scholarly journals Influence of wastewater disinfection on densities of culturable fecal indicator bacteria and genetic markers

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunice C. Chern ◽  
Kristen Brenner ◽  
Larry Wymer ◽  
Richard A. Haugland
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Marker ◽  
Genetic Markers ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
The Us ◽  
Wastewater Disinfection ◽  
Different Seasons

The US Environmental Protection Agency has proposed the use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as a rapid alternative analytical method for monitoring recreational water quality at beaches. For qPCR to be considered for other Clean Water Act purposes, such as inclusion in discharge permits and use in Total Maximum Daily Load calculations, it is necessary to understand how qPCR detectable genetic markers are influenced by wastewater disinfection. This study investigated genetic markers for Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Clostridium spp., Bacteroides, total Bacteroidales, as well as the human-associated Bacteroides markers, HF183 and HumM2, to determine which, if any, were influenced by disinfection (chlorination or ultraviolet light) of effluents from secondary wastewater treatment in different seasons. The effects of disinfection on culturable enterococci, E. coli, Bacteroides, and C. perfringens were also compared to their associated genetic markers. Disinfection of secondary treatment effluents significantly reduced culturable fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) but not genetic marker densities. No significant differences were observed in the responses of FIB culture and genetic marker densities to type of disinfection (chlorination vs UV) or season. Results of this study provide evidence that qPCR may not be suitable for monitoring efficacy of wastewater disinfection on the inactivation of bacterial pathogens.

scholarly journals Persistence of fecal indicator bacteria and associated genetic markers from wastewater treatment plant effluents in freshwater microcosms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunice C. Chern ◽  
Larry Wymer ◽  
Kristen Brenner ◽  
Kevin Oshima ◽  
Richard A. Haugland
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Decay Rate ◽  
Genetic Marker ◽  
Genetic Markers ◽  
Rate Constants ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Fecal Indicator

Abstract Limited information exists on the environmental persistence of genetic markers for fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in treated wastewaters. Here, the decay rate constants of culturable cells and genetic markers for four diverse groups of FIBs, such as enterococci, Clostridium, Escherichia coli, and Bacteroides, were investigated in freshwater microcosms seeded with disinfected and non-disinfected secondary-treated wastewaters. Decay rate constants of genetic markers and culturable cells varied significantly among the different FIB groups. Water temperatures (winter vs. fall/spring/summer) significantly affected the decay of all genetic marker and cell types; however, genetic marker decay were not found to be significantly different in disinfected (chlorination/ultraviolet) and non-disinfected wastewater-seeded microcosms or, for example, lake- and river-receiving waters. No evidence was seen that decay rate constants of FIB genetic markers from treated wastewater were substantially different from those observed in similar, previously reported microcosm studies using raw sewage. Unexpected relationships between decay rate constants of genetic markers and culturable cells of Bacteroides were observed. Results suggest that decay rate constants of FIB genetic markers determined from other studies may be applicable to treated wastewaters. Results of this study should be informative for ongoing efforts to determine the persistence of FIB genetic markers relative to surviving pathogens after wastewater treatment.

scholarly journals Effect of freshwater sediment characteristics on the persistence of fecal indicator bacteria and genetic markers within a Southern California watershed

2017 ◽  
Vol 119 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amity G. Zimmer-Faust ◽  
Vanessa Thulsiraj ◽  
Catalina Marambio-Jones ◽  
Yiping Cao ◽  
John F. Griffith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Markers ◽  
Southern California ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Freshwater Sediment ◽  
Sediment Characteristics ◽  
Fecal Indicator

scholarly journals Distribution of Genetic Marker Concentrations for Fecal Indicator Bacteria in Sewage and Animal Feces

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 4225-4232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Kelty ◽  
Manju Varma ◽  
Mano Sivaganesan ◽  
Richard A. Haugland ◽  
Orin C. Shanks
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Genetic Markers ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pollution Sources ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Animal Feces

ABSTRACTVery little is known about the density and distribution of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) genetic markers measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) in fecal pollution sources. Before qPCR-based FIB technologies can be applied to waste management and public health risk applications, it is vital to characterize the concentrations of these genetic markers in pollution sources (i.e., untreated wastewater and animal feces). We report the distribution of rRNA genetic markers for several general FIB groups, includingClostridiumspp.,Escherichia coli, enterococci, andBacteroidales, as determined by qPCR on reference collections consisting of 54 primary influent sewage samples collected from treatment facilities across the United States and fecal samples representing 20 different animal species. Based on raw sewage sample collection data, individual FIB genetic markers exhibited a remarkable similarity in concentration estimates from locations across the United States ranging from Hawaii to Florida. However, there was no significant correlation between genetic markers for most FIB combinations (P> 0.05). In addition, large differences (up to 5 log10copies) in the abundance of FIB genetic markers were observed between animal species, emphasizing the importance of indicator microorganism selection and animal source contribution for future FIB applications.

scholarly journals Microbiological Assessment of Tap Water Following the 2016 Louisiana Flooding

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nati K. Phan ◽  
Samendra P. Sherchan
Keyword(s):  
Baton Rouge ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes ◽  
Oxidation Reduction

Floods are a prominent risk factor in the world of public health, as there is a risk of dispersal of harmful biological and chemical contaminants in floodwater. As climate change increases, the occurrence of natural disasters and risk of adverse health outcomes due to flash flooding also increases. Fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Enterococci, are often encountered in contaminated floodwater and can cause gastrointestinal illnesses as well as a variety of infections. In August 2016, East Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes in Louisiana suffered heavy floods due to intense rainfall. No study of water quality during flooding has been conducted previously in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Twenty-three pre-flush and post-flush water samples were collected immediately from accessible homes that had been affected by the floods in order to quantify concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria. These samples were analyzed for the presence of E. coli and Enterococci through both quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and the IDEXX enzyme substrate method. The qPCR results indicated that 30% of the samples contained Enterococci and 61% of the samples contained E. coli, with the highest concentrations found in the pre-flush outdoor hose and the pre-flush kitchen tap. The IDEXX method yielded total coliforms in 65% of the samples, E. coli in 4%, and Enterococci in 35%, with the highest concentrations in the pre-flush outdoor faucet and the pre-flush post-filtration kitchen tap. Physical parameters including temperature, barometer pressure, dissolved oxygen, oxidation reduction potential, pH, conductivity, and salinity of these samples were also recorded. Of these parameters, conductivity and salinity were significant, suggesting they may positively influence E. coli and Enterococci growth.

scholarly journals Biotic Interactions and Sunlight Affect Persistence of Fecal Indicator Bacteria and Microbial Source Tracking Genetic Markers in the Upper Mississippi River

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (13) ◽  
pp. 3952-3961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asja Korajkic ◽  
Brian R. McMinn ◽  
Orin C. Shanks ◽  
Mano Sivaganesan ◽  
G. Shay Fout ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Markers ◽  
Mississippi River ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Viral Lysis ◽  
Fecal Indicator

ABSTRACTThe sanitary quality of recreational waters that may be impacted by sewage is assessed by enumerating fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) (Escherichia coliand enterococci); these organisms are found in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and many other animals, and hence their presence provides no information about the pollution source. Microbial source tracking (MST) methods can discriminate between different pollution sources, providing critical information to water quality managers, but relatively little is known about factors influencing the decay of FIB and MST genetic markers following release into aquatic environments. Anin situmesocosm was deployed at a temperate recreational beach in the Mississippi River to evaluate the effects of ambient sunlight and biotic interactions (predation, competition, and viral lysis) on the decay of culture-based FIB, as well as molecularly based FIB (Entero1a and GenBac3) and human-associated MST genetic markers (HF183 and HumM2) measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). In general, culturable FIB decayed the fastest, while molecularly based FIB and human-associated genetic markers decayed more slowly. There was a strong correlation between the decay of molecularly based FIB and that of human-associated genetic markers (r2, 0.96 to 0.98;P< 0.0001) but not between culturable FIB and any qPCR measurement. Overall, exposure to ambient sunlight may be an important factor in the early-stage decay dynamics but generally was not after continued exposure (i.e., after 120 h), when biotic interactions tended to be the only/major influential determinant of persistence.

scholarly journals Enhancement of sunlight irradiation for wastewater disinfection by mixing with seawater

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiro Suzuki ◽  
Mizuho Uno ◽  
Masateru Nishiyama ◽  
Kei Nukazawa ◽  
Yoshifumi Masago
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Sunlight Irradiation ◽  
Irradiation Energy ◽  
Wastewater Disinfection ◽  
Natural Flow ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract There is a need for developing a simple and easy-to-maintain disinfection technique for sewage treatment for use in developing countries and disaster-affected areas. We propose a novel disinfection technology that inactivates bacteria in wastewater via sunlight irradiation under high salt concentration by mixing with seawater. The disinfection efficiency of the proposed method was quantitatively evaluated and examined using fecal indicator bacteria. When the salinity in wastewater was adjusted to 30 practical salinity units by mixing with seawater, the constant of inactivation irradiation energy Ks (m2/MJ) was 1.6–2.2-fold greater than that without seawater for total coliforms and Escherichia coli. By contrast, although enterococci were inactivated by sunlight irradiation, an increase in salinity did not enhance disinfection. On setting the irradiation energy of sunlight to 5.5 MJ/m2, &gt;99% of the fecal indicator bacteria were inactivated. Finally, we examined the relationship between the attenuation of irradiance and water depth and accordingly proposed a design of a treatment system wherein wastewater and seawater were adequately mixed and passed via a disinfection tank under the natural flow with sunlight irradiation.

scholarly journals Quantitative real-time PCR does not reliably detect single fecal indicator bacteria in drinking water

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1674-1682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Krapf ◽  
Roger Michael Kuhn ◽  
Peter Kauf ◽  
Corinne Helene Gantenbein-Demarchi ◽  
Lars Fieseler
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Fecal Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Microbial Quality ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Cell Counts

The microbial quality of drinking and environmental water is usually determined by culture-based detection of fecal indicator bacteria according to ISO reference methods 16649-1 and 7899-2, respectively. Because of an increasing demand for rapid, culture-independent methods, we tested three quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) approaches for the simultaneous detection of both, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp., using either 16S rRNA or 16S rDNA as a target molecule. Filter sterilized drinking water was artificially contaminated with bacteria from either high or low nutrient culture conditions and directly analyzed after membrane filtration without any other enrichment. Depending on the culture condition used, qPCR analyses revealed a lower limit of detection of 1–10 E. coli/100 ml and 10–100 E. faecalis/100 ml, respectively. In addition, the microbial quality of different surface water samples was monitored. The analyses revealed a clear correlation between viable cell counts and qPCR data. However, the safe and reliable detection of 1 CFU/100 ml failed.

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