scholarly journals Assessment of source tracking methods for application in spring water

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Wicki ◽  
Adrian Auckenthaler ◽  
Richard Felleisen ◽  
Fatma Karabulut ◽  
Isabel Niederhauser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Spring Water ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Animal Waste ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Host Strains

For discriminating between human and animal faecal contamination in water, microbial source tracking (MST) approaches using different indicators have been employed. In the current study, a range of 10 such MST indicators described in the scientific literature were comparatively assessed. Bacteriophages infecting host strains of Bacteroides (GA-17, GB-124 and ARABA 84) as well as sorbitol-fermenting bifidobacteria proved useful for indicating human faecal contamination while Rhodococcus coprophilus was associated with animal-derived faecal contamination. These potential source indicators were present in samples of faecal origin, i.e. either in human wastewater or animal waste, from many different regions in Switzerland and therefore showed a geographic stability. In addition, the MST indicators were abundant in surface water and were even sensitive enough to detect faecal contamination in spring water from two study areas in Switzerland. This is the first study that has compared and successfully applied MST methods in spring water.

scholarly journals Novel Bacteroides host strains for detection of human- and animal-specific bacteriophages in water

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Wicki ◽  
Adrian Auckenthaler ◽  
Richard Felleisen ◽  
Marcel Tanner ◽  
Andreas Baumgartner
Keyword(s):  
Spring Water ◽  
Animal Waste ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Bacteroides Thetaiotaomicron ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
Faecal Pollution ◽  
Specific Host ◽  
Geographic Regions ◽  
Animal Strains ◽  
Host Strains

Bacteriophages active against specific Bacteroides host strains were shown to be suitable for detection of human faecal pollution. However, the practical application of this finding is limited because some specific host strains were restricted to certain geographic regions. In this study, novel Bacteroides host strains were isolated that discriminate human and animal faecal pollution in Switzerland. Two strains specific for bacteriophages present in human faecal contamination and three strains specific for bacteriophages indicating animal faecal contamination were evaluated. Bacteriophages infecting human strains were exclusively found in human wastewater, whereas animal strains detected bacteriophages only in animal waste. The newly isolated host strains could be used to determine the source of surface and spring water faecal contamination in field situations. Applying the newly isolated host Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ARABA 84 for detection of bacteriophages allowed the detection of human faecal contamination in spring water.

Bacteriophage Lysis of Enterococcus Host Strains: A Tool for Microbial Source Tracking?

2011 ◽  
Vol 45 (24) ◽  
pp. 10699-10705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Purnell ◽  
James E. Ebdon ◽  
Huw D. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Host Strains

Experience with the antibiotic resistance analysis and DNA fingerprinting in tracking faecal pollution at two lake beaches

2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 51-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.A. Edge ◽  
S. Hill ◽  
G. Stinson ◽  
P. Seto ◽  
J. Marsalek
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Dna Fingerprinting ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Resistance Analysis ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Analysis ◽  
Environmental Challenge ◽  
Made In

Posting or closing of swimming beaches because of faecal contamination is a widespread problem reported in many locations. In a risk-based approach to this problem, the risk to swimmers' health is assessed by field monitoring of indicator bacteria and the associated risks are managed by source controls and other remedial measures. In risk assessment, great advances have been made in recent years with the introduction of microbial source tracking (MST) techniques. Two such techniques, antibiotic resistance analysis and DNA fingerprinting, were applied in a study of causes of faecal contamination at two lake beaches in Toronto, Ontario. Both methods identified bird faeces as the dominant sources of E. coli. Coping with this type of pollution presents a major environmental challenge.

scholarly journals Estimation of pathogen concentrations in a drinking water source using hydrodynamic modelling and microbial source tracking

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 358-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Sokolova ◽  
Johan Åström ◽  
Thomas J. R. Pettersson ◽  
Olof Bergstedt ◽  
Malte Hermansson
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Fate And Transport ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Drinking Water Source ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
Contamination Sources ◽  
Drinking Water Sources

The faecal contamination of drinking water sources can lead to waterborne disease outbreaks. To estimate a potential risk for waterborne infections caused by faecal contamination of drinking water sources, knowledge of the pathogen concentrations in raw water is required. We suggest a novel approach to estimate pathogen concentrations in a drinking water source by using microbial source tracking data and fate and transport modelling. First, the pathogen (norovirus, Cryptosporidium, Escherichia coli O157/H7) concentrations in faecal contamination sources around the drinking water source Lake Rådasjön in Sweden were estimated for endemic and epidemic conditions using measured concentrations of faecal indicators (E. coli and Bacteroidales genetic markers). Afterwards, the fate and transport of pathogens within the lake were simulated using a three-dimensional coupled hydrodynamic and microbiological model. This approach provided information on the contribution from different contamination sources to the pathogen concentrations at the water intake of a drinking water treatment plant. This approach addresses the limitations of monitoring and provides data for quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) and risk management in the context of faecal contamination of surface drinking water sources.

scholarly journals Hollow-Fiber Ultrafiltration and PCR Detection of Human-Associated Genetic Markers from Various Types of Surface Water in Florida

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (12) ◽  
pp. 4116-4117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephaney D. Leskinen ◽  
Miriam Brownell ◽  
Daniel V. Lim ◽  
Valerie J. Harwood
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Genetic Markers ◽  
Hollow Fiber ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Pcr Detection ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Water Types ◽  
Marker Detection

ABSTRACT Hollow-fiber ultrafiltration (HFUF) and PCR were combined to detect human-associated microbial source tracking marker genes in large volumes of fresh and estuarine Florida water. HFUF allowed marker detection when membrane filtration did not, demonstrating HFUF's ability to facilitate detection of diluted targets by PCR in a variety of water types.

scholarly journals Application of library-independent microbial source tracking methods for identifying the sources of faecal contamination in coastal areas

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1401-1409 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gourmelon ◽  
M. P. Caprais ◽  
C. Le Mennec ◽  
S. Mieszkin ◽  
C. Ponthoreau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Gene Markers ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
Water Courses ◽  
Specific Bacteriophage

Faecal contamination sources were identified in coastal areas around the Guerande-Atlantique peninsula using two microbial source tracking (MST) methods: (i) Bacteroidales host-specific 16S rRNA gene markers measured by real-time PCR and (ii) F-specific bacteriophage (FRNAPH) genotyping. Both methods were used on 63 water samples from 7 water courses. HF183 marker and bacteriophage genogroup II (FRNAPH II) were detected in all water samples and in the majority of water samples, respectively, from La Torre stream (W5), Piriac (W2), R2000 (W3) and Mazy (W7) rain water drains, and also detected, less frequently, in Le Nau drain (W4), suggesting contamination by human faecal sources at these sites. These human markers were weakly detected in Pouliguen channel (W6). Furthermore, BacR and bacteriophage genogroup I (FRNAPH I) were also detected, but at lower concentration and frequency. So, site W6 seems to be contaminated by multiple sources, though mainly human. Finally, BacR was detected twice in Pont d'Armes channel (W1), whereas HF183 was not detected. FRNAPH I and II were detected in only 3 out of 12 water samples. Site W1 seems mainly contaminated by animal sources. As a result of our findings, actions were taken to remediate water and shellfish quality.

scholarly journals The Use of Ribosomal RNA as a Microbial Source Tracking Target Highlights the Assay Host-Specificity Requirement in Water Quality Assessments

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annastiina Rytkönen ◽  
Ananda Tiwari ◽  
Anna-Maria Hokajärvi ◽  
Sari Uusheimo ◽  
Asko Vepsäläinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Fecal Contamination ◽  
Microbial Source Tracking ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Source Tracking ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Dna Template ◽  
Surface Water Samples

For microbial source tracking (MST), the 16S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) of host-specific bacteria and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of animal species, known to cause fecal contamination of water, have been commonly used as molecular targets. However, low levels of contamination might remain undetected by using these DNA-based qPCR assays. The high copy numbers of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) could offer a solution for such applications of MST. This study compared the performance of eight MST assays: GenBac3 (general Bacteroidales), HF183 (human), BacCan (dog), Rum-2-Bac (ruminant), Pig-2-Bac (swine), Gull4 (gull), GFD, and Av4143 (birds) between rRNA-based and rDNA-based approaches. Three mtDNA-based approaches were tested: DogND5, SheepCytB, and HorseCytB. A total of 151 animal fecal samples and eight municipal sewage samples from four regions of Finland were collected for the marker evaluation. The usability of these markers was tested by using a total of 95 surface water samples with an unknown pollution load. Overall, the performance (specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy) of mtDNA-based assays was excellent (95–100%), but these markers were very seldom detected from the tested surface water samples. The rRNA template increased the sensitivity of assays in comparison to the rDNA template. All rRNA-based assays (except Av4143) had more than 80% sensitivity. In contrast, only half (HF183, Rum-2-Bac, Pig-2-Bac, and Gull4) of rDNA-based assays reached this value. For markers targeted to bird feces, the use of the rRNA-based assay increased or at least did not change the performance. Regarding specificity, all the assays had >95% specificity with a DNA template, except the BacCan assay (71%). While using the RNA template for the assays, HF183 and BacCan exhibited only a low level of specificity (54 and 55%, respectively). Further, the HF183 assay amplified from multiple non-targeted animal fecal samples with the RNA template and the marker showed cross-amplification with the DNA template as well. This study recommends using the rRNA-based approach for MST assays targeting bird fecal contamination. In the case of mammal-specific MST assays, the use of the rRNA template increases the sensitivity but may reduce the specificity and accuracy of the assay. The finding of increased sensitivity calls for a further need to develop better rRNA-based approaches to reach the required assay performance.

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