scholarly journals Human-Associated Bacteroides spp. and Human Polyomaviruses as Microbial Source Tracking Markers in Hawaii

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (22) ◽  
pp. 6757-6767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Kirs ◽  
Roberto A. Caffaro-Filho ◽  
Mayee Wong ◽  
Valerie J. Harwood ◽  
Philip Moravcik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Decay Rates ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Recreational Water ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sewage Contamination

ABSTRACTIdentification of sources of fecal contaminants is needed to (i) determine the health risk associated with recreational water use and (ii) implement appropriate management practices to mitigate this risk and protect the environment. This study evaluated human-associatedBacteroidesspp. (HF183TaqMan) and human polyomavirus (HPyV) markers for host sensitivity and specificity using human and animal fecal samples collected in Hawaii. The decay rates of those markers and indicator bacteria were identified in marine and freshwater microcosms exposed and not exposed to sunlight, followed by field testing of the usability of the molecular markers. Both markers were strongly associated with sewage, although the cross-reactivity of the HF183TaqMan (also present in 82% of canine [n= 11], 30% of mongoose [n= 10], and 10% of feline [n= 10] samples) needs to be considered. Concentrations of HF183TaqMan in human fecal samples exceeded those in cross-reactive animals at least 1,000-fold. In the absence of sunlight, the decay rates of both markers were comparable to the die-off rates of enterococci in experimental freshwater and marine water microcosms. However, in sunlight, the decay rates of both markers were significantly lower than the decay rate of enterococci. While both markers have their individual limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity, these limitations can be mitigated by using both markers simultaneously; ergo, this study supports the concurrent use of HF183TaqMan and HPyV markers for the detection of sewage contamination in coastal and inland waters in Hawaii.IMPORTANCEThis study represents an in-depth characterization of microbial source tracking (MST) markers in Hawaii. The distribution and concentrations of HF183TaqMan and HPyV markers in human and animal fecal samples and in wastewater, coupled with decay data obtained from sunlight-exposed and unexposed microcosms, support the concurrent application of HF183TaqMan and HPyV markers for sewage contamination detection in Hawaii waters. Both markers are more conservative and more specific markers of sewage than fecal indicator bacteria (enterococci andEscherichia coli). Analysis of HF183TaqMan (or newer derivatives) is recommended for inclusion in future epidemiological studies concerned with beach water quality, while better concentration techniques are needed for HPyV. Such epidemiological studies can be used to develop new recreational water quality criteria, which will provide direct information on the absence or presence of sewage contamination in water samples as well as reliable measurements of the risk of waterborne disease transmission to swimmers.

scholarly journals Association of Fecal Indicator Bacteria with Human Viruses and Microbial Source Tracking Markers at Coastal Beaches Impacted by Nonpoint Source Pollution

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (18) ◽  
pp. 6423-6432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon McQuaig ◽  
John Griffith ◽  
Valerie J. Harwood
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Human Polyomavirus ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTWater quality was assessed at two marine beaches in California by measuring the concentrations of culturable fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and by library-independent microbial source tracking (MST) methods targeting markers of human-associated microbes (human polyomavirus [HPyV] PCR and quantitative PCR,Methanobrevibacter smithiiPCR, andBacteroidessp. strain HF183 PCR) and a human pathogen (adenovirus by nested PCR). FIB levels periodically exceeded regulatory thresholds at Doheny and Avalon Beaches for enterococci (28.5% and 31.7% of samples, respectively) and fecal coliforms (20% and 5.8%, respectively). Adenoviruses were detected at four of five sites at Doheny Beach and were correlated with detection of HPyVs and humanBacteroidesHF183; however, adenoviruses were not detected at Avalon Beach. The most frequently detected human source marker at both beaches wasBacteroidesHF183, which was detected in 27% of samples. Correlations between FIBs and human markers were much more frequent at Doheny Beach than at Avalon Beach; e.g., adenovirus was correlated with HPyVs and HF183. Human sewage markers and adenoviruses were routinely detected in samples meeting FIB regulatory standards. The toolbox approach of FIB measurement coupled with analysis of several MST markers targeting human pathogens used here demonstrated that human sewage is at least partly responsible for the degradation of water quality, particularly at Doheny Beach, and resulted in a more definitive assessment of recreational water quality and human health risk than reliance on FIB concentrations alone could have provided.

scholarly journals Decay of Fecal Indicator Bacterial Populations and Bovine-Associated Source-Tracking Markers in Freshly Deposited Cow Pats

2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adelumola Oladeinde ◽  
Thomas Bohrmann ◽  
Kelvin Wong ◽  
S. T. Purucker ◽  
Ken Bradshaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decay Rate ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Decay Rates ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Decay Dynamic

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the survival of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and microbial source-tracking (MST) markers is critical to developing pathogen fate and transport models. Although pathogen survival in water microcosms and manure-amended soils is well documented, little is known about their survival in intact cow pats deposited on pastures. We conducted a study to determine decay rates of fecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coliand enterococci) and bovine-associated MST markers (CowM3, Rum-2-bac, and GenBac) in 18 freshly deposited cattle feces from three farms in northern Georgia. Samples were randomly assigned to shaded or unshaded treatment in order to determine the effects of sunlight, moisture, and temperature on decay rates. A general linear model (GLM) framework was used to determine decay rates. Shading significantly decreased the decay rate of theE. colipopulation (P< 0.0001), with a rate of −0.176 day−1for the shaded treatment and −0.297 day−1for the unshaded treatment. Shading had no significant effect on decay rates of enterococci, CowM3, Rum-2-bac, and GenBac (P> 0.05). In addition,E. colipopulations showed a significant growth rate (0.881 day−1) in the unshaded samples during the first 5 days after deposition. UV-B was the most important parameter explaining the decay rate ofE. colipopulations. A comparison of the decay behaviors among all markers indicated that enterococcus concentrations exhibit a better correlation with the MST markers thanE. coliconcentrations. Our results indicate that bovine-associated MST markers can survive in cow pats for at least 1 month after excretion, and although their decay dynamic differs from the decay dynamic ofE. colipopulations, they seem to be reliable markers to use in combination with enterococci to monitor fecal pollution from pasture lands.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Bovine Feces-Associated Microbial Source Tracking Markers and Their Correlations with Fecal Indicators and Zoonotic Pathogens in a Brisbane, Australia, Reservoir

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (8) ◽  
pp. 2682-2691 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Ahmed ◽  
T. Sritharan ◽  
A. Palmer ◽  
J. P. S. Sidhu ◽  
S. Toze
Keyword(s):  
Host Specificity ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Fecal Pollution ◽  
Decay Rates ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Zoonotic Pathogens ◽  
Maximum Value ◽  
Bovine Feces

ABSTRACTThis study was aimed at evaluating the host specificity and host sensitivity of two bovine feces-associated bacterial (BacCow-UCD and cowM3) and one viral [bovine adenovirus (B-AVs)] microbial source tracking (MST) markers by screening 130 fecal and wastewater samples from 10 target and nontarget host groups in southeast Queensland, Australia. In addition, 36 water samples were collected from a reservoir and tested for the occurrence of all three bovine feces-associated markers along with fecal indicator bacteria (FIB),Campylobacterspp.,Escherichia coliO157, andSalmonellaspp. The overall host specificity values of the BacCow-UCD, cowM3, and B-AVs markers to differentiate between bovine and other nontarget host groups were 0.66, 0.88, and 1.00, respectively (maximum value of 1.00). The overall host sensitivity values of these markers, however, in composite bovine wastewater and individual bovine fecal DNA samples were 0.93, 0.90, and 0.60, respectively (maximum value of 1.00). Among the 36 water samples tested, 56%, 22%, and 6% samples were PCR positive for the BacCow-UCD, cowM3, and B-AVs markers, respectively. Among the 36 samples tested, 50% and 14% samples were PCR positive for theCampylobacter16S rRNA andE. coliO157rfbEgenes, respectively. Based on the results, we recommend that multiple bovine feces-associated markers be used if possible for bovine fecal pollution tracking. Nonetheless, the presence of the multiple bovine feces-associated markers along with the presence of potential zoonotic pathogens indicates bovine fecal pollution in the reservoir water samples. Further research is required to understand the decay rates of these markers in relation to FIB and zoonotic pathogens.

Sources of faecal indicator bacteria in a brackish, tropical stream and their impact on recreational water quality

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 179-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. M. Roll ◽  
R. S. Fujioka
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Source Monitoring ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Recreational Water ◽  
Recreational Water Quality ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Sewage Contamination

This study assessed the contribution of water from a stream on the microbial quality of a swimming beach. The faecal indicator bacterial concentrations/100mL in Kaelepulu Stream greatly exceeded the three USEPA recreational water quality standards (200 faecal coliform, 126 E. coli, 33 enterococci). The primary sources for these indicator bacteria were determined to be environmental/non-point sources (tributary streams, storm drains, duck faeces, soil, rain). Sewage discharge is another, although sporadic source. Monitoring waters for C. perfringens was the most reliable indicator of sewage contamination primarily because soil is not a major source of this bacterium. Water from this inland system was a source of faecal indicator recovered from shoreline water samples obtained from Kailua Beach, one of the most popular beaches in the state of Hawaii.

scholarly journals Relative Decay of Bacteroidales Microbial Source Tracking Markers and Cultivated Escherichia coli in Freshwater Microcosms

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 3255-3262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda K. Dick ◽  
Erin A. Stelzer ◽  
Erin E. Bertke ◽  
Denise L. Fong ◽  
Donald M. Stoeckel
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Decay Rates ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Gene Markers ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Log Reduction

ABSTRACT Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), commonly used to regulate sanitary water quality, cannot discriminate among sources of contamination. The use of alternative quantitative PCR (qPCR) methods for monitoring fecal contamination or microbial source tracking requires an understanding of relationships with cultivated FIB, as contamination ages under various conditions in the environment. In this study, the decay rates of three Bacteroidales 16S rRNA gene markers (AllBac for general contamination and qHF183 and BacHum for human-associated contamination) were compared with the decay rate of cultivated Escherichia coli in river water microcosms spiked with human wastewater. The following five sets of microcosms were monitored over 11 days: control, artificial sunlight, sediment exposure, reduced temperature, and no autochthonous predation. Decay was characterized by estimation of the time needed to produce a 2-log reduction (t 99). No treatment-associated differences in the decay of the 4 targets were evident except with reduced predation, where E. coli, qHF183, and BacHum markers had lower levels of decay by day 3. However, there were substantial target-associated differences. Decay curves for the AllBac marker indicated a larger persistent population than those of the other targets. Exposure to sunlight, sediment, and reduced predation resulted in more rapid decay of the human-associated markers relative to cultivable E. coli, but there were no differences in t 99 values among the 4 targets under control conditions or at reduced temperatures. Further evaluation of epidemiological relationships will be needed in order to relate the markers directly to health risk. These findings suggest that the tested human-associated markers can complement E. coli as indicators of the human impact on sanitary water quality under the constrained conditions described in this paper.

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