Discriminating faecal pollution: a case study of stormwater entering Port Phillip Bay, Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Leeming ◽  
N. Bate ◽  
R. Hewlett ◽  
P. D. Nichols
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Indicators ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Faecal Pollution ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Thermotolerant Coliforms ◽  
Environment Protection Authority ◽  
Faecal Sterols

This investigation was designed to provide preliminary information to the Environment Protection Authority concerning the input of faecal matter to stormwater drains in the Rippleside area of Geelong, Victoria. Results derived from the combined use of sterol biomarkers (e.g. coprostanol and 24-ethylcoprostanol) and four sub-groups of bacterial indicators (e.g. thermotolerant coliforms, E. coli, faecal streptococci and enterococci) indicated that during wet weather, all sites sampled were affected by significant human faecal contamination. Ratios of coprostanol to bacterial indicators were similar to those for samples collected from nearby sewer mains. During dry weather, there were still severely elevated levels of faecal contamination based on bacterial indicators, but correspondingly low concentrations of faecal sterols suggesting minimal human or herbivore faecal contamination. The origin of the majority of the faecal pollution in dry weather therefore remains to be fully explained. It is clear from this and related studies that the combined measurement of faecal sterols and bacterial indicators can greatly assist distinguishing sources of faecal pollution. It is also shown for aquatic environments that the measurement of coprostanol or other single indicators alone, is inadequate to fully discern faecal contamination from human sources.

Assessment of the exposure of swimmers to microbiological contaminants in fresh waters

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 157-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Medema ◽  
I. A. van Asperen ◽  
A. H. Havelaar
Keyword(s):  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
The Other ◽  
Pollution Level ◽  
Intestinal Infection ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Faecal Pollution ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Thermotolerant Coliforms ◽  
Mean Concentration

As part of a prospective cohort study among triathletes to determine a relationship between the microbiological quality of fresh bathing water and the risk of acquiring an intestinal infection, the exposure of the triathletes to microbiological contaminants was assessed. Waters were collected at seven triathlons (swimming course 1–1.5km) held in the summer of 1993 and 1994 to have a range of water qualities. All were influenced by sewage effluents, most also by agricultural run-off. Samples were collected several weeks before the event to establish a sampling programme (1993) and during the actual exposure of the triathletes (1993 and 1994) and examined for thermotolerant coliforms alone (samples preceding the event) and for E. coli, faecal enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus, F-specific RNAphages, enteroviruses (1993 and 1994) and for thermophilic Campylobacter, Salmonella, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas shigelloides and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1993). The samples taken in the weeks before the exposure showed significant differences in thermotolerant coliform concentration between locations, depths and times. Also during swimmer exposure, significant differences occurred in microorganism levels at the different sampling points over the swimming course. As the triathletes swam as a group, they were exposed to approximately the same water at the same time. The geometric mean concentration was used to characterise each site. In the epidemiological study, the risk of an intestinal infection correlated with the concentration of thermotolerant coliforms and E. coli but not with the other parameters. The geometric mean concentration of thermotolerant coliforms at the triathlons ranged from 11–330/100mL and 54–1,200/100mL E. coli. Ranking of the seven sites by faecal pollution level, based on the geometric mean concentration of a faecal indicator, resulted in a different ranking for each indicator. At the fresh water sites studied, only the ratio between the geometric mean density of E. coli and thermotolerant coliforms was constant. The ratio between the other parameters related to faecal pollution (faecal enterococci, F-specific RNA phages, enteroviruses) varied considerably. Water quality standards relating to faecal pollution can only be based on parameters that show a significant correlation with risk of intestinal illness.

Determination of faecal pollutants in Torrens and Patawalonga catchment waters in South Australia using faecal sterols

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 283-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Suprihatin ◽  
H. Fallowfield ◽  
R. Bentham ◽  
N. Cromar
Keyword(s):  
South Australia ◽  
River Catchment ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
Faecal Pollution ◽  
Sources Of Pollution ◽  
Steroid Profiles ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Faecal Sterols

This research investigated faecal pollution by sterol profiling in two Adelaide metropolitan catchments in winter 2000 and summer 2001. Water was sampled from five sites on the River Torrens and two sites on Patawalonga river catchment. The steroids detected were coprostanol, epicoprostanol, cholesterol, cholestanol, stigmasterol, betasitosterol, and stigmastanol. The concentrations range from 5 ng/L (of coprostanol) to 34 μmg/L (of stigmasterol), with cholesterol detected more frequently at relatively high concentrations (approximately 2 μmg/L). Sterol profiling suggested two sites on two occasions may have been impacted by human faecal contamination. Other steroid profiles suggested that sources of pollution consistently included dogs and birds. The steroid concentrations in the Torrens catchment were higher in winter, however, this was not observed in the Patawalonga catchment.

Library-dependent and library-independent microbial source tracking to identify spatial variation in faecal contamination sources along a Lake Ontario beach (Ontario, Canada)

2010 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 719-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Edge ◽  
S. Hill ◽  
P. Seto ◽  
J. Marsalek
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Lake Ontario ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Pollution Sources ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Faecal Pollution ◽  
Humber River

Multiple microbial source tracking methods were applied to investigate spatial variation in faecal pollution sources impacting a 1.7 km freshwater beach on Lake Ontario (Canada). The highest E. coli concentrations measured in the study area were from interstitial sand pore water at Sunnyside Beach, reaching 2.6 × 106 CFU/100 ml. These E. coli concentrations exceeded those in the nearby Humber River and Black Creek, which are impacted by combined sewer overflows containing municipal wastewater and by stormwater conveying washoff from the urban area. Library-independent Bacteroidales HF183 analyses identified the more frequent occurrence of municipal wastewater contamination in the Humber River and at a Sunnyside Beach location closest to the mouth of the river. Library-dependent E. coli antibiotic resistance and rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting analyses identified the more frequent occurrence of bird faecal contamination at Sunnyside Beach locations away from the river mouth. These microbial source tracking results raise caution about managing beaches with multiple sources of contamination as a single entity without considering spatial variability in faecal pollution sources and the need for more localized beach management practices.

scholarly journals A consensus: microbial source tracking (MST) in water

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Stratton ◽  
Warish Ahmed ◽  
Mohammad Katouli
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Water Testing ◽  
Quality Regulation ◽  
Key Indicator ◽  
Thermotolerant Coliforms ◽  
Faecal Indicators

Traditionally, water quality regulation and protection of public health has relied on culture-based methods that quantify faecal indicators such as the coliforms. Since Escherichia coli represents over 97% of the thermotolerant coliforms, it has been used extensively as a key indicator of faecal contamination in water testing industry. However the presence of E. coli or other coliforms (and more recently enterococci) does not provide any information regarding the source of contamination and therefore is not always an effective indicator of actual risk to humans. While human/animal faecal contamination of water can pose a serious health risk to public, the risk can be managed more efficiently and effectively if the source is known. In this respect, microbial source tracking (MST) can be used as an efficient tool by water managers to improve management of public health.

Evaluation of faecal contamination and microbial die-off in urine separating sewage systems

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 17-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Höglund ◽  
T. A. Stenström ◽  
H. Jönsson ◽  
A. Sundin
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Indicator Organisms ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Low Degree ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Microbial Analysis ◽  
Higher Temperature ◽  
Faecal Streptococci

An important feature for recirculated products from a sewage system is that the risk for transmission of disease is low. In a urine source separating system faeces may contaminate the collected urine through the toilet. The concentrations of faecal indicator organisms were measured in 14 urine collection tanks. The survival of these and some pathogenic microorganisms in source separated human urine was studied. Total coliforms, E. coli and clostridia were found in low concentrations while faecal streptococci occurred in concentrations up to 105/ml urine solution. The results from phenotyping of faecal streptococci and the high counts indicate growth within the system. The majority of the pathogenic microorganisms investigated had a rapid die-off. A higher temperature, a low degree of dilution and a pH far from neutral had a negative effect on survival. E. coli had a rapid die-off and is not suitable for indicating faecal contamination of the collected urine. Quantification of faecal sterols is a possible alternative to microbial analysis for this purpose. The amounts of coprostanol showed that the faecal contamination varied from not detected to up to 13.3 mg/ml urine solution with a concentration in the urine sludge of up to 417.5 mg/kg.

scholarly journals Are Sterols Useful for the Identification of Sources of Faecal Contamination in Shellfish? A Case Study

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3076
Author(s):  
Styliano Florini ◽  
Esmaeil Shahsavari ◽  
Arturo Aburto-Medina ◽  
Leadin S. Khudur ◽  
Stephen M. Mudge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
High Population ◽  
Faecal Material ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
Faecal Pollution ◽  
Sterol Profile ◽  
The Uk ◽  
A Site

This work aimed to identify the major source(s) of faecal pollution impacting Salcott Creek oyster fisheries in the UK through the examination of the sterol profiles. The concentration of the major sewage biomarker, coprostanol, in water overlying the oysters varied between 0.01 µg L−1 and 1.20 µg L−1. The coprostanol/epicoprostanol ratio ranged from 1.32 (September) to 33.25 (February), suggesting that human sewage represents the key input of faecal material into the estuary. However, a correlation between the sterol profile of water above the oysters with that of water that enters from Tiptree Sewage Treatment Works (r = 0.82), and a sample from a site (Quinces Corner) observed to have a high population of Brent geese (r = 0.82), suggests that both sources contribute to the faecal pollution affecting the oysters. In identifying these key faecal inputs, sterol profiling has allowed targeted management practices to be employed to ensure that oyster quality is optimised.

Immunogold labeling of CMP-KDO synthetase produced by recombinant E. Coli cells

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 924-925
Author(s):  
F. A. Durum ◽  
R. G. Goldman ◽  
T. J. Bolling ◽  
M. F. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Inclusion Bodies ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Recombinant Dna ◽  
Test System ◽  
Cell Protein ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Cytoplasmic Inclusions ◽  
Isolation And Purification ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Low Concentrations

CMP-KDO synthetase (CKS) is an enzyme which plays a key role in the synthesis of LPS, an outer membrane component unique to gram negative bacteria. CKS activates KDO to CMP-KDO for incorporation into LPS. The enzyme is normally present in low concentrations (0.02% of total cell protein) which makes it difficult to perform large scale isolation and purification. Recently, the gene for CKS from E. coli was cloned and various recombinant DNA constructs overproducing CKS several thousandfold (unpublished data) were derived. Interestingly, no cytoplasmic inclusions of overproduced CKS were observed by EM (Fig. 1) which is in contrast to other reports of large proteinaceous inclusion bodies in various overproducing recombinant strains. The present immunocytochemical study was undertaken to localize CKS in these cells.Immune labeling conditions were first optimized using a previously described cell-free test system. Briefly, this involves soaking small blocks of polymerized bovine serum albumin in purified CKS antigen and subjecting them to various fixation, embedding and immunochemical conditions.

Campylobacter in waterborne epidemics in Finland

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
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.

The relationship between health effects in triathletes and microbiological quality of freshwater

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Medema ◽  
I. A. van Asperen ◽  
J. M. Klokman-Houweling ◽  
A. Nooitgedagt ◽  
M. J. W. van de Laar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Health Complaints ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Thermotolerant Coliforms ◽  
Microbiological Water Quality ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Faecal Streptococci

This pilot study was carried out to determine the relationship between microbiological water quality parameters and the occurrence of health complaints among triathletes. Data were collected at an Olympic distance triathlon (n=314) and a run-bike-run (n=81; controls for exposure to fresh water). At the time of the triathlon, the concentrations of Escherichia coli , thermotolerant coliforms, faecal streptococci, entero- and reoviruses, F-specific RNA phages, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were examined over the swimming course. Information on the occurrence of health complaints during the competition and in the week thereafter was collected through a written questionnaire. The results show that triathletes and run-bike-runners are comparable with respect to factors other than water exposure (age, sex, training history, physical stress, lower intestinal health complaints during the competition) that may influence the occurrence of health complaints in the week after the competition. Triathletes and run-bike-runners reported gastro-intestinal (7.7% vs 2.5%), respiratory (5.5% vs 3.7%), skin/mucosal (2.6% vs 1.2%), general (3.5% vs 1.2%) and total symptoms (14.8% vs 7.4%) in the week after the event. The health risks for triathletes for all symptom groups are not significantly higher than for run-bike-runners. The geometric mean concentration of faecal indicator bacteria is relatively low: E. coli 170/100 ml; faecal streptococci 13/100 ml, enteroviruses were present at concentrations of 0.1/l. The group of triathletes was homogeneusly and relatively intensely exposed to water; they all swam in the same body of water at the same time and 75% reported to have swallowed freshwater. It was concluded that this study design is suitable to study the relationship between health complaints and microbiological water quality. In the summers of 1993 and 1994, a study will be carried out concerning several run-bike-runs and triathlons in freshwaters of different quality.

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