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Jenkins JA, Draugelis-Dale RO, Hoffpauir NM, Baudoin BA, Matkin C, Driver L, Hodges S, Brown BL. Flow cytometric assessments of metabolic activity in bacterial assemblages provide insight into ecosystem condition along the Buffalo National River, Arkansas. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:170462. [PMID: 38311076 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170462] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
The Buffalo National River (BNR), on karst terrain in Arkansas, is considered an extraordinary water resource. Water collected in Spring 2017 along BNR was metagenomically analyzed using 16S rDNA, and for 17 months (5/2017-11/2018), bacterial responses were measured in relation to nutrients sampled along a stretch of BNR near a concentrated animal feed operation (CAFO) on Big Creek. Because cell count and esterase activity can increase proportionally with organic enrichment, they were hypothesized to be elevated near the CAFO. Counts (colony forming units; CFUs) were different among sites for 73 % of the months; Big Creek generated highest CFUs 27 % of the time, with the closest downstream site at 13.3 %. Esterase activity was different among sites 94 % of the time, with Big Creek exhibiting lowest activity 71 % of the time. Over the months, activity was similar across sites at ~70 % active, except at Big Creek (56 %). The α-diversity of BNR microbial consortia near a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and the CAFO was related to distance from the WWTP and CAFO. The inverse relationship between high CFUs and low esterase activity at Big Creek (r = -0.71) actuated in vitro exposures of bacteria to organic wastewater contaminants (OWC) previously identified in the watershed. Exponential-phase Escherichia coli (stock strain), Streptococcus suis (avirulent, from swine), and S. dysgalactiae (virulent, from silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) were incubated with atrazine, pharmaceuticals (17 α-ethynylestradiol and trenbolone), and antimicrobials (tylosin and butylparaben). Bacteria were differentially responsive. Activity varied with exposure time and OWC type, but not concentration; atrazine decreased it most. Taken together - the metagenomic taxonomic similarities along BNR, slightly higher bacterial growth and lower bacterial esterase at the CAFO, and the lab exposures of bacterial strains showing that OWC altered metabolism - the results indicated that bioactive OWC entering the watershed can strongly influence microbial processes in the aquatic ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill A Jenkins
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 700 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70506, USA.
| | - Rassa O Draugelis-Dale
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 700 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70506, USA
| | - Nina M Hoffpauir
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 700 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70506, USA
| | - Brooke A Baudoin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 700 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70506, USA
| | - Caroline Matkin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 700 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70506, USA.
| | - Lucas Driver
- U.S. Geological Survey, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, 401 Hardin Rd., Little Rock, AR 72211, USA.
| | - Shawn Hodges
- Buffalo National River, National Park Service, 402 N. Walnut St., Harrison, AR 72601, USA.
| | - Bonnie L Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, 105 Main St., Durham, NH 03824, USA.
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Sekgobela JM, Murei A, Khabo-Mmekoa CM, Momba MNB. Identification of fecal contamination sources of groundwater in rural areas of Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2023; 95:e10965. [PMID: 38151283 DOI: 10.1002/wer.10965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater is a valuable source of drinking water worldwide, recognized as an improved drinking water source. However, on-site sanitation systems may put groundwater at risk of fecal contamination. In the present study, two approaches were used to ascertain the sources of fecal contamination in groundwater used by communities of the Vhembe District Municipality. Overall, 87.5% of boreholes (n = 70) in the wet and 72.5% in the dry season were contaminated with Escherichia coli, and septic tank (n = 18) wastewaters displayed up to 104 cfu/mL E. coli. Host-specific Bacteroidales quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays established the presence of human (BacHum and HF183) and animal (Cytb, BacCan, and Pig-2Bac) genetic markers in groundwater from 15.7% of boreholes (wet) and 10% of boreholes (dry). No strong associations were founded between culturable E. coli counts and the presence/absence of marker genes for all the markers except for Cytb marker, which showed a weak significant correlation (r = 0.217; p = <0.01) between E. coli and the Cytb marker under dry seasonal conditions. Human markers and Cytb were present in the household septic tank wastewater samples. Significant differences in marker genes distribution in wastewater were observed using the Chi-squared test: HF183 (p = <0.001) and BacHum (p = <0.001). Overall, no association was recorded between markers in groundwater and in wastewater for 18 households' septic tanks. A combined culturable E. coli and host-specific Bacteroidales qPCR assays remain an appropriate approach for the identification of fecal contamination of groundwater. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Households primarily used private boreholes for drinking water, as a primary source. Most households used on-site sanitation systems, including ventilated improved pit latrines and flush toilets connected to septic tanks. Escherichia coli was detected in groundwater, and the sources of fecal contamination were humans and animals (pigs, dogs, and chickens). The presence of human and animal markers in groundwater suggests that humans and animals are liable for fecal contamination. Fecal contamination in drinking water sources poses a significant concern due to pathogenic microorganisms posing potential human health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeridah Matlhokha Sekgobela
- Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Arinao Murei
- Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Maggy Ndombo Benteke Momba
- Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
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Liu Z, Lin Y, Ge Y, Zhu Z, Yuan J, Yin Q, Liu B, He K, Hu M. Meta-analysis of microbial source tracking for the identification of fecal contamination in aquatic environments based on data-mining. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118800. [PMID: 37591102 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118800] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Microbial source tracking (MST) technology represents an innovative approach employed to trace fecal contamination in environmental water systems. The performance of primers may be affected by amplification techniques, target primer categories, and regional differences. To investigate the influence of these factors on primer recognition performance, a meta-analysis was conducted on the application of MST in water environments using three databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed (n = 2291). After data screening, 46 studies were included in the final analysis. The investigation encompassed Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)/quantitative PCR (qPCR) methodologies, dye-based (SYBR)/probe-based (TaqMan) techniques, and geographical differences of a human host-specific (HF183) primer and other 21 additional primers. The results indicated that the primers analyzed were capable of differentiating host specificity to a certain degree. Nonetheless, by comparing sensitivity and specificity outcomes, it was observed that virus-based primers exhibited superior specificity and recognition capacity, as well as a stronger correlation with human pathogenicity in water environments compared to bacteria-based primers. This finding highlights an important direction for future advancements. Moreover, within the same category, qPCR did not demonstrate significant benefits over conventional PCR amplification methods. In comparing dye-based and probe-based techniques, it was revealed that the probe-based method's advantage lay primarily in specificity, which may be associated with the increased propensity of dye-based methods to produce false positives. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of the HF183 primer was not detected in China, Canada, and Singapore respectively, indicating a low likelihood of regional differences. The variation among the 21 other primers may be attributable to regional differences, sample sources, detection techniques, or alternative factors. Finally, we identified that economic factors, climatic conditions, and geographical distribution significantly influence primer performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zejun Liu
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Yingying Lin
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Yanhong Ge
- Guangdong Infore Technology Co., Ltd, Foshan, 528322, China
| | - Ziyue Zhu
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Jinlong Yuan
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Qidong Yin
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Bingjun Liu
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Kai He
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China.
| | - Maochuan Hu
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China.
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Wiesner-Friedman C, Beattie RE, Stewart JR, Hristova KR, Serre ML. Identifying sources of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment using the microbial Find, Inform, and Test framework. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1223876. [PMID: 37731922 PMCID: PMC10508347 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1223876] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing public health concern for humans, animals, and the environment. However, the contributions of spatially distributed sources of AMR in the environment are not well defined. Methods To identify the sources of environmental AMR, the novel microbial Find, Inform, and Test (FIT) model was applied to a panel of five antibiotic resistance-associated genes (ARGs), namely, erm(B), tet(W), qnrA, sul1, and intI1, quantified from riverbed sediment and surface water from a mixed-use region. Results A one standard deviation increase in the modeled contributions of elevated AMR from bovine sources or land-applied waste sources [land application of biosolids, sludge, and industrial wastewater (i.e., food processing) and domestic (i.e., municipal and septage)] was associated with 34-80% and 33-77% increases in the relative abundances of the ARGs in riverbed sediment and surface water, respectively. Sources influenced environmental AMR at overland distances of up to 13 km. Discussion Our study corroborates previous evidence of offsite migration of microbial pollution from bovine sources and newly suggests offsite migration from land-applied waste. With FIT, we estimated the distance-based influence range overland and downstream around sources to model the impact these sources may have on AMR at unsampled sites. This modeling supports targeted monitoring of AMR from sources for future exposure and risk mitigation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Wiesner-Friedman
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Rachelle E. Beattie
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Jill R. Stewart
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | | | - Marc L. Serre
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Hart JJ, Jamison MN, McNair JN, Woznicki SA, Jordan B, Rediske RR. Using watershed characteristics to enhance fecal source identification. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 336:117642. [PMID: 36907065 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117642] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Fecal pollution is one of the most prevalent forms of pollution affecting waterbodies worldwide, threatening public health and negatively impacting aquatic environments. Microbial source tracking (MST) applies polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology to help identify the source of fecal pollution. In this study, we combine spatial data for two watersheds with general and host-associated MST markers to target human (HF183/BacR287), bovine (CowM2), and general ruminant (Rum2Bac) sources. Concentrations of MST markers in samples were determined with droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). The three MST markers were detected at all sites (n = 25), but bovine and general ruminant markers were significantly associated with watershed characteristics. MST results, combined with watershed characteristics, suggest that streams draining areas with low-infiltration soil groups and high agricultural land use are at an increased risk for fecal contamination. Microbial source tracking has been applied in numerous studies to aid in identifying the sources of fecal contamination, but these studies usually lack information on the involvement of watershed characteristics. Our study combined watershed characteristics with MST results to provide more comprehensive insight into the factors that influence fecal contamination in order to implement the most effective best management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Hart
- Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute, 740 West Shoreline Dr, Muskegon, MI, 49441, USA.
| | - Megan N Jamison
- Oakland University, Department of Chemistry, 146 Library Dr., Rochester, MI, 48309, USA.
| | - James N McNair
- Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute, 740 West Shoreline Dr, Muskegon, MI, 49441, USA.
| | - Sean A Woznicki
- Oakland University, Department of Chemistry, 146 Library Dr., Rochester, MI, 48309, USA.
| | - Ben Jordan
- Ottawa Conservation District, 16731 Ferris St, Grand Haven, MI, 49417, USA.
| | - Richard R Rediske
- Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute, 740 West Shoreline Dr, Muskegon, MI, 49441, USA.
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Srivastava A, Verma D. Urbanization led to the abundance of Gram-negative, chemo-organo-heterotrophs, and antibiotic resistance genes in the downstream regions of the Ganga River water of India. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27552-7. [PMID: 37217817 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27552-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The present investigation assesses the bacterial microbiome and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of the river Ganga from Uttarakhand (upstream region; US group) and Uttar Pradesh (downstream region; DS group) regions using a 16S rRNA amplicon-based metagenomic approach. Gram-negative, aerobic, and chemo-organotrophic bacteria made up the majority of the bacterial genera during the overall analysis. Physicochemical analysis revealed a higher concentration of nitrate and phosphate in the downstream sites of the Ganga River. The prevalence of Gemmatimonas, Flavobacterium, Arenimonas, and Verrucomicrobia in the water of the DS region indicates a high organic load. Pseudomonas and Flavobacterium emerged as the most prevalent genera among the 35 significantly different shared genera (p-value < 0.05) in the US and DS regions, respectively. Overall antibiotic resistance analysis of the samples showed the dominance of β-lactam resistance (33.92%) followed by CAMP (cationic antimicrobial peptide) resistance (27.75%), and multidrug resistance (19.17%), vancomycin resistance (17.84%), and tetracycline resistance (0.77%). While comparing, the DS group exhibited a higher abundance of ARGs over the US group, where the CAMP resistance and β-lactam ARGs were dominant in the respective regions. The correlation (p-value < 0.05) analysis showed that most bacteria exhibit a significant correlation with tetracycline resistance followed by the phenicol antibiotic. The present findings draw attention to the need for regulated disposal of multiform human-derived wastes into the Ganga River to reduce the irrepressible ARGs dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Srivastava
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, 226025, India
| | - Digvijay Verma
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, 226025, India.
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Malajacan GT, Nacario MAG, Obusan MCM, Rivera WL. Host-Associated Bacteroides 16S rDNA-Based Markers for Source Tracking of Fecal Pollution in Laguna Lake, Philippines. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1142. [PMID: 37317116 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Sources of fecal contamination in Laguna Lake, Philippines, were identified using a library-independent microbial source tracking method targeting host-associated Bacteroides 16S rDNA-based markers. Water samples from nine lake stations were assessed for the presence of the fecal markers HF183 (human), BoBac (cattle), Pig-2-Bac (swine), and DuckBac (duck) from August 2019 to January 2020. HF183 (average concentration = 1.91 log10 copies/mL) was the most frequently detected, while Pig-2-Bac (average concentration = 2.47 log10 copies/mL) was the most abundant. The detected marker concentrations in different stations corresponded to the land use patterns around the lake. Generally, all marker concentrations were higher during the wet season (August-October), suggesting the effect of rainfall-associated factors on the movement and retention of markers from sources. There was a significant association (ρ = 0.45; p < 0.001) between phosphate and the concentration of HF183, suggesting domestic sewage-derived pollution. The markers had acceptable sensitivity and specificity, i.e., HF183 (S = 0.88; R = 0.99), Pig-2-Bac (S = 1.00; R = 1.00), and DuckBac (S = 0.94; R = 1.00), and therefore may be used for the continuous monitoring of fecal pollution in the lake and in designing interventions to improve the quality of the lake water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gicelle T Malajacan
- Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
| | - Mae Ashley G Nacario
- Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
| | - Marie Christine M Obusan
- Microbial Ecology of Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
| | - Windell L Rivera
- Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
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Ribeirinho-Soares S, Moreira NFF, Graça C, Pereira MFR, Silva AMT, Nunes OC. Overgrowth control of potentially hazardous bacteria during storage of ozone treated wastewater through natural competition. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 209:117932. [PMID: 34902759 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Improving the chemical and biological quality of treated wastewater is particularly important in world regions under water stress. In these regions, reutilization of wastewater is seen as an alternative to reduce water demand, particularly for agriculture irrigation. In a reuse scenario, the treated wastewater must have enough quality to avoid chemical and biological contamination of the receiving environment. Ozonation is among the technologies available to efficiently remove organic micropollutants and disinfect secondary effluents, being implemented in full-scale urban wastewater treatment plants worldwide. However, previous studies demonstrated that storage of ozone treated wastewater promoted the overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria, putting at risk its reutilization, given for instance the possibility of contaminating the food-chain. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the potential beneficial role of inoculation of ozone treated wastewater with a diverse bacterial community during storage, for the control of the overgrowth of potentially hazardous bacteria, through bacterial competition. To achieve this goal, ozone treated wastewater (TWW) was diluted with river water (RW) in the same proportion, and the resulting bacterial community (RW+TWW) was compared to that of undiluted TWW over 7 days storage. As hypothesized, in contrast to TWW, where dominance of Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria, namely Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp., was observed upon storage for 7 days, the bacterial communities of the diluted samples (RW+TWW) were diverse, resembling those of RW. Moreover, given the high abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in RW, the concentration of these genes in RW+TWW did not differ from that of the non-ozonated controls (WW, RW and RW+WW) over the storage period. These results highlight the necessity of finding a suitable pristine diverse bacterial community to be used in the future to compete with bacteria surviving ozonation, to prevent reactivation of undesirable bacteria during storage of treated wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ribeirinho-Soares
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal
| | - Nuno F F Moreira
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal; Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal
| | - Cátia Graça
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal
| | - M Fernando R Pereira
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal
| | - Adrián M T Silva
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal
| | - Olga C Nunes
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465, Portugal.
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Tsai K, Hoffmann V, Simiyu S, Cumming O, Borsay G, Baker KK. Bacteroides Microbial Source Tracking Markers Perform Poorly in Predicting Enterobacteriaceae and Enteric Pathogen Contamination of Cow Milk Products and Milk-Containing Infant Food. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:778921. [PMID: 35058897 PMCID: PMC8764403 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.778921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Consumption of microbiologically contaminated food is one of the leading causes of diarrheal diseases. Understanding the source of enteric pathogens in food is important to guide effective interventions. Enterobacteriaceae bacterial assays typically used to assess food safety do not shed light on the source. Source-specific Bacteroides microbial source tracking (MST) markers have been proposed as alternative indicators for water fecal contamination assessment but have not been evaluated as an alternative fecal indicator in animal-derived foods. This study tested various milk products collected from vendors in urban Kenyan communities and infant foods made with the milk (n = 394 pairs) using conventional culture methods and TaqMan qPCR for enteric pathogens and human and bovine-sourced MST markers. Detection profiles of various enteric pathogens and Bacteroides MST markers in milk products differed from that of milk-containing infant foods. MST markers were more frequently detected in infant food prepared by caregivers, indicating recent contamination events were more likely to occur during food preparation at home. However, Bacteroides MST markers had lower sensitivity in detecting enteric pathogens in food than traditional Enterobacteriaceae indicators. Bacteroides MST markers tested in this study were not associated with the detection of culturable Salmonella enterica and Shigella sonnei in milk products or milk-containing infant food. The findings show that while Bacteroides MST markers could provide valuable information about how foods become contaminated, they may not be suitable for predicting the origin of the enteric pathogen contamination sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Tsai
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Vivian Hoffmann
- International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Sheillah Simiyu
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Oliver Cumming
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Glorie Borsay
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Kelly K. Baker
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
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Chern EC, Wymer L, Brenner K, Oshima K, Haugland RA. Persistence of fecal indicator bacteria and associated genetic markers from wastewater treatment plant effluents in freshwater microcosms. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2022; 20:205-215. [PMID: 35100168 PMCID: PMC9000909 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2021.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Limited information exists on the environmental persistence of genetic markers for fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in treated wastewaters. Here, the decay rate constants of culturable cells and genetic markers for four diverse groups of FIBs, such as enterococci, Clostridium, Escherichia coli, and Bacteroides, were investigated in freshwater microcosms seeded with disinfected and non-disinfected secondary-treated wastewaters. Decay rate constants of genetic markers and culturable cells varied significantly among the different FIB groups. Water temperatures (winter vs. fall/spring/summer) significantly affected the decay of all genetic marker and cell types; however, genetic marker decay were not found to be significantly different in disinfected (chlorination/ultraviolet) and non-disinfected wastewater-seeded microcosms or, for example, lake- and river-receiving waters. No evidence was seen that decay rate constants of FIB genetic markers from treated wastewater were substantially different from those observed in similar, previously reported microcosm studies using raw sewage. Unexpected relationships between decay rate constants of genetic markers and culturable cells of Bacteroides were observed. Results suggest that decay rate constants of FIB genetic markers determined from other studies may be applicable to treated wastewaters. Results of this study should be informative for ongoing efforts to determine the persistence of FIB genetic markers relative to surviving pathogens after wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice C Chern
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 Laboratory, 7411 Beach Dr. E., Port Orchard, WA 98366, USA E-mail:
| | - Larry Wymer
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Kristen Brenner
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Kevin Oshima
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Richard A Haugland
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
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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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12
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Kapoor R, Ebdon J, Wadhwa A, Chowdhury G, Wang Y, Raj SJ, Siesel C, Durry SE, Mairinger W, Mukhopadhyay AK, Kanungo S, Dutta S, Moe CL. Evaluation of Low-Cost Phage-Based Microbial Source Tracking Tools for Elucidating Human Fecal Contamination Pathways in Kolkata, India. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:673604. [PMID: 34093494 PMCID: PMC8173070 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.673604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Phages, such as those infecting Bacteroides spp., have been proven to be reliable indicators of human fecal contamination in microbial source tracking (MST) studies, and the efficacy of these MST markers found to vary geographically. This study reports the application and evaluation of candidate MST methods (phages infecting previously isolated B. fragilis strain GB-124, newly isolated Bacteroides strains (K10, K29, and K33) and recently isolated Kluyvera intermedia strain ASH-08), along with non-source specific somatic coliphages (SOMCPH infecting strain WG-5) and indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli) for identifying fecal contamination pathways in Kolkata, India. Source specificity of the phage-based methods was first tested using 60 known non-human fecal samples from common animals, before being evaluated with 56 known human samples (municipal sewage) collected during both the rainy and dry season. SOMCPH were present in 40-90% of samples from different animal species and in 100% of sewage samples. Phages infecting Bacteroides strain GB-124 were not detected from the majority (95%) of animal samples (except in three porcine samples) and were present in 93 and 71% of the sewage samples in the rainy and dry season (Mean = 1.42 and 1.83 log10PFU/100mL, respectively), though at lower levels than SOMCPH (Mean = 3.27 and 3.02 log10PFU/100mL, respectively). Phages infecting strain ASH-08 were detected in 89 and 96% of the sewage samples in the rainy and dry season, respectively, but were also present in all animal samples tested (except goats). Strains K10, K29, and K30 were not found to be useful MST markers due to low levels of phages and/or co-presence in non-human sources. GB-124 and SOMCPH were subsequently deployed within two low-income neighborhoods to determine the levels and origin of fecal contamination in 110 environmental samples. E. coli, SOMCPH, and phages of GB-124 were detected in 68, 42, and 28% of the samples, respectively. Analyses of 166 wastewater samples from shared community toilets and 21 samples from sewage pumping stations from the same districts showed that SOMCPH were present in 100% and GB-124 phages in 31% of shared toilet samples (Median = 5.59 and <1 log10 PFU/100 mL, respectively), and both SOMCPH and GB-124 phages were detected in 95% of pumping station samples (Median = 5.82 and 4.04 log10 PFU/100 mL, respectively). Our findings suggest that GB-124 and SOMCPH have utility as low-cost fecal indicator tools which can facilitate environmental surveillance of enteric organisms, elucidate human and non-human fecal exposure pathways, and inform interventions to mitigate exposure to fecal contamination in the residential environment of Kolkata, India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renuka Kapoor
- Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - James Ebdon
- Environment and Public Health Research and Enterprise Group (EPHREG), University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Ashutosh Wadhwa
- Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Goutam Chowdhury
- ICMR – National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata, India
| | - Yuke Wang
- Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Suraja J. Raj
- Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Casey Siesel
- Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sarah E. Durry
- Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Wolfgang Mairinger
- Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Suman Kanungo
- ICMR – National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata, India
| | - Shanta Dutta
- ICMR – National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata, India
| | - Christine L. Moe
- Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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13
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Grazing Effects on Bovine-Associated and Background Fecal Indicator Bacteria Levels in Edge-of-Field Runoff. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13070928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Excessive levels of fecal indicator bacteria are a major cause of water quality impairment. Grazing and its management may significantly impact bacteria concentrations; however, other sources can contribute to water quality issues both in the presence and absence of cattle, thus confounding results. In this study, we utilize Bacteroides markers to evaluate bacteria loading from cattle versus background sources in runoff from rotationally grazed and ungrazed pastures and how grazing management, timing of runoff in relation to grazing events, and stocking rate affect Bacteroides marker (AllBac and BoBac) levels and ratios and their relation to E. coli concentrations in runoff at the small watershed scale. The data suggest that the AllBac and BoBac levels were not significantly impacted by grazing management or stocking rate; however, the timing of runoff events in relation to grazing events significantly impacted the levels of these markers found in runoff. Furthermore, the BoBac/AllBac ratio confirmed that fecal contamination present in runoff when sites were destocked for over two weeks largely originated from sources other than cattle. Thus, the magnitude and proportion of cattle impacts on fecal indicator bacteria in edge-of-field runoff were dramatically reduced shortly after de-stocking. However, background sources continued to contribute significant concentrations of E. coli.
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McKee AM, Bradley PM, Shelley D, McCarthy S, Molina M. Feral swine as sources of fecal contamination in recreational waters. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4212. [PMID: 33603153 PMCID: PMC7893155 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83798-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Recreational waters are primary attractions at many national and state parks where feral swine populations are established, and thus are possible hotspots for visitor exposure to feral swine contaminants. Microbial source tracking (MST) was used to determine spatial and temporal patterns of fecal contamination in Congaree National Park (CONG) in South Carolina, U.S.A., which has an established population of feral swine and is a popular destination for water-based recreation. Water samples were collected between December 2017 and June 2019 from 18 surface water sites distributed throughout CONG. Host specific MST markers included human (HF183), swine (Pig2Bac), ruminant (Rum2Bac), cow (CowM3), chicken (CL), and a marker for shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC; stx2). Water samples were also screened for culturable Escherichia coli (E. coli) as part of a citizen science program. Neither the cow nor chicken MST markers were detected during the study. The human marker was predominantly detected at boundary sites or could be attributed to upstream sources. However, several detections within CONG without concurrent detections at upstream external sites suggested occasional internal contamination from humans. The swine marker was the most frequently detected of all MST markers, and was present at sites located both internal and external to the Park. Swine MST marker concentrations ≥ 43 gene copies/mL were associated with culturable E. coli concentrations greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency beach action value for recreational waters. None of the MST markers showed a strong association with detection of the pathogenic marker (stx2). Limited information about the health risk from exposure to fecal contamination from non-human sources hampers interpretation of the human health implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M McKee
- South Atlantic Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 1770 Corporate Drive Suite 500, Norcross, GA, 30093, USA.
| | - Paul M Bradley
- South Atlantic Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 720 Gracern Rd., Suite 129, Columbia, SC, 29210, USA
| | - David Shelley
- National Park Service, Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC, 29061, USA
| | - Shea McCarthy
- National Park Service, Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC, 29061, USA.,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly St, Columbia, SC, 29201, USA
| | - Marirosa Molina
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
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15
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Moradinejad S, Trigui H, Guerra Maldonado JF, Shapiro J, Terrat Y, Zamyadi A, Dorner S, Prévost M. Diversity Assessment of Toxic Cyanobacterial Blooms during Oxidation. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12110728. [PMID: 33233813 PMCID: PMC7699887 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12110728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Fresh-water sources of drinking water are experiencing toxic cyanobacterial blooms more frequently. Chemical oxidation is a common approach to treat cyanobacteria and their toxins. This study systematically investigates the bacterial/cyanobacterial community following chemical oxidation (Cl2, KMnO4, O3, H2O2) using high throughput sequencing. Raw water results from high throughput sequencing show that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant phyla. Dolichospermum, Synechococcus, Microcystis and Nostoc were the most dominant genera. In terms of species, Dolichospermum sp.90 and Microcystis aeruginosa were the most abundant species at the beginning and end of the sampling, respectively. A comparison between the results of high throughput sequencing and taxonomic cell counts highlighted the robustness of high throughput sequencing to thoroughly reveal a wide diversity of bacterial and cyanobacterial communities. Principal component analysis of the oxidation samples results showed a progressive shift in the composition of bacterial/cyanobacterial communities following soft-chlorination with increasing common exposure units (CTs) (0–3.8 mg·min/L). Close cyanobacterial community composition (Dolichospermum dominant genus) was observed following low chlorine and mid-KMnO4 (287.7 mg·min/L) exposure. Our results showed that some toxin producing species may persist after oxidation whether they were dominant species or not. Relative persistence of Dolichospermum sp.90 was observed following soft-chlorination (0.2–0.6 mg/L) and permanganate (5 mg/L) oxidation with increasing oxidant exposure. Pre-oxidation using H2O2 (10 mg/L and one day contact time) caused a clear decrease in the relative abundance of all the taxa and some species including the toxin producing taxa. These observations suggest selectivity of H2O2 to provide an efficient barrier against toxin producing cyanobacteria entering a water treatment plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saber Moradinejad
- Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada; (H.T.); (J.F.G.M.); (S.D.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Hana Trigui
- Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada; (H.T.); (J.F.G.M.); (S.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Juan Francisco Guerra Maldonado
- Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada; (H.T.); (J.F.G.M.); (S.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Jesse Shapiro
- Department of Biological Science, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2V 0B3, Canada; (J.S.); (Y.T.)
| | - Yves Terrat
- Department of Biological Science, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2V 0B3, Canada; (J.S.); (Y.T.)
| | - Arash Zamyadi
- Water Research Australia (WaterRA), Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia;
- BGA Innovation Hub and Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Sarah Dorner
- Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada; (H.T.); (J.F.G.M.); (S.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Michèle Prévost
- Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada; (H.T.); (J.F.G.M.); (S.D.); (M.P.)
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16
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Zeki S, Aslan A, Burak S, Rose JB. Occurrence of a human-associated microbial source tracking marker and its relationship with faecal indicator bacteria in an urban estuary. Lett Appl Microbiol 2020; 72:167-177. [PMID: 33025621 DOI: 10.1111/lam.13405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
One of the main impacts of urban sprawl in rapidly growing countries has been contamination of coastal environments by waterborne pathogens, posing a critical risk to ecosystem and human health. Microbial source tracking (MST) has been a robust tool to identify the origin of these pathogens globally. This study compared the occurrence of a human-associated Bacteroides marker (BT-α) with faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in an urban estuary (Golden Horn, Istanbul, Turkey). Faecal coliform (culture method), enterococci (both culture and qPCR method) concentrations and physicochemical variables were compared with the BT-α concentrations in monthly collected samples for a year (n = 108). Enterococci concentrations detected by culture and qPCR were positively correlated (r = 0·86, P < 0·01) suggesting that qPCR can be an alternative method for monitoring. BT-α marker was positive for 30% of the samples and positively correlated with enterococci (r = 0·61 and r = 0·64 for culture and qPCR methods respectively, P < 0·01). Rainfall had a moderate positive correlation with all faecal/MST indicators suggesting combined sewer overflows also severely impacted estuarine water quality. The high FIB and BT-α concentrations at upper estuary suggested that faecal pollution mainly originated from the peri-urban settlements around two creeks entering the estuary.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Zeki
- Department of Marine Environment, Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - A Aslan
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA
| | - S Burak
- Department of Marine Environment, Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - J B Rose
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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17
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Pascual-Benito M, Ballesté E, Monleón-Getino T, Urmeneta J, Blanch AR, García-Aljaro C, Lucena F. Impact of treated sewage effluent on the bacterial community composition in an intermittent mediterranean stream. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 266:115254. [PMID: 32721842 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Water quality monitoring is essential to safeguard human and environmental health. The advent of next-generation sequencing techniques in recent years, which allow a more in-depth study of environmental microbial communities in the environment, could broaden the perspective of water quality monitoring to include impact of faecal pollution bacteria on ecosystem. In this study, 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used to evaluate the impact of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent on autochthonous microbial communities of a temporary Mediterranean stream characterized by high flow seasonality (from 0.02 m3/s in winter to 0.006 m3/s in summer). Seven sampling campaigns were performed under different temperatures and streamflow conditions (winter and summer). Water samples were collected upstream (Upper) of the WWTP, the secondary effluent (EF) discharge and 75 m (P75) and 1000 m (P1000) downstream of the WWTP. A total of 5,593,724 sequences were obtained, giving rise to 20,650 amplicon sequence variants (ASV), which were further analysed and classified into phylum, class, family and genus. Each sample presented different distribution and abundance of taxa. Although taxon distribution and abundance differed in each sample, the microbial community structure of P75 resembled that of EF samples, and Upper and P1000 samples mostly clustered together. Alpha diversity showed the highest values for Upper and P1000 samples and presented seasonal differences, being higher in winter conditions of high streamflow and low temperature. Our results suggest the microbial ecology re-establishment, since autochthonous bacterial communities were able to recover from the impact of the WWTP effluent in 1 km. Alpha diversity results indicates a possible influence of environmental factors on the bacterial community structure. This study shows the potential of next-generation sequencing techniques as useful tools in water quality monitoring and management within the climate change scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Pascual-Benito
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Montalegre 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisenda Ballesté
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Montalegre 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Toni Monleón-Getino
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; BIOST3 (Research Group in Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Data Science), GRBIO (Research Group in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics), Spain
| | - Jordi Urmeneta
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Biodiversity Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anicet R Blanch
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Montalegre 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina García-Aljaro
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Montalegre 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Francisco Lucena
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Montalegre 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain
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18
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Niestępski S, Harnisz M, Ciesielski S, Korzeniewska E, Osińska A. Environmental fate of Bacteroidetes, with particular emphasis on Bacteroides fragilis group bacteria and their specific antibiotic resistance genes, in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 394:122544. [PMID: 32224375 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the activated sludge process on the abundance of anaerobic bacteria of the phylum Bacteroidetes, with special emphasis on Bacteroides fragilis group (BFG) bacteria, in twelve full-scale wastewater treatment plants. The composition of bacterial phyla and classes in wastewater samples were analyzed by next-generation sequencing. The presence of specific to BFG bacteria genes and the abundance of ARGs and genes encoding class 1 integrase in wastewater samples were determined by qPCR. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes were dominant bacterial phyla in wastewater samples. Next-generation sequencing revealed similar proportions of Bacteroidia (<1.0-8.2 % of all bacteria) in wastewater influents and effluents, which suggest that these microorganisms are not completely eliminated in the activated sludge process. The average copy numbers of specific to BFG bacteria gene, were 106, and 104 copies in 1 mL of wastewater influents and effluents, respectively. The results revealed a correlation between the abundance of BFG bacteria and BFG-specific genes encoding resistance to antibiotics. The observed changes in the prevalence of BFG-specific genes and ARGs in untreated and treated wastewater indicate that the activated sludge process decreases the number of gene copies in the effluent evacuated to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Niestępski
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Monika Harnisz
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Sławomir Ciesielski
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Słoneczna 45G, 10-719, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Ewa Korzeniewska
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Adriana Osińska
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720, Olsztyn, Poland.
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19
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Pascual-Benito M, Nadal-Sala D, Tobella M, Ballesté E, García-Aljaro C, Sabaté S, Sabater F, Martí E, Gracia CA, Blanch AR, Lucena F. Modelling the seasonal impacts of a wastewater treatment plant on water quality in a Mediterranean stream using microbial indicators. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 261:110220. [PMID: 32148290 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Faecal pollution modelling is a valuable tool to evaluate and improve water management strategies, especially in a context of water scarcity. The reduction dynamics of five faecal indicator organisms (E. coli, spores of sulphite-reducing clostridia, somatic coliphages, GA17 bacteriophages and a human-specific Bifidobacterium molecular marker) were assessed in an intermittent Mediterranean stream affected by a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Using Bayesian inverse modelling, the decay rates of each indicator were correlated with two environmental drivers (temperature and streamflow downstream of the WWTP) and the generated model was used to evaluate the self-depuration distance (SDD) of the stream. A consistent increase of 1-2 log10 in the concentration of all indicators was detected after the discharge of the WWTP effluent. The decay rates showed seasonal variation, reaching a maximum in the dry season, when SDDs were also shorter and the stream had a higher capacity to self-depurate. High seasonality was observed for all faecal indicators except for the spores of sulphite-reducing clostridia. The maximum SDD ranged from 3 km for the spores of sulphite-reducing clostridia during the dry season and 15 km for the human-specific Bifidobacterium molecular marker during the wet season. The SDD provides a single standardized metric that integrates and compares different contamination indicators. It could be extended to other Mediterranean drainage basins and has the potential to integrate changes in land use and catchment water balance, a feature that will be especially useful in the transient climate conditions expected in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Pascual-Benito
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Montalegre 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - D Nadal-Sala
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; IMK-IFU (Karlsruhe Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research-Atmospheric Environmental Research), Kreuzeckbahnstraße 19, 82467, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
| | - M Tobella
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Ballesté
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Montalegre 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain
| | - C García-Aljaro
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Montalegre 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Sabaté
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; CREAF (Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications), 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - F Sabater
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; CREAF (Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications), 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - E Martí
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), 17300, Blanes, Spain
| | - C A Gracia
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; CREAF (Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications), 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - A R Blanch
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Montalegre 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Lucena
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Montalegre 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain
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20
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Ballesté E, Belanche-Muñoz LA, Farnleitner AH, Linke R, Sommer R, Santos R, Monteiro S, Maunula L, Oristo S, Tiehm A A, Stange C, Blanch AR. Improving the identification of the source of faecal pollution in water using a modelling approach: From multi-source to aged and diluted samples. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 171:115392. [PMID: 31865126 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The last decades have seen the development of several source tracking (ST) markers to determine the source of pollution in water, but none of them show 100% specificity and sensitivity. Thus, a combination of several markers might provide a more accurate classification. In this study Ichnaea® software was improved to generate predictive models, taking into account ST marker decay rates and dilution factors to reflect the complexity of ecosystems. A total of 106 samples from 4 sources were collected in 5 European regions and 30 faecal indicators and ST markers were evaluated, including E. coli, enterococci, clostridia, bifidobacteria, somatic coliphages, host-specific bacteria, human viruses, host mitochondrial DNA, host-specific bacteriophages and artificial sweeteners. Models based on linear discriminant analysis (LDA) able to distinguish between human and non-human faecal pollution and identify faecal pollution of several origins were developed and tested with 36 additional laboratory-made samples. Almost all the ST markers showed the potential to correctly target their host in the 5 areas, although some were equivalent and redundant. The LDA-based models developed with fresh faecal samples were able to differentiate between human and non-human pollution with 98.1% accuracy in leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) when using 2 molecular human ST markers (HF183 and HMBif), whereas 3 variables resulted in 100% correct classification. With 5 variables the model correctly classified all the fresh faecal samples from 4 different sources. Ichnaea® is a machine-learning software developed to improve the classification of the faecal pollution source in water, including in complex samples. In this project the models were developed using samples from a broad geographical area, but they can be tailored to determine the source of faecal pollution for any user.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisenda Ballesté
- Dept. Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | | | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/166, 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
| | - Rita Linke
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/166, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Regina Sommer
- Unit of Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ricardo Santos
- Laboratório Analises, Instituto Superior Tecnico. Universidade Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Silvia Monteiro
- Laboratório Analises, Instituto Superior Tecnico. Universidade Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - 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
| | - Andreas Tiehm A
- Dept. Microbiology and Molecular Biology, DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser, Germany
| | - Claudia Stange
- Dept. Microbiology and Molecular Biology, DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser, Germany
| | - Anicet R Blanch
- Dept. Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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21
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Padovan A, Kennedy K, Rose D, Gibb K. Microbial quality of wild shellfish in a tropical estuary subject to treated effluent discharge. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 181:108921. [PMID: 31757407 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108921] [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: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Elevated faecal indicator levels in beaches around Darwin Harbour including near effluent outfalls have led to concerns about the safety of popular, locally harvested aquatic foods. To address these concerns, the impact of treated effluent discharge on the microbial quality of aquatic foods was assessed using culture-based and molecular tools. Seawater, shellfish (mangrove snails Telescopium and Nerita balteata, the local black lip oyster Saccostrea cucullata) and mud crabs (Scylla serrata) were collected from 13 sites close (impacted) and distal (reference) to two effluent discharge locations, in creeks and coastal areas. Sampling occurred over two dry seasons and one wet season. E. coli, typical sewage related pathogens, Salmonella and norovirus, and the molecular faecal marker Bacteroides, as well as naturally occurring marine bacteria, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus were tested in biota. E. coli and faecal coliforms were measured in water in water. The highest concentration of faecal coliforms in water was from the Buffalo Creek discharge site. At sites located in creeks including reference creeks, the highest concentrations of faecal coliforms in water were measured in the wet season compared to the dry season, whereas in coastal sites, no or only few (<10) faecal coliforms were detected. E. coli concentrations in both snail species were significantly higher in the wet season compared to the dry season (P < 0.0001) at both the treated effluent discharge sites and reference sites with some samples exceeding the acceptable Australian and New Zealand Food Standards (ANZFS) level based on E. coli levels in bivalves. E. coli concentrations in all of the S. cucullata samples were either below the detection limit or below the ANZFS limit for E. coli. No E. coli exceedances occurred in cooked mud crabs although low E. coli levels were measured in 3 cooked mud crab samples. Only one shellfish sample (T. telescopium) was positive for Salmonella. Norovirus and Bacteroides were not detected in any of the shellfish samples tested. V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus were significantly more prevalent in shellfish samples during the wet season. Twelve virulent strains of V. parahaemolyticus were detected in T. telescopium and two in N. balteata. There was no significant difference in V. parahaemolyticus prevalence between sites. V. parahaemolyticus was detected in cooked S. serrata samples from three sites in the wet season and once in the 2016 dry season. V. vulnificus was detected in both T. telescopium and N. balteata, but not in any of the S. cucullata samples. One cooked crab meat sample from a reference site was positive for V. vulnificus. The prevalence of V. vulnificus was significantly higher at the reference sites compared to the discharge or potential impact sites. The lack of correlation between E. coli and targeted faecal pathogens in biota confirm that traditional faecal markers are not suitable surrogates for faecal pollution, at least not in the tropics. The higher prevalence of E. coli, V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in biota during the wet season compared to the dry season irrespective of treated sewage influence suggests that marine snails should not be harvested and consumed from creeks during the wet season. Any future aquaculture involving shellfish should consider these data when developing appropriate shellfish quality assurance protocols and for making decisions on where to situate farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Padovan
- Research Institute of the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia.
| | - Karen Kennedy
- Power Water Corporation, Water Services, P.O. Box 37471, Winnellie, Northern Territory, 0821, Australia
| | - Dianne Rose
- Power Water Corporation, Water Services, P.O. Box 37471, Winnellie, Northern Territory, 0821, Australia
| | - Karen Gibb
- Research Institute of the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia
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22
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McMinn BR, Rhodes ER, Huff EM, Korajkic A. Decay of infectious adenovirus and coliphages in freshwater habitats is differentially affected by ambient sunlight and the presence of indigenous protozoa communities. Virol J 2020; 17:1. [PMID: 31906972 PMCID: PMC6945520 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-019-1274-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sanitary quality of recreational waters worldwide is assessed using fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), such as Escherichia coli and enterococci. However, fate and transport characteristics of FIB in aquatic habitats can differ from those of viral pathogens which have been identified as main etiologic agents of recreational waterborne illness. Coliphages (bacteriophages infecting E. coli) are an attractive alternative to FIB because of their many morphological and structural similarities to viral pathogens. METHODS In this in situ field study, we used a submersible aquatic mesocosm to compare decay characteristics of somatic and F+ coliphages to those of infectious human adenovirus 2 in a freshwater lake. In addition, we also evaluated the effect of ambient sunlight (and associated UV irradiation) and indigenous protozoan communities on decay of somatic and F+ coliphage, as well as infectious adenovirus. RESULTS Our results show that decay of coliphages and adenovirus was similar (p = 0.0794), indicating that both of these bacteriophage groups are adequate surrogates for decay of human adenoviruses. Overall, after 8 days the greatest log10 reductions were observed when viruses were exposed to a combination of biotic and abiotic factors (2.92 ± 0.39, 4.48 ± 0.38, 3.40 ± 0.19 for somatic coliphages, F+ coliphages and adenovirus, respectively). Both, indigenous protozoa and ambient sunlight, were important contributors to decay of all three viruses, although the magnitude of that effect differed over time and across viral targets. CONCLUSIONS While all viruses studied decayed significantly faster (p < 0.0001) when exposed to ambient sunlight, somatic coliphages were particularly susceptible to sunlight irradiation suggesting a potentially different mechanism of UV damage compared to F+ coliphages and adenoviruses. Presence of indigenous protozoan communities was also a significant contributor (p value range: 0.0016 to < 0.0001) to decay of coliphages and adenovirus suggesting that this rarely studied biotic factor is an important driver of viral reductions in freshwater aquatic habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R McMinn
- United States Environmental Protections Agency, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA
| | - Eric R Rhodes
- United States Environmental Protections Agency, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA
| | - Emma M Huff
- United States Environmental Protections Agency, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA
| | - Asja Korajkic
- United States Environmental Protections Agency, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA.
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23
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Badgley BD, Steele MK, Cappellin C, Burger J, Jian J, Neher TP, Orentas M, Wagner R. Fecal indicator dynamics at the watershed scale: Variable relationships with land use, season, and water chemistry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 697:134113. [PMID: 32380608 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Tracking fecal contamination in surface waters is critical to remediating water quality; however, general and source-specific fecal indicators often provide conflicting results. To understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of multiple fecal indicators and the sources they represent, we measured weekly concentrations of two general fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), a genetic indicator of human-associated Bacteroides (HF183), and surface water chemistry in nine mixed land-use watersheds in southwest Virginia, USA. At the watershed scale, general and source-specific indicators were decoupled, with distinct spatial, temporal, and chemical patterns. Random Forest analysis of individual sample variability identified temperature, watershed, nutrients, and cations as top predictors of indicator concentrations. However, these patterns - and the specific nutrients and cations identified - varied by indicator type. Among watersheds, FIB increased with developed land cover and during the summer months, while HF183 increased during the winter and only in urban watersheds. Nutrients generally related poorly to FIB and HF183, except E. coli, which correlated with total nitrogen. In contrast, all fecal indicators showed strong correlations with cations. FIB were more strongly related to calcium, magnesium, and potassium concentrations, while HF183 was related to sodium. These results suggest that, even at the watershed scale, 1) HF183 detects mainly human fecal contamination, while FIB detect broader ecosystem fecal inputs, and 2) poor correlation between specific and generalist fecal indicators is caused by unique spatial, temporal, and transport dynamics of different fecal sources in watersheds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Badgley
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, United States of America.
| | - Meredith K Steele
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, United States of America
| | - Catherine Cappellin
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, United States of America
| | - Julie Burger
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, United States of America
| | - Jinshi Jian
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, United States of America
| | - Timothy P Neher
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, United States of America
| | - Megan Orentas
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, United States of America
| | - Regan Wagner
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, United States of America
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24
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Abstract
Fecal microorganisms can enter water bodies in diverse ways, including runoff, sewage discharge, and direct fecal deposition. Once in water, the microorganisms experience conditions that are very different from intestinal habitats. The transition from host to aquatic environment may lead to rapid inactivation, some degree of persistence, or growth. Microorganisms may remain planktonic, be deposited in sediment, wash up on beaches, or attach to aquatic vegetation. Each of these habitats offers a panoply of different stressors or advantages, including UV light exposure, temperature fluctuations, salinity, nutrient availability, and biotic interactions with the indigenous microbiota (e.g., predation and/or competition). The host sources of fecal microorganisms are likewise numerous, including wildlife, pets, livestock, and humans. Most of these microorganisms are unlikely to affect human health, but certain taxa can cause waterborne disease. Others signal increased probability of pathogen presence, e.g., the fecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli and enterococci and bacteriophages, or act as fecal source identifiers (microbial source tracking markers). The effects of environmental factors on decay are frequently inconsistent across microbial species, fecal sources, and measurement strategies (e.g., culture versus molecular). Therefore, broad generalizations about the fate of fecal microorganisms in aquatic environments are problematic, compromising efforts to predict microbial decay and health risk from contamination events. This review summarizes the recent literature on decay of fecal microorganisms in aquatic environments, recognizes defensible generalizations, and identifies knowledge gaps that may provide particularly fruitful avenues for obtaining a better understanding of the fates of these organisms in aquatic environments.
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25
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Cheng H, Wang Y, Zhu T, Wang L, Xie Z, Hua Z, Jiang X. Effects of hydrodynamic disturbances on biodegradation of tetrabromobisphenol A in water-sediment systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:31392-31400. [PMID: 31471855 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06291-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is an emerging contaminant and exists widely in river and lake systems due to its widespread use. In natural water-sediment systems, hydrodynamic disturbances always exist. However, few studies have investigated the mechanism of TBBPA biodegradation under the influence of water disturbances. In this paper, using a specialized type of racetrack-style flumes, the TBBPA biodegradation in water-sediment systems was studied under the influence of three typical hydrodynamic disturbances. The results of 5-week experiments showed that strong hydrodynamic disturbances greatly accelerate the TBBPA biodegradation rate of the water-sediment systems. The half-lives (T1/2) under static condition (SC) were approximately 40.2 days, and the T1/2 was reduced to 16.0 days under strong hydrodynamic condition (SHC). Furthermore, the physicochemical properties and corresponding bacterial communities under these conditions were investigated to help explain the TBBPA biodegradation mechanism. The results showed that strong currents could promote dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, increase nutrient concentrations, and reduce the bacterial diversity in the sediment. Meanwhile, due to the increase in DO and nutrient concentrations, the aerobic bacterial genera conducting TBBPA biodegradation showed rapid growth with strong water disturbances, while the growth of anaerobic bacterial genera was inhibited. Citrobacter, which was the most dominant degrading bacterial genus (0.6%-14.9% in water and 3.5%-17.4% in sediment), was closely related to water disturbances and may be linked to enhanced TBBPA biodegradation. Other minor degrading bacterial genera, such as Bacillus, Sphingomonas, Anaeromyxobacter, Geobacter, Clostridium, and Flavobacterium, were also found in these water-sediment systems. The findings from this study showed the importance of considering hydrodynamic disturbance in understanding TBBPA biodegradation in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haomiao Cheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225127, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yulin Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225127, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tengyi Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225127, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Liang Wang
- School of Hydraulic Energy and Power Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225127, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhengxin Xie
- School of Resource and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Zulin Hua
- College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xiaohong Jiang
- School of Hydraulic Energy and Power Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225127, Jiangsu, China
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26
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Hajj-Mohamad M, Hachad M, Deschamps G, Sauvé S, Villemur R, Blais MA, Prévost M, Dorner S. Fecal contamination of storm sewers: Evaluating wastewater micropollutants, human-specific Bacteroides 16S rRNA, and mitochondrial DNA genetic markers as alternative indicators of sewer cross connections. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 659:548-560. [PMID: 31096384 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A set of fecal indicator bacteria and alternative markers were tested for their use to identify priority sectors of two urban watersheds in the Greater Montreal region with unintended household sewage connections to storm drainage systems. Analyses were performed for thermotolerant (fecal) coliforms (FC), Escherichia coli, human-specific Bacteroidales (HF183) and mitochondrial DNA (Hmt) markers, carbamazepine (CBZ), caffeine (CAF), theophylline (THEO) and acetaminophen (ACE). A high incidence of human fecal contamination was observed, illustrating the need for a method to appropriately prioritize sectors for the rehabilitation of sewer cross-connections. Concentrations of alternative markers were not significantly different between the residential and industrial/commercial/institutional (ICI) sectors. However, median E. coli concentrations were higher in the residential as compared to ICI sectors (p < 0.05). Hmt marker, CAF, and THEO were well correlated to E. coli in the ICI sector (r > 0.61, p < 0.05). Considering all sites, only CAF and THEO were correlated to E. coli (r > 0.59, p < 0.05), possibly as a result of higher E. coli inputs from other sources such as domestic animals or fauna in the residential sector. Thresholds were determined to relate alternative markers to E. coli for use in an index for prioritizing sectors with sewer cross-connections. HF183, Hmt, CAF, THEO, and ACE were identified as suitable markers for identifying sewer cross-connections and are more reliable than E. coli alone, most importantly in residential sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Hajj-Mohamad
- Canada Research Chair in Source Water Protection, Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P. 6079, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada; NSERC Industrial Chair in Drinking Water Treatment, Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P. 6079, Succursale Centre-ville Montréal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Mounia Hachad
- Canada Research Chair in Source Water Protection, Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P. 6079, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Guy Deschamps
- Service du Développement et des Opérations, Direction de L'environnement et du Développement Durable, Division de la Planification et du Suivi Environnemental, Réseau de Suivi du Milieu Aquatique, Ville de Montréal, Montreal, QC H2M 2T8, Canada
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Richard Villemur
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Marc-André Blais
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Michèle Prévost
- NSERC Industrial Chair in Drinking Water Treatment, Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P. 6079, Succursale Centre-ville Montréal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Sarah Dorner
- Canada Research Chair in Source Water Protection, Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P. 6079, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada.
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27
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Ahmed W, Zhang Q, Kozak S, Beale D, Gyawali P, Sadowsky MJ, Simpson S. Comparative decay of sewage-associated marker genes in beach water and sediment in a subtropical region. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 149:511-521. [PMID: 30500686 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.10.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing move towards using the quantitative polymerase chain (qPCR)-based sewage-associated marker genes to assess surface water quality. However, a lack of understanding about the persistence of many sewage-associated markers creates uncertainty for those tasked with investigating microbial water quality. In this study, we investigated the decay of two qPCR FIB [E. coli (EC), and Enterococcus spp. (ENT) 23S rRNA genes] and four sewage-associated microbial source tracking (MST) marker genes [human Bacteroides HF183 16S rRNA, adenovirus (HAdV), and polyomavirus (HPyV), and crAssphage, a recently described bacteriophage in feces], in outdoor mesocosms containing fresh and marine waters and their corresponding sediments. Decay rates of EC 23S rRNA, ENT 23S rRNA, and HF183 16S rRNA were significantly (p < 0.05) faster than the HAdV, HPyV and crAssphage markers in water samples from all mesocosms. In general, decay rates of bacterial targets were similar in the water columns of the studied mesocosms. Similarly, decay rates of viral targets were also alike in mesocosm water columns in relation to each other. The decay rates of FIB and sewage-associated markers were significantly faster in water samples compared to sediments in all three mesocosms. In the event of resuspension, FIB and marker genes from sediments can potentially recontaminate overlying waters. Thus, care should be taken when interpreting the occurrence of FIB and sewage-associated MST markers in water, which may have originated from sediments. The differential decay of these targets may also influence health outcomes and need to be considered in risk assessment models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld, 4102, Australia.
| | - Qian Zhang
- BioTechnology Institute, Departments of Soil, Water & Climate, and Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Sonya Kozak
- School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - David Beale
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld, 4102, Australia
| | - Pradip Gyawali
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd., Kenepuru Science Center, Porirura, 5240, New Zealand
| | - Michael J Sadowsky
- BioTechnology Institute, Departments of Soil, Water & Climate, and Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Stuart Simpson
- CSIRO Land and Water, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
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28
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García-Aljaro C, Blanch AR, Campos C, Jofre J, Lucena F. Pathogens, faecal indicators and human-specific microbial source-tracking markers in sewage. J Appl Microbiol 2019; 126:701-717. [PMID: 30244503 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this review is to assess the current state of knowledge of pathogens, general faecal indicators and human-specific microbial source tracking markers in sewage. Most of the microbes present in sewage are from the microbiota of the human gut, including pathogens. Bacteria and viruses are the most abundant groups of microbes in the human gut microbiota. Most reports on this topic show that raw sewage microbiological profiles reflect the human gut microbiota. Human and animal faeces share many commensal microbes as well as pathogens. Faecal-orally transmitted pathogens constitute a serious public health problem that can be minimized through sanitation. Assessing both the sanitation processes and the contribution of sewage to the faecal contamination of water bodies requires knowledge of the content of pathogens in sewage, microbes indicating general faecal contamination and microbes that are only present in human faecal remains, which are known as the human-specific microbial source-tracking (MST) markers. Detection of pathogens would be the ideal option for managing sanitation and determining the microbiological quality of waters contaminated by sewage; but at present, this is neither practical nor feasible in routine testing. Traditionally, faecal indicator bacteria have been used as surrogate indicators of general faecal residues. However, in many water management circumstances, it becomes necessary to detect both the origin of faecal contamination, for which MST is paramount, and live micro-organisms, for which molecular methods are not suitable. The presence and concentrations of pathogens, general faecal indicators and human-specific MST markers most frequently reported in different areas of the world are summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- C García-Aljaro
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A R Blanch
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Campos
- Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - J Jofre
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Lucena
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,The Water Research Institute, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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29
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Ballesté E, García-Aljaro C, Blanch AR. Assessment of the decay rates of microbial source tracking molecular markers and faecal indicator bacteria from different sources. J Appl Microbiol 2018; 125:1938-1949. [PMID: 30066371 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Evaluate the T90 and compare the decay of different faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and molecular microbial source tracking (MST) markers of human and animal sources during summer and winter. METHODS AND RESULTS The persistence of Escherichia coli and enterococci and several MST molecular markers targeting host-specific Bifidobacterium and Bacteroidales species (BifHM, BifCW, BifPL, HF183/BFD, Rum2Bac and Pig2Bac) was assessed at the same time using mesocosms. Dialysis bags filled with diluted wastewater from different sources were kept in an outdoor water tank and monitored regularly to assess the inactivation rates. The T90 values of E. coli by culture methods ranged from 1·52 to 5·69 days in summer and 2·06 to 6·19 days in winter, whereas with qPCR 2·29-4·23 days in summer and 4·17-8·09 days in winter. T90 values for enterocci ranged from 1·15 to 3·10 days in summer and from 3·01 to 5·46 days in winter. Significant differences were observed between faecal sources for both markers. For the MST makers similar T90 values were obtained in summer (1·05-1·91 days), whereas higher variability was observed in winter (2·90-6·12 days). CONCLUSIONS Different decay rates were observed for the FIB from the different sources, especially for E. coli in ruminant samples. A higher variability among T90 values of the different MST markers in winter was observed, whereas similar T90 values were detected in summer highlighting the stronger effect of environmental parameters during this season. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The diverse inactivation rates observed in bacteria from different faecal sources have implications when these rates are used to model faecal pollution in water. The use of FIBT90 of different sources is essential to develop reliable predictive models. Since different inactivation of E. coli regarding the source of pollution has been observed, the source of the pollution has to be considered for modelling approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ballesté
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - C García-Aljaro
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - A R Blanch
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Quantification of Leptospira interrogans Survival in Soil and Water Microcosms. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.00507-18. [PMID: 29703737 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00507-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospira interrogans is the etiological agent of leptospirosis, a globally distributed zoonotic disease. Human infection usually occurs through skin exposure with water and soil contaminated with the urine of chronically infected animals. In this study, we aimed to quantitatively characterize the survival of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni in environmental matrices. We constructed laboratory microcosms to simulate natural conditions and determined the persistence of DNA markers in soil, mud, spring water and sewage using a quantitative PCR (qPCR) and a propidium monoazide (PMA)-qPCR assay. We found that L. interrogans does not survive at high concentrations in the tested matrices. No net growth was detected in any of the experimental conditions and in all cases the concentration of the DNA markers targeted decreased from the beginning of the experiment following an exponential decay with a decreasing decay rate over time. After 12 and 21 days of incubation the spiked concentration of 106L. interrogans cells/ml or g decreased to approximately 100 cells/ml or g in soil and spring water microcosms, respectively. Furthermore, culturable L. interrogans persisted at concentrations under the limit of detection by PMA-qPCR or qPCR for at least 16 days in soil and 28 days in spring water. Altogether, our findings suggest that the environment is not a multiplication reservoir but a temporary carrier of L. interrogans Copenhageni, although the observed prolonged persistence at low concentrations may still enable the transmission of the disease.IMPORTANCE Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira that primarily affects impoverished populations worldwide. Although leptospirosis is transmitted by contact with water and soil, little is known about the ability of the pathogen to survive in the environment. In this study, we quantitatively characterized the survival of L. interrogans in environmental microcosms and found that although it cannot multiply in water, soil or sewage, it survives for extended time periods (days to weeks depending on the matrix). The survival parameters obtained here may help to better understand the distribution of pathogenic Leptospira in the environment and improve the predictions of human infection risks in areas where such infections are endemic.
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Jiang YS, Riedel TE, Popoola JA, Morrow BR, Cai S, Ellington AD, Bhadra S. Portable platform for rapid in-field identification of human fecal pollution in water. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 131:186-195. [PMID: 29278789 PMCID: PMC5999531 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Human fecal contamination of water is a public health risk. However, inadequate testing solutions frustrate timely, actionable monitoring. Bacterial culture-based methods are simple but typically cannot distinguish fecal host source. PCR assays can identify host sources but require expertise and infrastructure. To bridge this gap we have developed a field-ready nucleic acid diagnostic platform and rapid sample preparation methods that enable on-site identification of human fecal contamination within 80 min of sampling. Our platform relies on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) of human-associated Bacteroides HF183 genetic markers from crude samples. Oligonucleotide strand exchange (OSD) probes reduce false positives by sequence specifically transducing LAMP amplicons into visible fluorescence that can be photographed by unmodified smartphones. Our assay can detect as few as 17 copies/ml of human-associated HF183 targets in sewage-contaminated water without cross-reaction with canine or feline feces. It performs robustly with a variety of environmental water sources and with raw sewage. We have also developed lyophilized assays and inexpensive 3D-printed devices to minimize cost and facilitate field application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Sherry Jiang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Timothy E Riedel
- Freshman Research Initiative, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jessica A Popoola
- Freshman Research Initiative, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Barrett R Morrow
- Freshman Research Initiative, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Sheng Cai
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Andrew D Ellington
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Sanchita Bhadra
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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Yi X, Tran NH, Yin T, He Y, Gin KYH. Removal of selected PPCPs, EDCs, and antibiotic resistance genes in landfill leachate by a full-scale constructed wetlands system. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 121:46-60. [PMID: 28511040 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Landfill leachate could be a significant source of emerging contaminants (ECs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into the environment. This study provides the first information on the occurrence of selected ECs and ARGs in raw leachate from 16-year old closed landfill site in Singapore. Among the investigated ECs, acetaminophen (ACT), bisphenol A (BPA), clofibric acid (CA), caffeine (CF), crotamiton (CTMT), diclofenac (DCF), N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), gemfibrozil (GFZ), lincomycin (LIN), salicylic acid (SA), and sulfamethazine (SMZ) were the most frequently detected compounds in raw landfill leachate. The concentrations of detected ECs in raw landfill leachate varied significantly, from below quantification limit to 473,977 ng/L, depending on the compound. In this study, Class I integron (intl1) gene and ten ARGs were detected in raw landfill leachate. Sulfonamide resistance (sul1, sul2, and dfrA), aminoglycoside resistance (aac6), tetracycline resistance (tetO), quinolone resistance (qnrA), and intl1 were ubiquitously present in raw landfill leachate. Other resistance genes, such as beta-lactam resistance (blaNMD1, blaKPC, and blaCTX) and macrolide-lincosamide resistance (ermB) were also detected, detection frequency of <50%. The removal of target ECs and ARGs by a full-scale hybrid constructed wetland (CW) was also evaluated. The vast majority of ECs exhibited excellent removal efficiencies (>90%) in the investigated hybrid CW system. This hybrid CW system was also found to be effective in the reduction of several ARGs (intl1, sul1, sul2, and qnrA). Aeration lagoons and reed beds appeared to be the most important treatment units of the hybrid CW for removing the majority of ECs from the leachate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinzhu Yi
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, T-Lab Building, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Ngoc Han Tran
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, T-Lab Building, Singapore 117411, Singapore.
| | - Tingru Yin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Yiliang He
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, Singapore 117576, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, T-Lab Building, Singapore 117411, Singapore.
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Yahya M, Blanch AR, Meijer WG, Antoniou K, Hmaied F, Ballesté E. Comparison of the Performance of Different Microbial Source Tracking Markers among European and North African Regions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2017; 46:760-766. [PMID: 28783792 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2016.11.0432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microbial source tracking (MST) has been extensively used to detect the sources of fecal pollution in water. The inclusion of MST in water management strategies improves the ecological status of the ecosystem and human and animal health under interdisciplinary analysis in all aspects of health care for humans, animals, and the environment (One Health approach). In this study, the performance of MST markers targeting host-specific Bacteroidales (HF183 and Rum-2-Bac) and species (HMBif and CWBif) were evaluated in raw sewage collected from human, ruminant, swine, and poultry sources in Tunisia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Spain. In addition, the ratio between somatic coliphages and bacteriophages infecting GA17 (SOMCPH/GA17PH) was measured in Tunisia and Spain. The obtained results showed variability of the bacterial markers between the four countries, suggesting that their usefulness could be affected by several conditions (dietary habits, agricultural practices, and climatic conditions) that differ between countries. The Rum-2-Bac marker stood out as a valid MST tool, particularly in Ireland, whereas CWBif was the best option in Tunisia, Spain, and Cyprus. The human-specific HMBif marker showed good sensitivity and specificity in Tunisia, Spain, and Ireland, whereas HF183 showed a low specificity. However, HF183 was suggested as a good human marker in Ireland and Cyprus because of its higher concentration than HMBif. Regarding viral markers, the ratio of SOMCPH/GA17PH showed a clear discrimination between human and nonhuman samples. The combined use of molecular bacterial markers and the ratio of SOMCPH/GA17PH may improve the success of MST.
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Marti R, Ribun S, Aubin JB, Colinon C, Petit S, Marjolet L, Gourmelon M, Schmitt L, Breil P, Cottet M, Cournoyer B. Human-Driven Microbiological Contamination of Benthic and Hyporheic Sediments of an Intermittent Peri-Urban River Assessed from MST and 16S rRNA Genetic Structure Analyses. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:19. [PMID: 28174557 PMCID: PMC5258724 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rivers are often challenged by fecal contaminations. The barrier effect of sediments against fecal bacteria was investigated through the use of a microbial source tracking (MST) toolbox, and by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of V5-V6 16S rRNA gene (rrs) sequences. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling analysis of V5-V6 16S rRNA gene sequences differentiated bacteriomes according to their compartment of origin i.e., surface water against benthic and hyporheic sediments. Classification of these reads showed the most prevalent operating taxonomic units (OTU) to be allocated to Flavobacterium and Aquabacterium. Relative numbers of Gaiella, Haliangium, and Thermoleophilum OTU matched the observed differentiation of bacteriomes according to river compartments. OTU patterns were found impacted by combined sewer overflows (CSO) through an observed increase in diversity from the sewer to the hyporheic sediments. These changes appeared driven by direct transfers of bacterial contaminants from wastewaters but also by organic inputs favoring previously undetectable bacterial groups among sediments. These NGS datasets appeared more sensitive at tracking community changes than MST markers. The human-specific MST marker HF183 was strictly detected among CSO-impacted surface waters and not river bed sediments. The ruminant-specific DNA marker was more broadly distributed but intense bovine pollution was required to detect transfers from surface water to benthic and hyporheic sediments. Some OTU showed distribution patterns in line with these MST datasets such as those allocated to the Aeromonas, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas. Fecal indicators (Escherichia coli and total thermotolerant coliforms) were detected all over the river course but their concentrations were not correlated with MST ones. Overall, MST and NGS datasets suggested a poor colonization of river sediments by bovine and sewer bacterial contaminants. No environmental outbreak of these bacterial contaminants was detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Marti
- Research Group on "Bacterial Opportunistic Pathogens and Environment", UMR CNRS5557, INRA1418 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Lyon 1, VetAgro Sup Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | - Sébastien Ribun
- Research Group on "Bacterial Opportunistic Pathogens and Environment", UMR CNRS5557, INRA1418 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Lyon 1, VetAgro Sup Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | | | - Céline Colinon
- Research Group on "Bacterial Opportunistic Pathogens and Environment", UMR CNRS5557, INRA1418 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Lyon 1, VetAgro Sup Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | - Stéphanie Petit
- Research Group on "Bacterial Opportunistic Pathogens and Environment", UMR CNRS5557, INRA1418 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Lyon 1, VetAgro Sup Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | - Laurence Marjolet
- Research Group on "Bacterial Opportunistic Pathogens and Environment", UMR CNRS5557, INRA1418 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Lyon 1, VetAgro Sup Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | - Michèle Gourmelon
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), SG2M-Laboratoire Santé Environnement et Microbiologie, RBE Département Plouzané, France
| | - Laurent Schmitt
- LIVE 7362 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-ENGEES, LTER - "Zone Atelier Environnementale Urbaine" Strasbourg, France
| | - Pascal Breil
- Institut National de Recherche en Sciences et Technologies pour l'Environnement et l'Agriculture (IRSTEA), UR HHLY Villeurbanne, France
| | - Marylise Cottet
- UMR5600 "Environnement Ville Société," École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (ENS) Lyon - Descartes Lyon, France
| | - Benoit Cournoyer
- Research Group on "Bacterial Opportunistic Pathogens and Environment", UMR CNRS5557, INRA1418 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Lyon 1, VetAgro Sup Marcy L'Etoile, France
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Sowah RA, Habteselassie MY, Radcliffe DE, Bauske E, Risse M. Isolating the impact of septic systems on fecal pollution in streams of suburban watersheds in Georgia, United States. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 108:330-338. [PMID: 27847149 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The presence of multiple sources of fecal pollution at the watershed level presents challenges to efforts aimed at identifying the influence of septic systems. In this study multiple approaches including targeted sampling and monitoring of host-specific Bacteroidales markers were used to identify the impact of septic systems on microbial water quality. Twenty four watersheds with septic density ranging from 8 to 373 septic units/km2 were monitored for water quality under baseflow conditions over a 3-year period. The levels of the human-associated HF183 marker, as well as total and ruminant Bacteroidales, were quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Human-associated Bacteroidales yield was significantly higher in high density watersheds compared to low density areas and was negatively correlated (r = -0.64) with the average distance of septic systems to streams in the spring season. The human marker was also positively correlated with the total Bacteroidales marker, suggesting that the human source input was a significant contributor to total fecal pollution in the study area. Multivariable regression analysis indicates that septic systems, along with forest cover, impervious area and specific conductance could explain up to 74% of the variation in human fecal pollution in the spring season. The results suggest septic system impact through contributions to groundwater recharge during baseflow or failing septic system input, especially in areas with >87 septic units/km2. This study supports the use of microbial source tracking approaches along with traditional fecal indicator bacteria monitoring and land use characterization in a tiered approach to isolate the influence of septic systems on water quality in mixed-use watersheds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Sowah
- Crop and Soil Sciences, The University of Georgia Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment St, Griffin, GA, 30223, USA.
| | - Mussie Y Habteselassie
- Crop and Soil Sciences, The University of Georgia Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment St, Griffin, GA, 30223, USA
| | - David E Radcliffe
- Crop and Soil Sciences, The University of Georgia, 3111 Carlton St, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Ellen Bauske
- Center for Urban Agriculture, The University of Georgia Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment St, Griffin, GA, 30223, USA
| | - Mark Risse
- The University of Georgia, Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, 1030 Chicopee Building, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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Mukherjee N, Bartelli D, Patra C, Chauhan BV, Dowd SE, Banerjee P. Microbial Diversity of Source and Point-of-Use Water in Rural Haiti - A Pyrosequencing-Based Metagenomic Survey. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167353. [PMID: 27936055 PMCID: PMC5147895 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Haiti endures the poorest water and sanitation infrastructure in the Western Hemisphere, where waterborne diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality. Most of these diseases are reported to be caused by waterborne pathogens. In this study, we examined the overall bacterial diversity of selected source and point-of-use water from rural areas in Central Plateau, Haiti using pyrosequencing of 16s rRNA genes. Taxonomic composition of water samples revealed an abundance of Firmicutes phyla, followed by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. A total of 38 bacterial families and 60 genera were identified. The presence of several Klebsiella spp. (tentatively, K. pneumoniae, K. variicola and other Klebsiella spp.) was detected in most water samples. Several other human pathogens such as Aeromonas, Bacillus, Clostridium, and Yersinia constituted significantly higher proportion of bacterial communities in the point-of-use water samples compared to source water. Bacterial genera traditionally associated with biofilm formation, such as Chryseobacterium, Fusobacterium, Prevotella, Pseudomonas were found in the point-of-use waters obtained from water filters or domestic water storage containers. Although the pyrosequencing method utilized in this study did not reveal the viability status of these pathogens, the abundance of genetic footprints of the pathogens in water samples indicate the probable risk of bacterial transmission to humans. Therefore, the importance of appropriate handling, purification, and treatment of the source water needed to be clearly communicated to the communities in rural Haiti to ensure the water is safe for their daily use and intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabanita Mukherjee
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Desoto Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Debra Bartelli
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Desoto Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Cyril Patra
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Desoto Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Bhavin V. Chauhan
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Desoto Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Scot E. Dowd
- Molecular Research LP (MR DNA), Shallowater, Texas, United States of America
| | - Pratik Banerjee
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Desoto Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Sun H, He X, Ye L, Zhang XX, Wu B, Ren H. Diversity, abundance, and possible sources of fecal bacteria in the Yangtze River. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 101:2143-2152. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7998-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2016] [Revised: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Waso M, Ndlovu T, Dobrowsky PH, Khan S, Khan W. Presence of microbial and chemical source tracking markers in roof-harvested rainwater and catchment systems for the detection of fecal contamination. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:16987-7001. [PMID: 27206748 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6895-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Microbial source tracking (MST) and chemical source tracking (CST) markers were utilized to identify fecal contamination in harvested rainwater and gutter debris samples. Throughout the sampling period, Bacteroides HF183 was detected in 57.5 % of the tank water samples and 95 % of the gutter debris samples, while adenovirus was detected in 42.5 and 52.5 % of the tank water and gutter debris samples, respectively. Human adenovirus was then detected at levels ranging from below the detection limit to 316 and 1253 genome copies/μL in the tank water and debris samples, respectively. Results for the CST markers showed that salicylic acid (average 4.62 μg/L) was the most prevalent marker (100 %) in the gutter debris samples, caffeine (average 18.0 μg/L) was the most prevalent in the tank water samples (100 %) and acetaminophen was detected sporadically throughout the study period. Bacteroides HF183 and salicylic acid (95 %) and Bacteroides HF183 and caffeine (80 %) yielded high concurrence frequencies in the gutter debris samples. In addition, the highest concurrence frequency in the tank water samples was observed for Bacteroides HF183 and caffeine (60 %). The current study thus indicates that Bacteroides HF183, salicylic acid and caffeine may potentially be applied as source tracking markers in rainwater catchment systems in order to supplement fecal indicator analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Waso
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
| | - T Ndlovu
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
| | - P H Dobrowsky
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
| | - S Khan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 1906, Bellville, 7535, South Africa
| | - W Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa.
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Weiss P, Aw TG, Urquhart GR, Galeano MR, Rose JB. Well water quality in rural Nicaragua using a low-cost bacterial test and microbial source tracking. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2016; 14:199-207. [PMID: 27105405 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2015.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Water-related diseases, particularly diarrhea, are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Monitoring water quality on a global scale is crucial to making progress in terms of population health. Traditional analytical methods are difficult to use in many regions of the world in low-resource settings that face severe water quality issues due to the inaccessibility of laboratories. This study aimed to evaluate a new low-cost method (the compartment bag test (CBT)) in rural Nicaragua. The CBT was used to quantify the presence of Escherichia coli in drinking water wells and aimed to determine the source(s) of any microbial contamination. Results indicate that the CBT is a viable method for use in remote rural regions. The overall quality of well water in Pueblo Nuevo, Nicaragua was deemed unsafe, and results led to the conclusion that animal fecal wastes may be one of the leading causes of well contamination. Elevation and depth of wells were not found to impact overall water quality. However rope-pump wells had a 64.1% reduction in contamination when compared with simple wells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Weiss
- School of Public Health, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Tiong Gim Aw
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, 3 Natural Resources, Michigan State University, 303 Manly Miles, 1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA E-mail:
| | - Gerald R Urquhart
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, 3 Natural Resources, Michigan State University, 303 Manly Miles, 1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA E-mail: ; Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University, 919 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Miguel Ruiz Galeano
- Foundation for the Development of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua (FADCANIC), Pueblo Nuevo, South Caribbean Autonomous Region, Nicaragua
| | - Joan B Rose
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, 3 Natural Resources, Michigan State University, 303 Manly Miles, 1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA E-mail:
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Gómez-Doñate M, Casanovas-Massana A, Muniesa M, Blanch AR. Development of new host-specific Bacteroides qPCRs for the identification of fecal contamination sources in water. Microbiologyopen 2016; 5:83-94. [PMID: 26763626 PMCID: PMC4767429 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2015] [Revised: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteroides spp. have been proposed as indicators of fecal contamination in microbial source tracking (MST) methodologies. The aim of this study was to develop new qPCR assays that target host‐specific Bacteroidal 16S ribosomal RNA genes, to determine the source of fecal contamination in water. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to select for host‐specific bands of Bacteroides associated with a fecal pollution source and later to design four qPCR host‐specific assays. A set of common primers for Bacteroides spp., four different Bacteroides spp. host‐associated hydrolysis probes (human, cattle, pig, and poultry), and one hydrolysis probe for the Bacteroides genus were designed. This set of qPCR assays together with other previously developed Bacteroidetes MST targets were used to analyze water samples with fecal contamination from the four sources studied. The host‐specific Bacteroides qPCRs designed for human (HMprobeBac), pig (PGprobeBac), and poultry (PLprobeBac) were highly specific for its sources (1.0, 0.97, and 1.0, respectively) although its sensitivity was lower (0.45, 0.50, and 0.73, respectively). The cattle‐specific qPCR was totally unspecific and was discarded for future experiments. When compared to previously designed assays, the human and pig qPCRs showed better accuracies (0.86 and 0.84) than their counterparts HF183 and Pig‐2‐Bac (0.38 and 0.65). Thus, the newly designed human, pig, and poultry qPCR assays outperform other methods developed until date and may be useful for source tracking purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gómez-Doñate
- Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08028, Spain
| | - Arnau Casanovas-Massana
- Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08028, Spain
| | - Maite Muniesa
- Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08028, Spain
| | - Anicet R Blanch
- Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08028, Spain
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Tran NH, Gin KYH, Ngo HH. Fecal pollution source tracking toolbox for identification, evaluation and characterization of fecal contamination in receiving urban surface waters and groundwater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 538:38-57. [PMID: 26298247 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2015] [Revised: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The quality of surface waters/groundwater of a geographical region can be affected by anthropogenic activities, land use patterns and fecal pollution sources from humans and animals. Therefore, the development of an efficient fecal pollution source tracking toolbox for identifying the origin of the fecal pollution sources in surface waters/groundwater is especially helpful for improving management efforts and remediation actions of water resources in a more cost-effective and efficient manner. This review summarizes the updated knowledge on the use of fecal pollution source tracking markers for detecting, evaluating and characterizing fecal pollution sources in receiving surface waters and groundwater. The suitability of using chemical markers (i.e. fecal sterols, fluorescent whitening agents, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and artificial sweeteners) and/or microbial markers (e.g. F+RNA coliphages, enteric viruses, and host-specific anaerobic bacterial 16S rDNA genetic markers) for tracking fecal pollution sources in receiving water bodies is discussed. In addition, this review also provides a comprehensive approach, which is based on the detection ratios (DR), detection frequencies (DF), and fate of potential microbial and chemical markers. DR and DF are considered as the key criteria for selecting appropriate markers for identifying and evaluating the impacts of fecal contamination in surface waters/groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc Han Tran
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building, #02-01, 5A Engineering Drive 1, 117411, Singapore.
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, 117576, Singapore.
| | - Huu Hao Ngo
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
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Kim M, Wuertz S. Survival and persistence of host-associated Bacteroidales cells and DNA in comparison with Escherichia coli and Enterococcus in freshwater sediments as quantified by PMA-qPCR and qPCR. WATER RESEARCH 2015; 87:182-192. [PMID: 26408951 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Decay of the fecal source identifier Bacteroidales in sediments has not been studied until now. Two types of microcosms inoculated with human, cow and dog feces were constructed to investigate the survival and persistence of host-associated Bacteroidales cells and their DNA, respectively, in freshwater sediments: (i) a completely anaerobic microcosm where feces were entirely mixed with sediments for estimating decay of Bacteroidales in oxygen-free sediments at two temperatures (6 °C and 20 °C) and (ii) a core microcosm where feces in the overlying water column settled on top of undisturbed core sediments. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) along with propidium monoazide (PMA) was used to differentiate between genetic markers present in intact cells and total intracellular as well as extracellular marker DNA. Regulated fecal indicator bacteria were measured by cultivation (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus) and qPCR (Enterococcus) in relation to Bacteroidales-associated host markers. In anaerobic microcosms, the survival and persistence of Bacteroidales cells and DNA in sediments were considerably extended, especially at the lower temperature of 6 °C, with two-log reduction times (T99) >56 d (cells) and >169 d (DNA). Bacteroidales DNA persisted up to five times longer than cells in anaerobic microcosms at 6 °C, whereas decay rates of cells and DNA were not significantly different at 20 °C in anaerobic microcosms. In core microcosms, the levels of Bacteroidales cells and DNA decreased approximately six times more slowly in sediments than in overlying water; T99 values of Bacteroidales cells and DNA were 6-9 d (water) and 29-82 d (sediment). The survival of universal, human-, ruminant- and dog-associated Bacteroidales cells in sediments was similar in both microcosms under each given condition, as was the persistence of DNA. Decay rate constants of Bacteroidales cells and DNA were comparable with those of cultivable Enterococcus and E. coli cells in core sediments while Enterococcus DNA levels fluctuated without noticeable decay. The prolonged persistence of host-associated Bacteroidales suggests that sediments should be considered in practical applications of microbial source tracking, because they can act as non-point sources of fecal markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minji Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Stefan Wuertz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore.
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Lee DG, Roehrdanz PR, Feraud M, Ervin J, Anumol T, Jia A, Park M, Tamez C, Morelius EW, Gardea-Torresdey JL, Izbicki J, Means JC, Snyder SA, Holden PA. Wastewater compounds in urban shallow groundwater wells correspond to exfiltration probabilities of nearby sewers. WATER RESEARCH 2015; 85:467-75. [PMID: 26379202 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.08.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Revised: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater compounds are frequently detected in urban shallow groundwater. Sources include sewage or reclaimed wastewater, but origins are often unknown. In a prior study, wastewater compounds were quantified in waters sampled from shallow groundwater wells in a small coastal California city. Here, we resampled those wells and expanded sample analyses to include sewage- or reclaimed water-specific indicators, i.e. pharmaceutical and personal care product chemicals or disinfection byproducts. Also, we developed a geographic information system (GIS)-based model of sanitary sewer exfiltration probability--combining a published pipe failure model accounting for sewer pipe size, age, materials of construction, with interpolated depths to groundwater--to determine if sewer system attributes relate to wastewater compounds in urban shallow groundwater. Across the wells, groundwater samples contained varying wastewater compounds, including acesulfame, sucralose, bisphenol A, 4-tert-octylphenol, estrone and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS). Fecal indicator bacterial concentrations and toxicological bioactivities were less than known benchmarks. However, the reclaimed water in this study was positive for all bioactivity tested. Excluding one well intruded by seawater, the similarity of groundwater to sewage, based on multiple indicators, increased with increasing sanitary sewer exfiltration probability (modeled from infrastructure within ca. 300 m of each well). In the absence of direct exfiltration or defect measurements, sewer exfiltration probabilities modeled from the collection system's physical data can indicate potential locations where urban shallow groundwater is contaminated by sewage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do Gyun Lee
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Patrick R Roehrdanz
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Marina Feraud
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Jared Ervin
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Tarun Anumol
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Ai Jia
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Minkyu Park
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Carlos Tamez
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA; Environmental Science & Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Erving W Morelius
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA; Environmental Science & Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Jorge L Gardea-Torresdey
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA; Environmental Science & Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - John Izbicki
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 4165 Spruance Road, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Jay C Means
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Shane A Snyder
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Patricia A Holden
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
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He X, Chen H, Shi W, Cui Y, Zhang XX. Persistence of mitochondrial DNA markers as fecal indicators in water environments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 533:383-390. [PMID: 26172605 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Revised: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology has recently been developed to identify sources of fecal contamination, but information regarding environmental fate of mtDNA is limited. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the persistence of three species-specific mtDNA markers (human, pig and chicken) in river microcosms under different laboratory conditions and in dialysis tubes incubated in river environments during different seasons. Human feces had a higher abundance of mtDNA marker than pig and chicken feces. A biphasic decay pattern was observed for the mtDNA markers in microcosms incubated in darkness, and T90 (time needed for 90% reduction) ranged from 2.03 to 13.83 d. Each species-specific mtDNA marker persisted for relatively longer time at lower temperatures, and light exposure and predation increased the decay rates. Field experiments showed that the mtDNA markers could survive for longer time in winter (T90: 1.79-4.37 d) than in summer (T90: 0.60-0.75 d). Field application of mtDNA technology indicated that the markers were mainly distributed on the sites near animal breeding plants and had lower abundance in downstream water of the receiving river. This study expands our knowledge of the environmental fate of mtDNA markers and the results may be useful for practical application of the technology in fecal source tracking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiwei He
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, China
| | - Huimei Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, China.
| | - Wei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, China
| | - Yibin Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, China
| | - Xu-Xiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, China.
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Associations among Human-Associated Fecal Contamination, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Microcystin at Lake Erie Beaches. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2015; 12:11466-85. [PMID: 26378564 PMCID: PMC4586686 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120911466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Lake Erie beaches exhibit impaired water quality due to fecal contamination and cyanobacterial blooms, though few studies address potential relationships between these two public health hazards. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Microcystis aeruginosa was monitored in conjunction with a human-associated fecal marker (Bacteroides fragilis group; g-Bfra), microcystin, and water quality parameters at two beaches to evaluate their potential associations. During the summer of 2010, water samples were collected 32 times from both Euclid and Villa Angela beaches. The phycocyanin intergenic spacer (PC-IGS) and the microcystin-producing (mcyA) gene in M. aeruginosa were quantified with qPCR. PC-IGS and mcyA were detected in 50.0% and 39.1% of samples, respectively, and showed increased occurrences after mid-August. Correlation and regression analyses showed that water temperature was negatively correlated with M. aeruginosa markers and microcystin. The densities of mcyA and the g-Bfra were predicted by nitrate, implicating fecal contamination as contributing to the growth of M. aeruginosa by nitrate loading. Microcystin was correlated with mcyA (r = 0.413, p < 0.01), suggesting toxin-producing M. aeruginosa populations may significantly contribute to microcystin production. Additionally, microcystin was correlated with total phosphorus (r = 0.628, p < 0.001), which was higher at Euclid (p < 0.05), possibly contributing to higher microcystin concentrations at Euclid.
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Linking fecal bacteria in rivers to landscape, geochemical, and hydrologic factors and sources at the basin scale. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:10419-24. [PMID: 26240328 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1415836112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Linking fecal indicator bacteria concentrations in large mixed-use watersheds back to diffuse human sources, such as septic systems, has met limited success. In this study, 64 rivers that drain 84% of Michigan's Lower Peninsula were sampled under baseflow conditions for Escherichia coli, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (a human source-tracking marker), landscape characteristics, and geochemical and hydrologic variables. E. coli and B. thetaiotaomicron were routinely detected in sampled rivers and an E. coli reference level was defined (1.4 log10 most probable number⋅100 mL(-1)). Using classification and regression tree analysis and demographic estimates of wastewater treatments per watershed, septic systems seem to be the primary driver of fecal bacteria levels. In particular, watersheds with more than 1,621 septic systems exhibited significantly higher concentrations of B. thetaiotaomicron. This information is vital for evaluating water quality and health implications, determining the impacts of septic systems on watersheds, and improving management decisions for locating, constructing, and maintaining on-site wastewater treatment systems.
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Comparison of Sewage and Animal Fecal Microbiomes by Using Oligotyping Reveals Potential Human Fecal Indicators in Multiple Taxonomic Groups. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:7023-33. [PMID: 26231648 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01524-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Most DNA-based microbial source tracking (MST) approaches target host-associated organisms within the order Bacteroidales, but the gut microbiota of humans and other animals contain organisms from an array of other taxonomic groups that might provide indicators of fecal pollution sources. To discern between human and nonhuman fecal sources, we compared the V6 regions of the 16S rRNA genes detected in fecal samples from six animal hosts to those found in sewage (as a proxy for humans). We focused on 10 abundant genera and used oligotyping, which can detect subtle differences between rRNA gene sequences from ecologically distinct organisms. Our analysis showed clear patterns of differential oligotype distributions between sewage and animal samples. Over 100 oligotypes of human origin occurred preferentially in sewage samples, and 99 human oligotypes were sewage specific. Sequences represented by the sewage-specific oligotypes can be used individually for development of PCR-based assays or together with the oligotypes preferentially associated with sewage to implement a signature-based approach. Analysis of sewage from Spain and Brazil showed that the sewage-specific oligotypes identified in U.S. sewage have the potential to be used as global alternative indicators of human fecal pollution. Environmental samples with evidence of prior human fecal contamination had consistent ratios of sewage signature oligotypes that corresponded to the trends observed for sewage. Our methodology represents a promising approach to identifying new bacterial taxa for MST applications and further highlights the potential of the family Lachnospiraceae to provide human-specific markers. In addition to source tracking applications, the patterns of the fine-scale population structure within fecal taxa suggest a fundamental relationship between bacteria and their hosts.
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Arfken AM, Song B, Mallin MA. Assessing hog lagoon waste contamination in the Cape Fear Watershed using Bacteroidetes 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:7283-93. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6784-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Brooks Y, Aslan A, Tamrakar S, Murali B, Mitchell J, Rose JB. Analysis of the persistence of enteric markers in sewage polluted water on a solid matrix and in liquid suspension. WATER RESEARCH 2015; 76:201-212. [PMID: 25835590 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Revised: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Addressing the persistence of bacterial indicators using qPCR and their respective DNA targets under various conditions is a critical part of risk assessment for water quality monitoring. The goal of this study was to examine the persistence of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) via Escherichia coli uidA, enterococci 23S rDNA and Bacteroides thetataiotaomicron 1,6 alpha mannanase from cells attached to a solid matrix and in suspension. Raw sewage (10% vol/vol) was seeded into autoclaved river water with half of the sample volume in suspension and the other half was filtered onto membranes and stored at 4°, 27° and 37°C for up to 28 days. At various time points, DNA from cells was extracted, markers were quantified, and were fit to linear and non-linear models (first order exponential, biphasic (double) exponential, two-staged, log-logistic, and Gompertz 3-parameter). First order and biphasic exponential models fit 73% of the experimental data. Persistence increased significantly when the cells were stored in an attached state (p < 0.001). Increasing temperature had an inverse effect on persistence for the cells in suspension. Bacterial cells could be stored on a solid matrix at 4°, 27° and 37 °C for up to 27, 18, and 3 days, respectively, with <90% decay. The least stable indicator at 4°, 27° and 37 °C was B. thetataiotaomicron in suspension with T90 = 9.6, 1.8, and 1.1 days, respectively. The most persistent indicator was enterococci, with T90 > 28 days in an attached state at all temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda Brooks
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Asli Aslan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30458, USA
| | - Sushil Tamrakar
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Bharathi Murali
- Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jade Mitchell
- Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Joan B Rose
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Saxena G, Bharagava RN, Kaithwas G, Raj A. Microbial indicators, pathogens and methods for their monitoring in water environment. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2015; 13:319-39. [PMID: 26042966 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2014.275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Water is critical for life, but many people do not have access to clean and safe drinking water and die because of waterborne diseases. The analysis of drinking water for the presence of indicator microorganisms is key to determining microbiological quality and public health safety. However, drinking water-related illness outbreaks are still occurring worldwide. Moreover, different indicator microorganisms are being used in different countries as a tool for the microbiological examination of drinking water. Therefore, it becomes very important to understand the potentials and limitations of indicator microorganisms before implementing the guidelines and regulations designed by various regulatory agencies. This review provides updated information on traditional and alternative indicator microorganisms with merits and demerits in view of their role in managing the waterborne health risks as well as conventional and molecular methods proposed for monitoring of indicator and pathogenic microorganisms in the water environment. Further, the World Health Organization (WHO) water safety plan is emphasized in order to develop the better approaches designed to meet the requirements of safe drinking water supply for all mankind, which is one of the major challenges of the 21st century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Saxena
- Department of Environmental Microbiology (DEM), School for Environmental Sciences (SES), Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226 025 UP, India E-mail:
| | - Ram Naresh Bharagava
- Department of Environmental Microbiology (DEM), School for Environmental Sciences (SES), Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226 025 UP, India E-mail:
| | - Gaurav Kaithwas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPS), School for Biosciences and Biotechnology (SBBT), Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226 025 UP, India
| | - Abhay Raj
- Environmental Microbiology Section, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Post Box 80, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226 001 UP, India
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