Assessing enterococci as an alternative fecal indicator for irrigation water quality

Jokinen, Cassandra C.; Cook, Shaun R.; Reuter, Tim; Tymensen, Lisa

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106098

“…It is therefore probable that this second group of points corresponds to the presence of recent inputs of fecal matter. Recent work from Alberta, Canada [ 93 ] also noted that enterococci were not suitable for the assessment of irrigation water quality. Given the overall good relationship between E .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental determinants of E. coli, link with the diarrheal diseases, and indication of vulnerability criteria in tropical West Africa (Kapore, Burkina Faso)

Robert

¹

,

Grippa

²

,

Nikiema

³

et al. 2021

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In 2017, diarrheal diseases were responsible for 606 024 deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. This situation is due to domestic and recreational use of polluted surface waters, deficits in hygiene, access to healthcare and drinking water, and to weak environmental and health monitoring infrastructures. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is an indicator for the enteric pathogens that cause many diarrheal diseases. The links between E. coli, diarrheal diseases and environmental parameters have not received much attention in West Africa, and few studies have assessed health risks by taking into account hazards and socio-health vulnerabilities. This case study, carried out in Burkina Faso (Bagre Reservoir), aims at filling this knowledge gap by analyzing the environmental variables that play a role in the dynamics of E. coli, cases of diarrhea, and by identifying initial vulnerability criteria. A particular focus is given to satellite-derived parameters to assess whether remote sensing can provide a useful tool to assess the health hazard. Samples of surface water were routinely collected to measure E. coli, enterococci and suspended particulate matter (SPM) at a monitoring point (Kapore) during one year. In addition, satellite data were used to estimate precipitation, water level, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and SPM. Monthly epidemiological data for cases of diarrhea from three health centers were also collected and compared with microbiological and environmental data. Finally, semi-structured interviews were carried out to document the use of water resources, contact with elements of the hydrographic network, health behavior and condition, and water and health policy and prevention, in order to identify the initial vulnerability criteria. A positive correlation between E. coli and enterococci in surface waters was found indicating that E. coli is an acceptable indicator of fecal contamination in this region. E. coli and diarrheal diseases were strongly correlated with monsoonal precipitation, in situ SPM, and Near Infra-Red (NIR) band between March and November. Partial least squares regression showed that E. coli concentration was strongly associated with precipitation, Sentinel-2 reflectance in the NIR and SPM, and that the cases of diarrhea were strongly associated with precipitation, NIR, E. coli, SPM, and to a lesser extent with NDVI. Moreover, E. coli dynamics were reproduced using satellite data alone, particularly from February to mid-December (R2 = 0.60) as were cases of diarrhea throughout the year (R2 = 0.76). This implies that satellite data could provide an important contribution to water quality monitoring. Finally, the vulnerability of the population was found to increase during the rainy season due to reduced accessibility to healthcare and drinking water sources and increased use of water of poor quality. During this period, surface water is used because it is close to habitations, easy to use and free from monetary or political constraints. This vulnerability is aggravated by marginality and particularly affects the Fulani, whose concessions are often close to surface water (river, lake) and far from health centers.

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“…It is therefore probable that this second group of points corresponds to the presence of recent inputs of fecal matter. Recent work from Alberta, Canada [93] also noted that enterococci were not suitable for the assessment of irrigation water quality. Given the overall good relationship between E. coli and enterococci and the questions on the use of enterococci as an indicator of fecal contamination in tropical systems, we have focused the analysis and the following discussion on the relationship between E. coli and the environmental parameters.…”

Section: Dynamics Of E Coli In Relation To Environmental Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental determinants ofE. coli, link with the diarrheal diseases, and indication of vulnerability criteria in tropical area (Kapore, Burkina Faso)

Robert

¹

,

Grippa

²

,

Nikiema

³

et al. 2021

Preprint

2

0

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In 2017, diarrheal diseases were responsible for 606 024 deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. This situation is due to domestic and recreational use of polluted surface waters, deficits in hygiene, access to healthcare and drinking water, and to weak environmental and health monitoring infrastructures.Escherichia coli(E. coli) is an indicator for the enteric pathogens that cause many diarrheal diseases. The links betweenE. coli, diarrheal diseases and environmental parameters have not received much attention in West Africa, and few studies have assessed health risks by taking into account hazards and socio-health vulnerabilities. This case study, carried out in Burkina Faso (Bagre Reservoir), aims at filling this knowledge gap by analyzing the environmental variables that play a role in the dynamics ofE. coli, cases of diarrhea, and by identifying initial criteria of vulnerabilities. A particular focus is given to satellite-derived parameters to assess whether remote sensing can provide a useful tool to assess health hazard.Samples of surface water were routinely collected to measureE. coli,enterococci and suspended particulate matter (SPM) at a monitoring point (Kapore) during one year. In addition, satellite data were used to estimate precipitation, water level, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and SPM. Monthly epidemiological data for cases of diarrhea from three health centers were also collected and compared with microbiological and environmental data. Finally, semi-structured interviews were carried out to document the use of water resources, contacts with elements of the hydrographic network, health behaviors and conditions, and water and health policy and prevention in order to identify the initial vulnerability criteria.A positive correlation betweenE. coliand enterococci in surface waters was found indicating thatE. coliis an acceptable indicator of fecal contamination in this region.E. coliand diarrheal diseases were strongly correlated with monsoonal precipitation, in situ SPM, and Near Infra-Red (NIR) band between March and November. Partial least squares regression showed thatE. coliconcentration was strongly associated with precipitation, Sentinel-2 reflectance in the NIR and SPM, and that the cases of diarrhea were strongly associated with precipitation, NIR,E. coli, SPM, and to a lesser extent with NDVI.Moreover, the use of satellite data alone allowed to reproduce the dynamics ofE. coli, particularly from February to mid-December (R²= 0.60) and those of cases of diarrhea throughout the year (R²= 0.76). This implies that satellite data could provide an important contribution to water quality monitoring.Finally, the vulnerability of the population is found to increase during the rainy season due to reduced accessibility to healthcare and drinking water sources and increased use of water of poor quality. At this period, surface water is used because it is close to habitations, free and easy to use irrespective of monetary or political constraints. This vulnerability particularly impacts the Fulani, whose concessions are often close to surface water (river, lake) and far from health centers, a situation aggravated by marginality.Author summaryIn 2017, diarrheal diseases were responsible for 1.57 million deaths, principally in Sub-Saharan Africa. Many diarrheal diseases are caused by the presence of enteric pathogens in surface water includingEscherichia coli (E. coli), a frequently used indicator of the presence of these pathogens. Yet, few studies have been carried out in West Africa to verify this link or to study the relationship between diarrheal diseases,E. coliand environmental parameters. These diarrheal diseases also depend on socio-health vulnerabilities. This case study addresses the dynamics ofE. colialong with another fecal indicator bacteria, enterococci, as well as diarrheal diseases (from three health centers) and socio-health vulnerability (from three villages and Fulani settlements) and their relationship with hydro-meteorological parameters derivable by satellite. The study site is located in the Bagre reservoir in Burkina Faso where Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) andE. coliwere monitored over one year. Water was generally polluted by bacteria of fecal origin throughout the year and more so during the rainy season. We observed a significant relationship betweenE. coliand enterococci.E. coliconcentrations were strongly correlated to, and predicted by, precipitation, satellite reflectance in the NIR band by Sentinel-2, and SPM measured in-situ. Diarrheal diseases were also strongly correlated with these variables as well asE. coli. Vulnerability of the population to diarrhea increases during the rainy season. The microbiological health risk is more important during the rainy season, from June to September, and especially concerns the Fulani settlements.

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“…[ 5 ]; however, due to cost and time limitations, it is difficult to identify and quantify all of the organisms. Therefore, faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are used; Escherichia coli is the most commonly used FIB in most countries for the assessment of water quality [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. However, Enterococci, previously known as faecal streptococci, are also included in the list of FIB in water by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of A Rapid, Low-Cost Portable Detection Assay for Enterococci in Wastewater and Environmental Waters

Batra

¹

,

Cottam²,

Lepesteur³

et al. 2023

Microorganisms

3

0

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Waterborne diseases are known as a leading cause of illness and death in both developing and developed countries. Several pathogens can be present in contaminated water, particularly waters containing faecal material; however, routine monitoring of all pathogens is not currently possible. Enterococcus faecalis, which is present in the microflora of human and animals has been used as a faecal indicator in water due to its abundance in surface water and soil. Accurate and fast detection methods are critical for the effective monitoring of E. faecalis in the environment. Although conventional and current molecular detection techniques provide sufficient sensitivity, specificity and throughput, their use is hampered by the long waiting period (1–6 days) to obtain results, the need for expensive laboratory equipment, skilled personnel, and cold-chain storage. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a detection system for E. faecalis that would be simple, rapid, and low-cost, using an isothermal DNA amplification assay called recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), integrated with a lateral flow assay (LFA). The assay was found to be 100% selective for E. faecalis and capable of detecting rates as low as 2.8 × 103 cells per 100 mL from water and wastewater, and 2.8 × 104 cells per 100 mL from saline water. The assay was completed in approximately 30 min using one constant temperature (38 °C). In addition, this study demonstrated the quantitation of E. faecalis using a lateral flow strip reader for the first time, enhancing the potential use of RPA assay for the enumeration of E. faecalis in wastewater and heavily contaminated environmental waters, surface water, and wastewater. However, the sensitivity of the RPA-LFA assay for the detection of E. faecalis in tap water, saline water and in wastewater was 10–1000 times lower than that of the Enterolert-E test, depending on the water quality. Nevertheless, with further improvements, this low-cost RPA-LFA may be suitable to be used at the point-of-need (PON) if conjugated with a rapid field-deployable DNA extraction method.

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Assessing enterococci as an alternative fecal indicator for irrigation water quality

Cited by 9 publications

References 31 publications

Environmental determinants of E. coli, link with the diarrheal diseases, and indication of vulnerability criteria in tropical West Africa (Kapore, Burkina Faso)

Environmental determinants of E. coli, link with the diarrheal diseases, and indication of vulnerability criteria in tropical West Africa (Kapore, Burkina Faso)

Environmental determinants ofE. coli, link with the diarrheal diseases, and indication of vulnerability criteria in tropical area (Kapore, Burkina Faso)

Development of A Rapid, Low-Cost Portable Detection Assay for Enterococci in Wastewater and Environmental Waters

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