scholarly journals Assessment of burden of virus agents in an urban sewage treatment plant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tulio Machado Fumian ◽  
Carmen Baur Vieira ◽  
José Paulo Gagliardi Leite ◽  
Marize Pereira Miagostovich
Keyword(s):  
Rna Virus ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Human Adenovirus ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Nucleotide Sequencing ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Virus Contamination

Sewage discharge is considered to be the main source of virus contamination in aquatic environments. There is no correlation between the presence of viruses and the presence of fecal coliforms in water; therefore virological markers are needed when monitoring contamination. This study investigates DNA and RNA virus concentrations in wastewater and evaluates a potential virus marker of human contamination. Influent and effluent samples were collected twice a month throughout a 1-year period. Viruses were detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction protocols; nucleotide sequencing was carried out for virus genotyping. Human adenovirus (HAdV) and polyomavirus JC (JCPyV) were the most prevalent viruses found in influent samples (100%) with a virus load that ranged from 106 to 105 genome copies per liter (gc l–1). Norovirus genogroup II (NoV GII) and human astrovirus (HAstV) were less prevalent, and ranged from 104 to 103gc l–1. Quantitative data on virus profiles in wastewaters stress the high level of rotavirus species A environmental dissemination and address the potential of HAdV as a useful virological marker of virus contamination in aquatic environments. This study corroborates other studies performed in developed countries on DNA viruses as good markers of human fecal contamination.

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

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-317 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Prevalence of the stx2 Gene in Coliform Populations from Aquatic Environments

2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 3535-3540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Garc�a-Aljaro ◽  
Maite Muniesa ◽  
Juan Jofre ◽  
Anicet R. Blanch
Keyword(s):  
Fecal Coliform ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Coliform Bacteria ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
E Coli

ABSTRACT Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains are human pathogens linked to hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The major virulence factors of these strains are Shiga toxins Stx1 and Stx2. The majority of the genes coding for these toxins are borne by bacteriophages. Free Stx2-encoding bacteriophages have been found in aquatic environments, but there is limited information about the lysogenic strains and bacteria present in the environment that are susceptible to phage infection. The aim of this work was to study the prevalence and the distribution of the stx 2 gene in coliform bacteria in sewage samples of different origins. The presence of the stx 2 gene was monitored every 2 weeks over a 1-year period in a municipal sewage treatment plant. A mean value of 102 genes/ml was observed without significant variation during the study period. This concentration was of the same order of magnitude in raw municipal sewage of various origins and in animal wastewater from several slaughterhouses. A total of 138 strains carrying the stx 2 gene were isolated by colony hybridization. This procedure detected approximately 1 gene-carrying colony per 1,000 fecal coliform colonies in municipal sewage and around 1 gene-carrying colony per 100 fecal coliform colonies in animal wastewaters. Most of the isolates belonged to E. coli serotypes other than E. coli O157, suggesting a low prevalence of strains of this serotype carrying the stx 2 gene in the wastewater studied.

Media Evaluation and Behavior of Clostridium Perfringens as an Adjunct Indicator of Quality in Shellfish Growing Areas

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 63-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Abeyta ◽  
M. M. Wekell ◽  
C. A. Kaysner ◽  
R. F. Stott ◽  
E. V. Raghubeer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Fecal Contamination ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Fecal Streptococci ◽  
Fish Gut Contents ◽  
Baseline Levels

In numerous studies of estuaries of the West Coast of the United States, we have recovered C.perfringens, total and fecal coliforms, and fecal streptococci from shellfish, sediments and water. In some areas closed to shellfish harvest and known to be subject to fecal contamination, C.perfrinqens were recovered regularly from shellfish and sediments. For example, in one estuary, prior to sampling, a local sewage treatment plant (STP) with a design capacity of 1 million gallons per day (MGD) was receiving high flows of raw sewage of 3.02 MGD. This resulted in an overflow or bypass of raw sewage into the estuary. Fecal coliform and fecal streptococci levels measured in impacted oysters showed an increase during the initial stages of the bypass and decreased to baseline levels by the 5th day of sampling. C.perfringens levels increased from 36 MPN/100 g and reached maximum levels in oysters (4600 MPN/100 g) on the 6th day when the sewage flow was returning to normal, but still over capacity (1.8 MGD) and sewage was being discharged into the bay. At this time, fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci counts were near baseline levels (120 and 50 organisms/100 g respectively). Therefore, at the later stages of the sewage bypass, C.perfrinqens was a useful indicator of fecal contamination in oysters. The most recent and promising method for the enumeration of C.perfrinqens in all types of environmental samples is the Iron Milk Method (IMM). The method has been tested with water, marine and freshwater sediments, soil, fish gut contents and foods, and has been shown to enumerate C.perfrinqens without the need for confirmation. The IMM uses a 3 tube MPN procedure with each tube containing 10 ml of homogenized milk plus 0.2 g iron powder per tube. Inoculated tubes are incubated for 16-18 hrs at 45 °C. The presence of the classical stormy fermentation signifies a positive tube. Numbers of C.perfrinqens in samples are rapidly measured.

Protecting aquatic organisms from chemicals: the harsh realities

2009 ◽  
Vol 367 (1904) ◽  
pp. 3877-3894 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Sumpter
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Transformation Products ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Agricultural Runoff ◽  
Freshwater Environment ◽  
Freshwater Organisms

Tens of thousands of man-made chemicals are in everyday use in developed countries. A high proportion of these, or their transformation products, probably reach the aquatic environment. A considerable amount is known about the environmental concentrations of some of these chemicals (such as metals), especially the regulated ones, but little or nothing is known about the majority. In densely populated countries, most or all rivers will receive both diffuse (e.g. agricultural runoff) and point source (e.g. sewage treatment plant effluent) inputs, and hence be contaminated with complex, ill-defined mixtures of chemicals. Most freshwater organisms will be exposed, to varying degrees, to this contamination. The number of species exposed is in the thousands, and quite possibly tens of thousands. Little is known about whether or not these species are adversely affected by the chemicals present in their environment. Often it is not even known what species are present, let alone whether they are affected by the chemicals present. In a few high-profile cases (e.g. tributyl tin causing imposex in molluscs and oestrogens ‘feminizing’ male fish), chemicals have undoubtedly adversely affected aquatic species, occasionally leading to population crashes. Whether or not other chemicals are affecting less visible species (such as most invertebrates) is largely unknown. It is possible that only very few chemicals in the freshwater environment are adversely affecting wildlife, but it is equally possible that some effects of chemicals are, as yet, undiscovered (and may remain so). Nor it is clear which chemicals may pose the greatest risk to aquatic organisms. All these uncertainties leave much to chance, yet designing a regulatory system that would better protect aquatic organisms from chemicals is difficult. A more flexible and intelligent strategy may improve the current situation. Finally, the risk due to chemicals is put into context with the many other threats, such as alien species and new diseases that undoubtedly can pose significant risks to aquatic ecosystems.

Contaminants of Emerging Concern

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Laura Kuskopf ◽  
Madoc Sheehan ◽  
Anna Whelan
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Contaminants Of Emerging Concern ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plants ◽  
Sampling Locations ◽  
Qualitative Decision

There are potentially many thousands of municipally derived contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) present in discharged wastewaters that may cause adverse effects in receiving aquatic environments. Wastewater authorities, therefore, may face the momentous task of investigating these compounds with little or no prior CEC data for their sewage treatment plants (STPs). Such is the case for the Cleveland Bay Sewage Treatment Plant (CBSTP). To evaluate the potential environmental risk posed by municipal CECs, it is first necessary to understand which CECs are present in discharging wastewater, how they will be sampled and quantified, and which CECs are the most concerning regarding ecological risk. A Sampling Analysis and Quality Plan (SAQP) is a valuable tool that can be used to critically review and detail the strategy that will be adopted to achieve these outcomes. As such, this paper describes the development of a SAQP for screening wastewaters released from the CBSTP into Cleveland Bay as part of a preliminary CEC assessment. This paper describes the qualitative decision-making process employed to shortlist CECs into those perceived to pose the greatest ecological risk. In addition, the rationale and methods adopted to determine sampling locations and frequency are described.

scholarly journals Assessment of enteric viruses in a sewage treatment plant located in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil

2012 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 839-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD. Vecchia ◽  
JD. Fleck ◽  
M. Kluge ◽  
J. Comerlato ◽  
B. Bergamaschi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Porto Alegre ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Viral Genomes ◽  
Treated Effluent

In order to verify the microbial quality of the influents and effluents of one STP from southern Brazil, an eight-month survey was conducted to examine the presence of total and fecal coliforms and of adenovirus (HAdV), enterovirus (EV), genogroup A rotaviruses (GARV) and Torque teno virus (TTV), in treated effluent samples from São João/Navegantes STP, Porto Alegre (Brazil). A total of 16 samples were collected, eight of influent (raw sewage, prior to treatment), and the other eight of the effluent (post-treatment sewage). Total and fecal coliform levels ranging from 3.6 × 10(4) to 4.4 × 10(7) MPN/100 mL and 2.9 × 10³ to 1.7 × 10(7) MPN/100 mL, were detected in all samples. In raw sewage, HAdV (25%) and GARV (28.6%) viral genomes were detected. The analysis of effluent samples revealed the presence of HAdV (50%), EV (37.5%), and TTV (12.5%) genomic fragments. All samples, regardless of the month analysed, presented detection of a least one virus genus, except for in April. Higher virus detection rates were observed in treated sewage samples (62.5%), and in 80% of them (effluent positive samples) HAdV was detected. Results showed that improvements in sewage monitoring and treatment processes are necessary to reduce the viral and bacterial load on the environment in southern Brazil. To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first study showing the monitoring of viral genomes in influent and effluent samples from a STP located in Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), southern Brazil.

scholarly journals Prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in bacterial communities associated with Cladophora glomerata mats along the nearshore of Lake Ontario

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 439-449
Author(s):  
Michael Ibsen ◽  
Dinesh M. Fernando ◽  
Ayush Kumar ◽  
Andrea E. Kirkwood
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Bacterial Abundance ◽  
Coastal Wetland ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Lake Ontario ◽  
Cladophora Glomerata

The alga Cladophora glomerata can erupt in nuisance blooms throughout the lower Great Lakes. Since bacterial abundance increases with the emergence and decay of Cladophora, we investigated the prevalence of antibiotic resistance (ABR) in Cladophora-associated bacterial communities up-gradient and down-gradient from a large sewage treatment plant (STP) on Lake Ontario. Although STPs are well-known sources of ABR, we also expected detectable ABR from up-gradient wetland communities, since they receive surface run-off from urban and agricultural sources. Statistically significant differences in aquatic bacterial abundance and ABR were found between down-gradient beach samples and up-gradient coastal wetland samples (ANOVA, Holm–Sidak test, p < 0.05). Decaying and free-floating Cladophora sampled near the STP had the highest bacterial densities overall, including on ampicillin- and vancomycin-treated plates. However, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of the ABR genes ampC, tetA, tetB, and vanA from environmental communities showed a different pattern. Some of the highest ABR gene levels occurred at the 2 coastal wetland sites (vanA). Overall, bacterial ABR profiles from environmental samples were distinguishable between living and decaying Cladophora, inferring that Cladophora may control bacterial ABR depending on its life-cycle stage. Our results also show how spatially and temporally dynamic ABR is in nearshore aquatic bacteria, which warrants further research.

The Upper James Estuary – A Study in Water Quality Management

1987 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
K. C. Das
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus

The James River has its head waters in the Allegheny Mountains and flows generally southeasterly to Hampton Roads, Chesapeake Bay and thence to the Atlantic Ocean. Below Richmond, Virginia, the river is tidal with the channel meandering through the coastal plains. Below Hopewell it widens to a broad estuary, with a deep navigable channel bordered by tide marshes. The upper estuary, between Richmond and Hopewell, is heavily used for water supply, recreation, and industrial development. The water entering the estuary a few miles upstream of Richmond is of good quality. However, as one reaches Richmond, the quality of the water deteriorates. There are eleven major discharging municipalities and industries within a stretch of twenty two river miles between Richmond and Hopewell. The major factors contributing to water quality problems below the City of Richmond stem from the intermittent discharge from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) coupled with the continuous discharge from the City's sewage treatment plant. The CSOs contribute a large quantity of soluble BOD, suspended solids, settleable solids, and fecal coliforms to the estuary. The City's sewage treatment plant continuously discharges large quantities of ammonia-nitrogen and phosphorus, in addition to BOD and suspended solids. Rational Management and use of the waters of the upper James estuary appear to be critical. The objectives of this paper, therefore, are the discussion of the present water quality and the wastewater discharge reductions required in order to meet certain water quality and water use objectives.

Distribution of Vibrio cholerae in the Apalachicola (Florida) Bay Estuary

1984 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 549-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. DePAOLA ◽  
M. W. PRESNELL ◽  
R. E. BECKER ◽  
M. L. MOTES ◽  
S. R. ZYWNO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vibrio Cholerae ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
North Shore ◽  
The North ◽  
Shellfish Sanitation ◽  
The City

Vibrio cholerae non-O1 was found throughout the Apalachicola, FL, estuary. V. cholerae O1 was isolated primarily at the City of Apalachicola sewage treatment plant, Scipio Creek and the north shore of St. George Island. Highest concentrations of both serogroups occurred in August and November. Concentrations were lowest in February and increased substantially in May. A cholera toxin-like toxin was not detected in any of the V. cholerae cultures by the Y-1 mouse adrenal cell assay or the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, 35% of the V. cholerae O1 and 22% of the V. cholerae non-O1 cultures selected for testing caused diarrhea in infant rabbits. The proportion of V. cholerae O1 and non-O1 isolates pathogenic to infant rabbits increased as water temperature decreased. Fecal coliforms appeared to be more useful than total coliforms as indicators of the numbers of V. cholerae in water, but neither of those National Shellfish Sanitation Program indicator groups ensured against the presence of pathogenic V. cholerae in shellfish-growing areas.

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