Using Bacteroidales genetic markers to assess fecal pollution sources in coastal waters

Fecal pollution is the leading cause of beach closures in coastal regions of the United States. Identification of fecal pollution sources is necessary to implement effective pollution control strategies. This study sought to determine whether humans and cattle contributed to the fecal contamination...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water and environment journal : WEJ 2018-02, Vol.32 (1), p.84-93
Main Authors: Xue, Jia, Feng, Yucheng, Wijesinghe, R. Udenika, Wood, C. Wesley
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AllBac
Bacteria
Bacteroidales
Beaches
Bovidae
Cattle
Closures
Coastal waters
Coastal zone
Coasts
Contamination
CowM3
enterococci
Fecal coliforms
Feces
Genetic markers
HF183
Markers
microbial source tracking
nonpoint sources
Nucleotide sequence
PCR
Pollution
Pollution abatement
Pollution control
Pollution effects
Pollution sources
Polymerase chain reaction
Rain
Rainfall
Runoff
Statistical analysis
Statistical methods
Storm runoff
Stormwater
Stormwater management
Stormwater runoff
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Summary:Fecal pollution is the leading cause of beach closures in coastal regions of the United States. Identification of fecal pollution sources is necessary to implement effective pollution control strategies. This study sought to determine whether humans and cattle contributed to the fecal contamination at a public beach in Alabama, USA. High levels of enterococci were observed after significant rainfall events, of which 36 samples (35.6%) exceeded USEPA's statistical threshold value of 130 CFU/100 mL. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays were used to determine general (AllBac), human‐ (HF183), and cattle‐associated (CowM3) Bacteroidales. There was a positive correlation between the levels of enterococci and AllBac markers. Our results suggest that fecal contamination from cattle was minimal and contamination from humans appeared to originate from diffuse sources. Stormwater runoff has the potential to supply considerable loads of fecal bacteria to coastal waters. Further research is needed to determine the contribution of other animals to fecal contamination in the region.
ISSN:1747-6585
1747-6593
DOI:10.1111/wej.12302