteriophages, especially phages infecting Escherichia coli (coliphages), have been proposed as alternatives or complements to fecal indicator bacteria. Here, we provide a general overview of the potential use of enteric bacteriophages as fecal and viral indicators in different environments, as well as the available methods for their detection and enumeration, and the regulations for their application.
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14
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Tiwari A, Oliver DM, Bivins A, Sherchan SP, Pitkänen T. Bathing Water Quality Monitoring Practices in Europe and the United States. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5513. [PMID: 34063910 PMCID: PMC8196636 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Many countries including EU Member States (EUMS) and the United States (U.S.) regularly monitor the microbial quality of bathing water to protect public health. This study comprehensively evaluates the EU bathing water directive (BWD) and the U.S. recreational water quality criteria (RWQC) as regulatory frameworks for monitoring microbial quality of bathing water. The major differences between these two regulatory frameworks are the provision of bathing water profiles, classification of bathing sites based on the pollution level, variations in the sampling frequency, accepted probable illness risk, epidemiological studies conducted during the development of guideline values, and monitoring methods. There are also similarities between the two approaches given that both enumerate viable fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) as an index of the potential risk to human health in bathing water and accept such risk up to a certain level. However, enumeration of FIB using methods outlined within these current regulatory frameworks does not consider the source of contamination nor variation in inactivation rates of enteric microbes in different ecological contexts, which is dependent on factors such as temperature, solar radiation, and salinity in various climatic regions within their geographical areas. A comprehensive "tool-box approach", i.e., coupling of FIB and viral pathogen indicators with microbial source tracking for regulatory purposes, offers potential for delivering improved understanding to better protect the health of bathers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananda Tiwari
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland;
| | - David M. Oliver
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK;
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA;
| | - Samendra P. Sherchan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland;
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
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15
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Liao Y, Lavenburg VM, Lennon M, Salvador A, Hsu AL, Wu VCH. The effects of environmental factors on the prevalence and diversity of bacteriophages lytic against the top six
non‐O157
Shiga toxin‐producing
Escherichia coli
on an organic farm. J Food Saf 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jfs.12865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yen‐Te Liao
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Western Regional Research Center Albany California USA
| | - Valerie M. Lavenburg
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Western Regional Research Center Albany California USA
| | - Marion Lennon
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Western Regional Research Center Albany California USA
| | - Alexandra Salvador
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Western Regional Research Center Albany California USA
| | - Angeline L. Hsu
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Western Regional Research Center Albany California USA
| | - Vivian C. H. Wu
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Western Regional Research Center Albany California USA
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16
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Shrestha A, Kelty CA, Sivaganesan M, Shanks OC, Dorevitch S. Fecal pollution source characterization at non-point source impacted beaches under dry and wet weather conditions. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 182:116014. [PMID: 32622131 PMCID: PMC8220998 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Though Lake Michigan beaches in Chicago are not impacted by stormwater or wastewater outfalls, several of those beaches often exceed USEPA Beach Action Values (BAVs). We investigated the role of microbial source tracking (MST) as a complement to routine beach monitoring at Chicago beaches. In summer 2016, water samples from nine Chicago beaches were analyzed for E. coli by culture and enterococci by qPCR. A total of 195 archived samples were then tested for human (HF183/BacR287, HumM2), canine (DG3, DG37), and avian (GFD) microbial source tracking (MST) markers. Associations between MST and general fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) measures were evaluated and stratified based on wet and dry weather definitions. Among the 195 samples, HF183/BacR287 was quantifiable in 4%, HumM2 in 1%, DG3 in 6%, DG37 in 2%, and GFD in 23%. The one beach with a dog area was far more likely to have DG3 present in the quantifiable range than other beaches. Exceedance of general FIB BAVs increased the odds of human, dog and avian marker detection. MST marker weighted-average fecal scores for DG3 was 2.4 times, DG37 was 2.1 times, and GFD was 1.6 times higher during wet compared to dry weather conditions. HF183/BacR287 weighted-average fecal scores were not associated with precipitation. Associations between FIB BAV exceedance and MST marker detection were generally stronger in wet weather. Incorporating MST testing into routine beach water monitoring can provide information that beach managers can use when developing protection plans for beaches not impacted by point sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhilasha Shrestha
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Catherine A Kelty
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Mano Sivaganesan
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Orin C Shanks
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Samuel Dorevitch
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Institute for Environmental Science and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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17
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Holcomb DA, Stewart JR. Microbial Indicators of Fecal Pollution: Recent Progress and Challenges in Assessing Water Quality. Curr Environ Health Rep 2020; 7:311-324. [PMID: 32542574 PMCID: PMC7458903 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-00278-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Fecal contamination of water is a major public health concern. This review summarizes recent developments and advancements in water quality indicators of fecal contamination. RECENT FINDINGS This review highlights a number of trends. First, fecal indicators continue to be a valuable tool to assess water quality and have expanded to include indicators able to detect sources of fecal contamination in water. Second, molecular methods, particularly PCR-based methods, have advanced considerably in their selected targets and rigor, but have added complexity that may prohibit adoption for routine monitoring activities at this time. Third, risk modeling is beginning to better connect indicators and human health risks, with the accuracy of assessments currently tied to the timing and conditions where risk is measured. Research has advanced although challenges remain for the effective use of both traditional and alternative fecal indicators for risk characterization, source attribution and apportionment, and impact evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Holcomb
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7435, USA
| | - Jill R Stewart
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7431, USA.
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18
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Leonard AFC, Garside R, Ukoumunne OC, Gaze WH. A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of illness in coastal bathers compared to non-bathers in England and Wales: Findings from the Beach User Health Survey. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 176:115700. [PMID: 32234605 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The risks of illness associated with bathing in UK coastal waters have not been quantified since the early 1990s. Efforts have been made since then to improve the quality of bathing waters. The aim of this study was to quantify the prevalence of symptoms of illness associated with sea bathing in bathers in England and Wales. A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2014 and April 2015. An online survey collected information from sea bathers and non-bathers on their visits to beaches in England and Wales along with the occurrence of symptoms of illness. 2631 people (1693 bathers, 938 non-bathers) responded to the survey. Compared to non-bathers, bathers were more likely to report skin ailments (adjusted prevalence odds ratio (AOR) = 2.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23 to 5.65, p = 0.01), ear ailments (AOR = 3.77, 95% CI 1.84 to 7.73, p < 0.001), and any symptoms of illness (AOR = 3.73, 95% CI 2.63 to 5.29, p < 0.001). There was weak evidence of an increase in the odds of gastrointestinal illness (AOR = 1.59, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.65, p = 0.07), respiratory ailments (AOR = 2.44, 95% CI 0.92 to 6.48, p = 0.07) and eye ailments (AOR = 2.12, 95% CI 0.83 to 5.39, p = 0.11). While the study design does not allow inference of causality, we do observe an association between sea bathing in England and Wales and reported symptoms of ill health. This suggests that despite higher rates of compliance with water quality criteria among bathing waters nowadays, the odds of illness for bathers relative to non-bathers is similar in magnitude to estimates made in the 1990s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne F C Leonard
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, TR1 3HD, UK.
| | - Ruth Garside
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, TR1 3HD, UK
| | - Obioha C Ukoumunne
- National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
| | - William H Gaze
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, TR1 3HD, UK.
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19
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Leonard AFC, Singer A, Ukoumunne OC, Gaze WH, Garside R. Is it safe to go back into the water? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the risk of acquiring infections from recreational exposure to seawater. Int J Epidemiol 2019. [PMID: 29529201 PMCID: PMC5913622 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyx281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Numerous illnesses are associated with bathing in natural waters, although it is assumed that the risk of illness among bathers exposed to relatively clean waters found in high-income countries is negligible. A systematic review was carried out to quantify the increased risk of experiencing a range of adverse health outcomes among bathers exposed to coastal water compared with non-bathers. Methods In all 6919 potentially relevant titles and abstracts were screened, and from these 40 studies were eligible for inclusion in the review. Odds ratios (OR) were extracted from 19 of these reports and combined in random-effect meta-analyses for the following adverse health outcomes: incident cases of any illness, ear infections, gastrointestinal illness and infections caused by specific microorganisms. Results There is an increased risk of experiencing symptoms of any illness [OR = 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31 to 2.64, P = 0.001] and ear ailments (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.49 to 2.82, P < 0.001) in bathers compared with non-bathers. There is also an increased risk of experiencing gastrointestinal ailments (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.49, P < 0.001). Conclusions This is the first systematic review to evaluate evidence on the increased risk of acquiring illnesses from bathing in seawater compared with non-bathers. Our results support the notion that infections are acquired from bathing in coastal waters, and that bathers have a greater risk of experiencing a variety of illnesses compared with non-bathers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne F C Leonard
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, UK
| | | | - Obioha C Ukoumunne
- NIHR CLAHRC South West Peninsula (PenCLAHRC), University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - William H Gaze
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, UK
| | - Ruth Garside
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, UK
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20
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Goh SG, Saeidi N, Gu X, Vergara GGR, Liang L, Fang H, Kitajima M, Kushmaro A, Gin KYH. Occurrence of microbial indicators, pathogenic bacteria and viruses in tropical surface waters subject to contrasting land use. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 150:200-215. [PMID: 30528917 PMCID: PMC7112093 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.11.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Enterococcus, have been widely used to indicate the presence of pathogens. However, the suitability of fecal indicator bacteria to represent health risks is still being challenged, particularly in tropical aquatic environments. The objective of this study is to understand the occurrence and prevalence of indicators and pathogens in areas with contrasting land use, as well as to identify the major correlations between indicators, pathogens and environmental parameters. The spatial and temporal variation of indicators and pathogens was studied to examine the distribution patterns for areas with different land use, and the impact of seasonal changes on microbial populations. A total of 234 water samples were sampled for two years from reservoirs and their tributaries, and tested for fecal indicator bacteria, coliphages, human specific markers, pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The prevalence of indicators and pathogens in reservoirs were generally low, while relatively high concentrations were observed in tributaries to varying degrees. Of the enteric viruses, norovirus GII was among the most prevalent and had the highest concentration. Although strong correlations were found between indicators, only relatively weak correlations were found between indicators and pathogens. The results in this study showed that none of the bacteria/phage indicators were universal predictors for pathogens. Inclusion of the alternative indicators, Methanobrevibacter smithii, Bacteroides and human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) to monitoring programs could help to determine whether the fecal source was human. The microbial distribution patterns allow the classification of sampling sites to different clusters and thus, help to identify sites which have poor water quality. This approach will be useful for water quality management to pinpoint factors that influence water quality and help to prioritize sites for restoration of water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Giek Goh
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nazanin Saeidi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xiaoqiong Gu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Liang Liang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Haoming Fang
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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21
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Girardi V, Mena KD, Albino SM, Demoliner M, Gularte JS, de Souza FG, Rigotto C, Quevedo DM, Schneider VE, Paesi SO, Tarwater PM, Spilki FR. Microbial risk assessment in recreational freshwaters from southern Brazil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 651:298-308. [PMID: 30240914 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, total coliforms (TC), Escherichia coli, enterovirus (EV), rotavirus (RV), and human mastadenovirus species C and F (HAdV-C and HAdV-F) were evaluated in water samples from Belo Stream. For HAdV-C and F, the infectivity was assessed by integrated cell culture quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (ICC-qPCR). Samples were collected monthly (May/2015 to April/2016) at four sites. Viral analyses were performed for both ultracentrifuge-concentrated and unconcentrated samples. For site P4 (used for recreational purposes), QMRA was applied to estimate health risks associated with exposure to E. coli and HAdV-C and F. TC and E. coli were present throughout the collection period. EV and RV were not detected. HAdV-C were present in 8.51% (1.89E + 06 to 2.28E + 07 GC (Genomic Copies)/L) and 21.27% (2.36E + 05 to 1.29E + 07 GC/L) for unconcentrated and concentrated samples, respectively. For HAdV-F were 12.76% (2.77E + 07 to 3.31E + 08 GC/L) and 48.93% (1.10E + 05 to 4.50E + 08 GC/L) for unconcentrated and concentrated samples, respectively. For unconcentrated samples, infectivity for HAdV-C was detected in 37.20% (1st ICC-qPCR) and 25.58% (2nd ICC-qPCR). For HAdV-F, infectivity was detected in 6.97% (1st ICC-qPCR) and 6.97% (2nd ICC-qPCR). For concentrated samples, HAdV-C infectious was observed in 17.02% (1st ICC-qPCR) and in 8.51% (2nd ICC-qPCR). For HAdV-F, were present in 8.51% for both 1st and 2nd ICC-qPCR. Statistical analyzes showed significant difference between the collection sites when analyzed the molecular data of HAdV-F, data of TC and E. coli. Correlation tests showed direct correlation between HAdV-F with E. coli and TC. E. coli concentrations translated to the lowest estimates of infection risks (8.58E-05 to 2.17E-03). HAdV-F concentrations were associated with the highest infection risks at 9.99E-01 and for group C, 1.29E-01 to 9.99E-01. These results show that commonly used bacterial indicators for water quality may not infer health risks associated with viruses in recreational freshwaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Girardi
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Universidade Feevale, ERS 239, no 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93352-000, Brazil.
| | - Kristina D Mena
- School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, El Paso, TX 79902, USA
| | - Suelen M Albino
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos, no 2600, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Meriane Demoliner
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Universidade Feevale, ERS 239, no 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93352-000, Brazil
| | - Juliana S Gularte
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Universidade Feevale, ERS 239, no 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93352-000, Brazil
| | - Fernanda G de Souza
- Laboratório de Vírus, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, no 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Caroline Rigotto
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Universidade Feevale, ERS 239, no 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93352-000, Brazil
| | - Daniela M Quevedo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Qualidade Ambiental, Universidade Feevale, ERS 239, no 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93352-000, Brazil
| | - Vania E Schneider
- Instituto de Saneamento Ambiental (ISAM), Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Rua Francisco Getúlio Vargas, no 1130, Caxias do Sul, RS 95070-560, Brazil
| | - Suelen O Paesi
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Rua Francisco Getúlio Vargas, no 1130, Caxias do Sul, RS 95070-560, Brazil
| | - Patrick M Tarwater
- School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, El Paso, TX 79902, USA
| | - Fernando R Spilki
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Universidade Feevale, ERS 239, no 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93352-000, Brazil
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22
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Rames E, Macdonald J. The QuantiPhage assay: A novel method for the rapid colorimetric detection of coliphages using cellulose pad materials. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 149:98-110. [PMID: 30423504 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.10.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Assessment of viral contamination is essential for monitoring the microbial quality of water and protection of public health, as human virus presence is not accurately determined using bacterial indicators. Currently, the time required for conventional viral testing means that water contaminated with human pathogens may be used (e.g. for drinking, recreation or irrigation) days before results are available. Here we report a new rapid method for coliphage enumeration, the QuantiPhage (QP) assay. The novelty of the assay is the use of cellulose absorbent pad materials to support coliphage growth and colorimetric detection, in place of agar that is used in the plaque assay. In addition to saving time associated with agar preparation and tempering, the QP assay enabled enumeration of somatic coliphages in 1.5-2 h and F+ coliphages in 2.5-3 h. The assays were highly sensitive, with a lower detection limit of 1 plaque forming unit (PFU) per mL where 1 mL sample volumes were analysed, and 1 PFU per 10 mL where 10 mL sample volumes were analysed. This is the first rapid culture assay to enable low numbers of coliphages to be reliably detected and to produce directly equivalent results to agar-based plaque assays. A novel gelatin-immobilisation method is also reported, that reduces time to prepare bacterial cells from ∼20 h to 40-60 min (depending on the assay format), and provides a ready to use form of cells, that is compatible with rapid detection and kit formats. When applied to analysis of somatic coliphages in wastewater samples and surface water samples, mean differences in results of the QP assay and the conventional plaque assay were not statistically significant (mean difference ≤ 0.15 log10 PFU/L and 0.5 PFU/10 mL respectively, P > 0.05). The QP is a valuable tool for assessing microbial water quality, which may assist in improving the management of water resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Rames
- Genecology Research Centre, School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia; School of Natural Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia; Future Biosolutions Pty Ltd, Buddina, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Joanne Macdonald
- Genecology Research Centre, School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia; Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, USA
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Korajkic A, McMinn BR, Harwood VJ. Relationships between Microbial Indicators and Pathogens in Recreational Water Settings. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E2842. [PMID: 30551597 PMCID: PMC6313479 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15122842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Fecal pollution of recreational waters can cause scenic blight and pose a threat to public health, resulting in beach advisories and closures. Fecal indicator bacteria (total and fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, and enterococci), and alternative indicators of fecal pollution (Clostridium perfringens and bacteriophages) are routinely used in the assessment of sanitary quality of recreational waters. However, fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), and alternative indicators are found in the gastrointestinal tract of humans, and many other animals and therefore are considered general indicators of fecal pollution. As such, there is room for improvement in terms of their use for informing risk assessment and remediation strategies. Microbial source tracking (MST) genetic markers are closely associated with animal hosts and are used to identify fecal pollution sources. In this review, we examine 73 papers generated over 40 years that reported the relationship between at least one indicator and one pathogen group or species. Nearly half of the reports did not include statistical analysis, while the remainder were almost equally split between those that observed statistically significant relationships and those that did not. Statistical significance was reported less frequently in marine and brackish waters compared to freshwater, and the number of statistically significant relationships was considerably higher in freshwater (p < 0.0001). Overall, significant relationships were more commonly reported between FIB and pathogenic bacteria or protozoa, compared to pathogenic viruses (p: 0.0022⁻0.0005), and this was more pronounced in freshwater compared to marine. Statistically significant relationships were typically noted following wet weather events and at sites known to be impacted by recent fecal pollution. Among the studies that reported frequency of detection, FIB were detected most consistently, followed by alternative indicators. MST markers and the three pathogen groups were detected least frequently. This trend was mirrored by reported concentrations for each group of organisms (FIB > alternative indicators > MST markers > pathogens). Thus, while FIB, alternative indicators, and MST markers continue to be suitable indicators of fecal pollution, their relationship with waterborne pathogens, particularly viruses, is tenuous at best and influenced by many different factors such as frequency of detection, variable shedding rates, differential fate and transport characteristics, as well as a broad range of site-specific factors such as the potential for the presence of a complex mixture of multiple sources of fecal contamination and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asja Korajkic
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - Brian R McMinn
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - Valerie J Harwood
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Ave, SCA 110, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
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24
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Amarillas L, Lightbourn‐Rojas L, Angulo‐Gaxiola AK, Basilio Heredia J, González‐Robles A, León‐Félix J. The antibacterial effect of chitosan‐based edible coating incorporated with a lytic bacteriophage against
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 on the surface of tomatoes. J Food Saf 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jfs.12571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Amarillas
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo Culiacán Sinaloa Mexico
- Instituto de Investigación Lightbourn Chihuahua Mexico
| | | | | | - J. Basilio Heredia
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo Culiacán Sinaloa Mexico
| | - Arturo González‐Robles
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios AvanzadosInstituto Politécnico Nacional Ciudad de México Mexico
| | - Josefina León‐Félix
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo Culiacán Sinaloa Mexico
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