Identification of Fecal Escherichia colifrom Humans and Animals by Ribotyping

ABSTRACT Fecal pollution of water resources is an environmental problem of increasing importance. Identification of individual host sources of fecal Escherichia coli, such as humans, pets, production animals, and wild animals, is prerequisite to formulation of remediation plans. Ribotyping has been used to distinguish fecalE. coli of human origin from pooled fecal E. coli isolates of nonhuman origin. We have extended application of this technique to distinguishing fecal E. coli ribotype patterns from human and seven individual nonhuman hosts. Classification accuracy was best when the analysis was limited to three host sources. Application of this technique to identification of host sources of fecal coliforms in water could assist in formulation of pollution reduction plans.

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Campylobacter in waterborne epidemics in Finland

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2004.0026 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 39-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M.-L. Hänninen ◽

R. Kärenlampi

Keyword(s):

Campylobacter Jejuni ◽

Causative Agent ◽

Water Samples ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Risk Level ◽

Source Water ◽

Indicator Organisms ◽

Faecal Contamination ◽

E Coli ◽

July August September

The sources for drinking water in Finland are surface water, groundwater or artificially recharged groundwater. There are approximately 1400 groundwater plants in Finland that are microbiologically at a high risk level because in most cases they do not use any disinfection treatment. Campylobacter jejuni has caused waterborne epidemics in several countries. Since the middle of the 1980s, C. jejuni has been identified as the causative agent in several waterborne outbreaks in Finland. Between 1998 and 2001, C. jejuni or C. upsaliensis caused seven reported waterborne epidemics. In these epidemics approximately 4000 people acquired the illness. Most of the outbreaks occurred in July, August , September or October. In four of them source water and net water samples were analysed for total coliforms or fecal coliforms, E. coli and campylobacters. We showed that large volumes of water samples in studies of indicator organisms (up to 5000 ml) and campylobacters (4000–20,000 ml) increased the possibility to identify faecal contamination and to detect the causative agent from suspected sources.

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Water Quality of Swimming Pools in Jerusalem

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1993.0562 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 27 (7-8) ◽

pp. 287-294 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

S. Lerman ◽

O. Lev ◽

A. Adin ◽

E. Katzenelson

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽

Swimming Pools ◽

Indicator Organisms ◽

Indicator Microorganisms ◽

E Coli ◽

Safe Water ◽

Indirect Information

The Israel Ministry of Health is now revising its regulations for the assurance of safe water quality in public swimming pools. Since it is not possible to monitor each of the pathogenic microorganisms, it is often recommended to monitor indicator bacteria which provide indirect information on the water quality in the swimming pool. Three indicator microorganisms are often recommended: coliform counts (total coliforms, fecal coliforms or E. Coli), staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa. A four year survey of the water quality of swimming pools in the Jerusalem District was conducted in order to determine whether the monitoring of all three indicators is necessary to assure safe water quality or is it sufficient to monitor only a single microorganism. A statistical analysis, conducted by using several different statistical techniques, reveals that the populations of the three indicator organisms are significantly interdependent but the correlations between each pair of these indicators are not sufficient to base a prediction of any of the organisms based on the measurements of the others. Therefore, it is concluded that monitoring of all three indicators should be recommended in order to provide an adequate picture of the water quality in swimming pools.

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Microbiological performance and salmonella dynamics in a wastewater depuration pond system of southeastern spain

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1995.0492 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 31 (12) ◽

pp. 239-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ana Emparanza-Knörr ◽

Francisco Torrella

Keyword(s):

Fecal Coliform ◽

No Reduction ◽

Agar Medium ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Total Coliform ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Selective Media ◽

E Coli ◽

The Village ◽

Final Effluent

The Salmonella presence and the microbiological quality indicators, total and fecal coliforms and coliphages of E. coli C, have been studied in a overloaded wastewater lagoon system treating urban wastewatrers of the village of Guardamar del Segura (Alicante, Spain). Classical microbiological technology to detect salmonellae was used, including pre-enrichment, enrichment, selective media plating and biochemical and serological confirmation. Water was physicochemically characterized according to COD, SS, temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen. The selective migration step through Rappaport-Vassiliadis semisolid agar medium was essential for the consistent detection of Salmonella in the different lagoon effluents. Total and fecal coliform levels of up to 105-106 MPN/100 ml were detected in the final effluent. High coliphage concentrations of 103-104 pfu/ml were also found in the effluent waters. Salmonella was always detected in 100 ml samples and eventually reached an order of value of 103 MPN/100 ml. Total coliform reduction was higher in the anaerobic ponds whereas fecal coliforms were more efficiently eliminated in the facultative (mostly “anoxic”) lagoons. Coliphage reduction was higher in the facultative lagoons when compared to the anaerobic ponds. On many occasions, no reduction or eventual increment of the concentration of salmonellae was detected in the effluents from the anaerobic ponds compared to concentrations of the patohogen in the influent raw wasterwaters. The possibility exists for a capacity of Salmonella to multiply in the anoxic phase of the wastewater treatment, but the presence of microorganisms in raw sewage waters which could maskSalmonella detection with the enrichment methodology employed cannot be ruled out.

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Ultrafiltration Process in Disinfection and Advanced Treatment of Tertiary Treated Wastewater

Membranes ◽

10.3390/membranes11030221 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 221

Author(s):

Rafał Tytus Bray ◽

Katarzyna Jankowska ◽

Eliza Kulbat ◽

Aneta Łuczkiewicz ◽

Aleksandra Sokołowska

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽

Microscopic Analysis ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Treated Wastewater ◽

Chemical Parameters ◽

Virus Particles ◽

E Coli ◽

The One ◽

Physical And Chemical

The paper presents the results of research on the use of ultrafiltration, using membranes of 200 and 400 kDa separation, for disinfection of municipal treated wastewater. The research was conducted on a fractional technical scale using real municipal treated wastewater from two large wastewater treatment plants treating most of the wastewater over the one-million polycentric Gdańsk agglomeration (1.2 million inhabitants). UF 200 kDa and UF 400 kDa processes enabled further improvement of the physical and chemical parameters of treated wastewater. Total phosphorus (to below 0.2 mg/L–UF 200 kDa, 0.13 mg/L–UF 400 kDa) and turbid substances (to below 0.2 mg/L, both membranes) were removed in the highest degree. COD was reduced efficiently (to below 25.6 mgO2/L–UF 200 kDa, 26.8 mgO2/L–UF 400 kDa), while total nitrogen was removed to a small extent (to 7.12 mg/L–UF 200 kDa and 5.7 mg/L–UF 400 kDa. Based on the reduction of indicator bacteria; fecal coliforms including E. coli (FC) and fecal enterococci (FE) it was found that the ultrafiltration is an effective method of disinfection. Not much indicator bacterial were observed in the permeate after processes (UF 200 kDa; FC—5 CFU/L; FE—1 CFU/L and UF 400 kDa; FC—70 CFU/L; FE—10 CFU/L. However, microscopic analysis of prokaryotic cells and virus particles showed their presence after the application of both membrane types; TCN 3.0 × 102 cells/mL–UF 200 kDa, 5.0 × 103 cells/mL–UF 400 kDa, VP 1.0 × 105/mL. The presence of potentially pathogenic, highly infectious virus particles means that ultrafiltration cannot be considered a sufficient disinfection method for treated wastewater diverted for reuse or discharged from high load wastewater treatment plants to recreational areas. For full microbiological safety it would be advisable to apply an additional disinfection method (e.g., ozonation).

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Multidrug Resistance Dissemination in Escherichia coli Isolated from Wild Animals: Bacterial Clones and Plasmid Complicity

Microbiology Research ◽

10.3390/microbiolres12010009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 123-137

Author(s):

Carolina Sabença ◽

Gilberto Igrejas ◽

Patrícia Poeta ◽

Frédéric Robin ◽

Richard Bonnet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Generation Cephalosporin ◽

Wild Animals ◽

Variable Regions ◽

E Coli ◽

Wild Fauna ◽

Long Read ◽

Sequence Types ◽

Animal Isolates

Objectives. Epidemiological data concerning third-generation cephalosporin (3GC) resistance in wild fauna are scarce. The aim of this study was to characterize the resistance genes, their genetic context, and clonal relatedness in 17 Escherichia coli resistant to 3GC isolated from wild animals. Methods. The isolates were characterized by short-read whole genome sequencing, and long-read sequencing was used for the hybrid assembly of plasmid sequences. Results. The 3GC resistance gene most identified in the isolates was the extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-encoding gene blaCTX-M-1 (82.3%), followed by blaCTX-M-32 (5.9%), blaCTX-M-14 (5.9%), and blaSHV-12 (5.9%). E. coli isolates mainly belonged to the sequence types (STs) rarely reported from humans. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based typing showed that most E. coli genomes from wild animals (wild boars, birds of prey, and buzzards) formed clonal clusters (<5 SNPs), showing a clonal dissemination crossing species boundaries. blaCTX-M-1-harboring IncI1-ST3 plasmid was the predominant ESBL-encoding plasmid (76.4%) in wild animal isolates. Plasmid comparison revealed a 110-kb self-transferable plasmid consisting of a conserved backbone and two variable regions involved in antimicrobial resistance and in interaction with recipient cells during conjugation. Conclusion. Our results highlighted the unexpected clonal dissemination of blaCTX-M-1-encoding clones and the complicity of IncI1-ST3 plasmid in the spread of blaCTX-M-1 within wild fauna.

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Comparison of Fecal Coliform Agar and Violet Red Bile Lactose Agar for Fecal Coliform Enumeration in Foods

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.68.4.1631-1638.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 1631-1638 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

A. Leclercq ◽

C. Wanegue ◽

P. Baylac

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Fecal Coliform ◽

Food Samples ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Direct Plating ◽

Hafnia Alvei ◽

E Coli ◽

Plating Method ◽

Mashed Potatoes

ABSTRACT A 24-h direct plating method for fecal coliform enumeration with a resuscitation step (preincubation for 2 h at 37 ± 1°C and transfer to 44 ± 1°C for 22 h) using fecal coliform agar (FCA) was compared with the 24-h standardized violet red bile lactose agar (VRBL) method. FCA and VRBL have equivalent specificities and sensitivities, except for lactose-positive non-fecal coliforms such as Hafnia alvei, which could form typical colonies on FCA and VRBL. Recovery of cold-stressed Escherichia coli in mashed potatoes on FCA was about 1 log unit lower than that with VRBL. When the FCA method was compared with standard VRBL for enumeration of fecal coliforms, based on counting carried out on 170 different food samples, results were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Based on 203 typical identified colonies selected as found on VRBL and FCA, the latter medium appears to allow the enumeration of more true fecal coliforms and has higher performance in certain ways (specificity, sensitivity, and negative and positive predictive values) than VRBL. Most colonies clearly identified on both media were E. coli and H. alvei, a non-fecal coliform. Therefore, the replacement of fecal coliform enumeration by E. coli enumeration to estimate food sanitary quality should be recommended.

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Diversity of fecal coliforms and their antimicrobial resistance patterns in wastewater treatment model plant

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2010.015 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 61 (6) ◽

pp. 1383-1392 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

A. Łuczkiewicz ◽

S. Fudala-Książek ◽

K. Jankowska ◽

B. Quant ◽

K. Olańczuk-Neyman

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Selective Medium ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Treated Wastewater ◽

Treatment Model ◽

E Coli ◽

Model Plant ◽

Resistance Patterns ◽

Activated Sludge Processes

The occurrence of resistance patterns among wastewater fecal coliforms was determined in the study. Susceptibility of the isolates was tested against 19 antimicrobial agents: aminoglycosides, aztreonam, carbapenems, cephalosporines, β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors, penicillines, tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and fluoroquinolones. Additionally the removal of resistant isolates was evaluated in the laboratory-scale wastewater treatment model plant (M-WWTP), continuously supplied with the wastewater obtained from the full-scale WWTP. Number of fecal coliforms in raw (after mechanical treatment) and treated wastewater, as well as in aerobic chamber effluent was determined using selective medium. The selected strains were identified and examined for antibiotic resistance using Phoenix Automated Microbiology System (BD Biosciences, USA). The strains were identified as Escherichia coli (n = 222), Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. ozaenae (n = 9), and Pantoea agglomerans (n = 1). The isolate of P. agglomerans as well as 48% of E. coli isolates were sensitive to all antimicrobials tested. The most frequent resistance patterns were found for ampicillin: 100% of K. pneumoniae ssp. ozaenae and 41% of E. coli isolates. Among E. coli isolates 12% was regarded as multiple antimicrobial resistant (MAR). In the studied M-WWTP, the applied activated sludge processes reduced considerably the number of fecal coliforms, but increased the ratio of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli isolates to sensitive ones, especially among strains with MAR patterns.

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Evaluation of water quality parameters for monitoring natural, urban, and agricultural areas in the Brazilian Cerrado

Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia ◽

10.1590/s2179-975x2012005000009 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 307-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Daphne Heloisa de Freitas Muniz ◽

Aline Silva Moraes ◽

Ingrid de Souza Freire ◽

Carlos José Domingos da Cruz ◽

Jorge Enoch Furquim Werneck Lima ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Sewage Treatment Plant ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Water Hardness ◽

Federal District ◽

Ceriodaphnia Dubia ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Total Hardness ◽

E Coli ◽

Ecotoxicological Evaluation

INTRODUCTION: Brazil's Federal District (FD) has seen steep population growth in recent years, and this has increased demand for high-quality water. AIM: The present work aims to evaluate the quality of surface water from two water bodies in the FD at six sampling points, three of which are in the Sobradinho River (the receiving body of a sewage treatment plant effluent) and three in the Jardim River (located in an agricultural region). METHODS: Analyses were carried out every thirty days, for twelve months, covering rainy and dry seasons. Parameters were analyzed such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, turbidity, total hardness, main ions, total and fecal coliforms (E. coli) in water. Ecotoxicological evaluation was also performed, using the micro-crustacean Ceriodaphnia dubia. RESULTS: Data of physical and chemical determinations showed DO, conductivity, Cl-, NO3-, SO4(2-) and Na+ to be important in indicating contamination by urban effluents. On the subject of biological parameters - E. coli and ecotoxicological evaluation - the former was seen to be more effective in the urban area. However, in the countryside, the assay with C. dubia proved to be the most sensitive, although less than ideal, because the organism is very sensitive to low water hardness. CONCLUSIONS: The fecal coliform indicator (E. coli) was the most effective one for comparing water quality in the two basins, mainly for the urbanized one, while ecotoxicity assays with C. dubia were harmed by the natural chemical composition of the water.

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Distribution of Coliphages in Various Foods

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-49.12.944 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 49 (12) ◽

pp. 944-951 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

J. E. KENNEDY ◽

C. I. WEI ◽

J. L. OBLINGER

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Food Samples ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Bacterial Indicators ◽

Processed Meats ◽

E Coli ◽

Plate Counts ◽

The Relationship

The distribution of coliphages in various foods and the relationship between the incidences of coliphages and bacterial indicators were investigated. A total of 120 food samples comprising twelve products and including fresh meats, shellfish, vegetables and processed meats, were analyzed for indigenous coliphages using Escherichia coli hosts C, C-3000 and B. Bacterial analyses included enumeration of E. coli, fecal coliforms and coliforms, as well as aerobic plate counts and Salmonella analyses. Coliphages were detected (≥10 PFU/100 g) in 56% of samples and eleven of twelve products. Coliphages, E. coli, fecal coliforms and coliforms were recovered at a level of at least 30 organisms per 100 g in 43, 43, 68 and 81% of samples, with overall mean recoveries of 13, 19, 93 and 4300 organisms/100 g, respectively. Highest and lowest recoveries of coliphages and E. coli were from fresh meats and vacuum-packaged processed meats, respectively. Significant nonparametric correlations between coliphages, E. coli, fecal coliforms and coliforms were found among all food samples.

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