Detection of Bacteroidales Fecal Indicators and the Zoonotic Pathogens E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Campylobacter in River Water

Bacteroidales host-specific PCR offers a rapid method of diagnosing fecal pollution in water and identifying sources of input. To assess human health risks from exposure to fecal pathogens, however, Bacteroidales markers should be detectable when pathogens are present. To determine if Bacteroidales...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2007-03, Vol.41 (6), p.1856-1862
Main Authors: Walters, Sarah P, Gannon, Victor P. J, Field, Katharine G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding
Analysis methods
Applied sciences
Bacteria
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Campylobacter
E coli
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Environment. Living conditions
Exact sciences and technology
Feces
Freshwater
Medical sciences
Natural water pollution
Pathogens
Pathology
Pollution
Pollution, environment geology
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
River ecology
Rivers
Ruminantia
Salmonella
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:Bacteroidales host-specific PCR offers a rapid method of diagnosing fecal pollution in water and identifying sources of input. To assess human health risks from exposure to fecal pathogens, however, Bacteroidales markers should be detectable when pathogens are present. To determine if Bacteroidales general, human-, ruminant-, and swine-specific markers correlate with certain fecal pathogens, we conducted a retrospective study on water samples for which the presence of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and Campylobacter spp. had been determined. We found a positive relationship between detection of the Bacteroidales general fecal marker and presence of the pathogens. Detection of ruminant-specific markers predicted E. coli O157:H7 occurrence. There was a significant increase in the likelihood of detecting Salmonella when a ruminant marker was present, and Campylobacter spp. when human markers were present. For pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7 that are strongly associated with particular hosts, Bacteroidales host-specific markers can estimate the likelihood of pathogen occurrence, enabling more accurate health risk assessments.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es0620989