scholarly journals Efficiency of saprolite for removing E. coli from simulated wastewater

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 2545-2551
Author(s):  
T. Gardner ◽  
M. J. Vepraskas ◽  
A. Amoozegar

Abstract Saprolite, weathered bedrock, is being used to dispose of domestic sewage through septic system drainfields, but its ability to remove coliforms is unknown. This study determined if Escherichia coli could be removed by a sandy loam saprolite material. Triplicate columns containing saprolite were prepared with lengths of 30, 45, and 60 cm. A 215-mL solution containing 1 × 105 CFU/100 mL of non-toxic E. coli was applied to the top of each column for 5 days/week for 13 weeks, and selected outflow samples were analyzed for E. coli. Control columns had only tap water applied to them at the same time. Significantly higher (p ≤ 0.10 compared to controls) E. coli concentrations were only detected in samples collected at the end of week 3 for the 30-cm columns and week 4 for the 45-cm columns. E. coli concentrations were small and ranged from approximately 2 to 3 MPN/100 mL. No E. coli were detected in any outflow from the 60-cm columns. From weeks 5 to 13, E. coli concentrations from all columns were either undetectable or not significantly different from the control. The results showed that 60 cm of sandy loam saprolite was sufficient for the removal of E. coli from simulated wastewater.

2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (11) ◽  
pp. 6420-6427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven C. Ingham ◽  
Jill A. Losinski ◽  
Matthew P. Andrews ◽  
Jane E. Breuer ◽  
Jeffry R. Breuer ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In this study we tested the validity of the National Organic Program (NOP) requirement for a ≥120-day interval between application of noncomposted manure and harvesting of vegetables grown in manure-fertilized soil. Noncomposted bovine manure was applied to 9.3-m2 plots at three Wisconsin sites (loamy sand, silt loam, and silty clay loam) prior to spring and summer planting of carrots, radishes, and lettuce. Soil and washed (30 s under running tap water) vegetables were analyzed for indigenous Escherichia coli. Within 90 days, the level of E. coli in manure-fertilized soil generally decreased by about 3 log CFU/g from initial levels of 4.2 to 4.4 log CFU/g. Low levels of E. coli generally persisted in manure-fertilized soil for more than 100 days and were detected in enriched soil from all three sites 132 to 168 days after manure application. For carrots and lettuce, at least one enrichment-negative sample was obtained ≤100 days after manure application for 63 and 88% of the treatments, respectively. The current ≥120-day limit provided an even greater likelihood of not detecting E. coli on carrots (≥1 enrichment-negative result for 100% of the treatments). The rapid maturation of radishes prevented conclusive evaluation of a 100- or 120-day application-to-harvest interval. The absolute absence of E. coli from vegetables harvested from manure-fertilized Wisconsin soils may not be ensured solely by adherence to the NOP ≥120-day limit. Unless pathogens are far better at colonizing vegetables than indigenous E. coli strains are, it appears that the risk of contamination for vegetables grown in Wisconsin soils would be elevated only slightly by reducing the NOP requirement to ≥100 days.


2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 2296-2301 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHIA-MIN LIN ◽  
FONE-MAO WU ◽  
HOI-KYUNG KIM ◽  
MICHAEL P. DOYLE ◽  
BARRY S. MICHAELS ◽  
...  

Compared with other parts of the hand, the area beneath fingernails harbors the most microorganisms and is most difficult to clean. Artificial fingernails, which are usually long and polished, reportedly harbor higher microbial populations than natural nails. Hence, the efficacy of different hand washing methods for removing microbes from natural and artificial fingernails was evaluated. Strains of nonpathogenic Escherichia coli JM109 and feline calicivirus (FCV) strain F9 were used as bacterial and viral indicators, respectively. Volunteers with artificial or natural nails were artificially contaminated with ground beef containing E. coli JM109 or artificial feces containing FCV. Volunteers washed their hands with tap water, regular liquid soap, antibacterial liquid soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel, regular liquid soap followed by alcohol gel, or regular liquid soap plus a nailbrush. The greatest reduction of inoculated microbial populations was obtained by washing with liquid soap plus a nailbrush, and the least reduction was obtained by rubbing hands with alcohol gel. Lower but not significantly different (P > 0.05) reductions of E. coli and FCV counts were obtained from beneath artificial than from natural fingernails. However, significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher E. coli and FCV counts were recovered from hands with artificial nails than from natural nails before and after hand washing. In addition, microbial cell numbers were correlated with fingernail length, with greater numbers beneath fingernails with longer nails. These results indicate that best practices for fingernail sanitation of food handlers are to maintain short fingernails and scrub fingernails with soap and a nailbrush when washing hands.


2004 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 1377-1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. L. STEVENSON ◽  
S. R. COOK ◽  
S. J. BACH ◽  
T. A. McALLISTER

To evaluate the potential of using electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water for controlling Escherichia coli O157:H7 in water for livestock, the effects of water source, electrolyte concentration, dilution, storage conditions, and bacterial or fecal load on the oxidative reduction potential (ORP) and bactericidal activity of EO water were investigated. Anode and combined (7:3 anode:cathode, vol/vol) EO waters reduced the pH and increased the ORP of deionized water, whereas cathode EO water increased pH and lowered ORP. Minimum concentrations (vol/vol) of anode and combined EO waters required to kill 104 CFU/ml planktonic suspensions of E. coli O157:H7 strain H4420 were 0.5 and 2.0%, respectively. Cathode EO water did not inhibit H4420 at concentrations up to 16% (vol/vol). Higher concentrations of anode or combined EO water were required to elevate the ORP of irrigation or chlorinated tap water compared with that of deionized water. Addition of feces to EO water products (0.5% anode or 2.0% combined, vol/vol) significantly reduced (P < 0.001) their ORP values to <700 mV in all water types. A relationship between ORP and bactericidal activity of EO water was observed. The dilute EO waters retained the capacity to eliminate a 104 CFU/ml inoculation of E. coli O157:H7 H4420 for at least 70 h regardless of exposure to UV light or storage temperature (4 versus 24°C). At 95 h and beyond, UV exposure reduced ORP, significantly more so (P < 0.05) in open than in closed containers. Bactericidal activity of EO products (anode or combined) was lost in samples in which ORP value had fallen to ≤848 mV. When stored in the dark, the diluted EO waters retained an ORP of >848 mV and bactericidal efficacy for at least 125 h; with refrigeration (4°C), these conditions were retained for at least 180 h. Results suggest that EO water may be an effective means by which to control E. coli O157:H7 in livestock water with low organic matter content.


2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
JIN KYUNG KIM ◽  
MARK A. HARRISON

Ice can be used to chill romaine lettuce and maintain relative humidity during transportation. Escherichia coli O157:H7 may contaminate water used for ice. The objective of this study was to determine the potential for E. coli O157:H7 contamination of romaine lettuce from either ice contaminated with the pathogen or by transfer from lettuce surfaces via melting ice. In experiment 1, lettuce was spot inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 and chilled with ice prepared from uncontaminated tap water. In experiment 2, water inoculated with this pathogen was frozen and used to ice lettuce. Three heads of lettuce were stacked in each container and stored at 4 or 20°C. After the ice melted, E. coli O157:H7 attachment to and recovery from the lettuce leaves were determined. For experiment 1, the population of E. coli O157:H7 attached to inoculated sites averaged 3.8 and 5.5 CFU/cm2 at 4 and 20°C, respectively. Most of the uninoculated sites became contaminated with the pathogen due to ice melt. For experiment 2, 3.5 to 3.8 log CFU E. coli O157:H7 per cm2 was attached to the top leaf on the first head. After rinsing with chlorinated water (200 μg/ml), E. coli O157:H7 remained on the surface of the top head (1.8 to 2.0 log CFU/cm2). There was no difference in numbers of E. coli O157:H7 recovered from each sampling site at 4 and 20°C. Results show that E. coli O157:H7 can be transferred onto other produce layers in shipping containers from melted ice made of contaminated water and from contaminated to uncontaminated leaf surfaces.


2004 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 1829-1833 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. CASON ◽  
M. E. BERRANG ◽  
R. J. BUHR ◽  
N. A. COX

Paired carcass halves were used to test whether fecal contamination of skin during processing of broiler chickens can be detected by increased bacterial counts in samples taken before and after immersion chilling. In each of three trials, six freshly defeathered and eviscerated carcasses were cut in half, and a rectangle (3 by 5 cm) was marked with dots of ink on the breast skin of each half. One half of each pair was chosen randomly, and 0.1 g of freshly collected feces was spread over the rectangle with a spatula. After 10 min, both halves were sprayed with tap water for 10 to 15 s until feces could no longer be seen in the marked area. Both halves were sampled with a 1-min carcass rinse and were then put in a paddle chiller with other eviscerated carcasses for 45 min to simulate industrial immersion chilling. Immediately after chilling, each carcass half was subjected to another 1-min rinse, after which the skin within the rectangle was aseptically removed from the carcass halves and stomached. Rinses of fecally contaminated halves had significantly higher Enterobacteriaceae immediately before chilling, but there were no differences in coliform and Escherichia coli counts. After chilling, there were no differences in Enterobacteriaceae, coliform, and E. coli counts in rinse or skin samples from the paired carcass halves. Correlations were generally poor between counts in rinse and skin samples but were significant between prechill and postchill rinses for both control and fecally contaminated halves. Correlations were also significant between counts in rinses of control and contaminated halves of the same carcass after chilling. Bacterial counts in postchill carcass rinses did not indicate that fecal contamination occurred before chilling.


2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 900-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
CAROLINE CÔTÉ ◽  
SYLVAIN QUESSY

Liquid hog manure is routinely applied to farm land as a crop fertilizer. However, this practice raises food safety concerns, especially when manure is used on fruit and vegetable crops. The objectives of this project were to evaluate the persistence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella in surface soil after application of liquid hog manure to fields where pickling cucumbers were grown and to verify the microbiological quality of harvested cucumbers. Mineral fertilizers were replaced by liquid hog manure at various ratios in the production of pickling cucumbers in a 3-year field study. The experimental design was a randomized complete block comprising four replicates in sandy loam (years 1, 2, and 3) and loamy sand (year 3). Soil samples were taken at a depth of 20 cm every 2 weeks after June application of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Vegetable samples were also taken at harvest time. Liquid hog manure, soil, and vegetable (washed and unwashed) samples were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella and E. coli. An exponential decrease of E. coli populations was observed in surface soil after the application of manure. The estimated average time required to reach undetectable concentrations of E. coli in sandy loam varied from 56 to 70 days, whereas the absence of E. coli was estimated at 77 days in loamy sand. The maximal Salmonella persistence in soil was 54 days. E. coli and Salmonella were not detected in any vegetable samples.


2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 2203-2209 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUSANA SANZ ◽  
MERCEDES GIMÉNEZ ◽  
CARMEN OLARTE

The ability of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated by immersion (at 4.6 and 5.5 log CFU/g, respectively) to survive on artichokes during various stages of preparation was determined. Peeling, cutting, and disinfecting operations (immersion in 50 ppm of a free chlorine solution at 4°C for 5 min) reduced populations of L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 by only 1.6 and 0.8 log units, respectively. An organic acid rinse (0.02% citric acid and 0.2% ascorbic acid) was more effective than a tap water rinse in removing these pathogens. Given the possibility of both pathogens being present on artichokes at the packaging stage, their behavior during the storage of minimally processed artichokes was investigated. For this purpose, batches of artichokes inoculated with L. monocytogenes or E. coli O157:H7 (at 5.5 and 5.2 log CFU/g, respectively) were packaged in P-Plus film bags and stored at 4°C for 16 days. During this period, the equilibrium atmosphere composition and natural background microflora (mesophiles, psychrotrophs, anaerobes, and fecal coliforms) were also analyzed. For the two studied pathogens, the inoculum did not have any effect on the final atmospheric composition (10% O2, 13% CO2) or on the survival of the natural background microflora of the artichokes. L. monocytogenes was able to survive during the entire storage period in the inoculated batches, while the E. coli O157:H7 level increased by 1.5 log units in the inoculated batch during the storage period. The modified atmosphere was unable to control the behavior of either pathogen.


1970 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-201
Author(s):  
Iqbal Kabir Jahid ◽  
Taslima Azad ◽  
Mohammed Ziaur Rahman ◽  
Anowara Begum ◽  
Sirajul Islam Khan ◽  
...  

The survival pattern of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was observed in laboratory microcosm with different sources of surface and drinking water using the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a genetic marker. The water quality was monitored on the basis of bacteriological and physico?chemical parameters. The untreated and filtered water were inoculated with the genetically transformed E. coli O157:H7. The survival pattern was determined by drop plate method observing the green fluorescence of the E. coli O157:H7 colonies under UV light. The survival of E. coli O157:H7 decreased in most of the untreated saline and waste water and higher survival was observed in pond and tap water. The E. coli O157:H7 survived more than 23 days in tap and pond water and less than 20 days in sea, estuarine and waste water. The fluorescent microscopic findings revealed the VBNC state of E. coli O157:H7. The study conclusively proved that the better survival of E. coli O157: H7 depends on the quality of water. Key words: E. coli O157:H7; Aquatic system; Survival study DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dujbs.v19i2.8964 DUJBS 2010; 19(2): 195-201


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moussa Djaouda ◽  
Zoua Wadoubé ◽  
Odile Baponwa ◽  
Soumayyata Youssoufa ◽  
Bouba Gaké ◽  
...  

AbstractTreated groundwater is a major source of drinking water but subject to potential contamination of fecal–oral pathogens. To understand ecology of the pathogens in the treated water, this study evaluated survival and growth of Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli in the treated groundwater in northern Cameroon. E. coli and V. cholerae O1 were isolated from human feces. Water samples were collected from the following sources: a well, tap water from the Cameroon Water Utilities Company, and mineral and borehole waters sold in Maroua, respectively. These waters were treated by one or more processes, including autoclaving, filtration, chlorination and ozonation and were used for the constitution of microcosms. E. coli and V. cholerae were inoculated into each microcosm at respective concentrations of 50 CFU/10 mL (separately) and 40 CFU/10 mL each (together). All bacterial strains survived in all microcosms were used. The ability to survive and grow varied with the bacterial strain and microcosm (P < 0.05). When inoculated separately into the same type of microcosms, V. cholerae grew faster than E. coli with the latter even showing decrease in concentration in mineral water. When inoculated together, V. cholerae grew faster than E. coli, except in autoclaved well water and filtered and autoclaved well water. Autochthonous ultramicroflora inhibited the growth of E. coli in filtered well water (P < 0.05).


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 430-438
Author(s):  
Walid Elmonir ◽  
Etab Mohamed Abo Remela ◽  
Yasmine Alwakil

Abstract This study aimed to assess the public health risk of coliforms and Escherichia coli contamination of potable water sources in Egypt. A total of 150 water samples (100 tap and 50 well) were collected from five districts in Gharbia governorate, Egypt. High rates of coliforms contamination were recorded in 52 and 76% of examined tap and well water samples, respectively. E. coli strains were detected in 16% of the water samples (15% tap water and 18% well water; 23.7% rural and 8.1% urban). Rural water sources were 3.5 times more likely to be contaminated than urban sources (P = 0.01). Eight (33.3%) E. coli isolates were Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Multiple drug resistance (MDR) was observed for 62.5% of the isolates. Seven (29.2%) E. coli isolates harboured at least one of the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes. The majority (87.5%) of the STEC isolates were MDRs and harboured ESBL genes. STEC isolates were significantly more likely to resist six classes of antibiotics than non-STEC isolates. This is the first report of potable water contamination with MDR-STEC in Egypt. This study highlights an alarming public health threat that necessitates preventive interventions for public and environmental safety.


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