Correlations between microbial indicators, pathogens, and environmental factors in a subtropical Estuary

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether indicator microbes and physical-chemical parameters were correlated with pathogens within a tidally influenced estuary. Measurements included the analysis of physical-chemical parameters (pH, salinity, temperature, and turbidity), measurements of bacterial indicators (enterococci, fecal coliform, E. coli, and total coliform), viral indicators (somatic and MS2 coliphage), viral pathogens (enterovirus by culture), and protozoan pathogens (Cryptosporidium and Giardia). All pathogen results were negative with the exception of one sample which tested positive for culturable reovirus (8.5 MPN/100 L).. Notable physicalchemical parameters for this sample included low salinity (<1 ppt) and high water temperature (31°C ). Indicator bacteria and indicator virus levels for this sample were within average values typically measured within the study site and were low in comparison with levels observed in other freshwater environments. Overall results suggest that high levels of bacterial and viral indicators were associated with low salinity sites.

Routine screening of harmful microorganisms in beach sands: Implications to public health

“…Ultracentrifugation is also an efficient alternative concentration method (Prata et al, 2012). Another alternative method of filtration is through VIRADEL cartridges filter (Ortega et al, 2009), based on standard protocols (US EPA, 2001).…”

Relationship between Enterococcal Levels and Sediment Biofilms at Recreational Beaches in South Florida

“…21,32,44), variability among beaches suggests that the risk level might be site specific or depend on characteristics such as mineralogy, particle size, moisture content, organic matter, and nutrient availability (33,34). The survival of FIB in relation to these factors has been investigated extensively to better understand contamination at recreational beaches (10,14,15,32,48,55,65,69,70,71); however, no set of factors can consistently account for the variation of indicator levels in sands. a Data from the 10-day study, September multiple-beach study, and February multiple-beach study combined for each corresponding tidal zone.…”

“…The validity of these closings is based on the positive correlation of FIB in the water column to both human pathogens (31,41) and swimmer illness (68), which has been well established for sewage sources. However, the detection of high levels of FIB in beach sands (3,4,15,19,21,24,26,28,39) has called into question these monitoring efforts and initiated a number of studies aimed at understanding FIB persistence and growth in sand (10,32,37,48,55,69,70,71) and/or their possible relation to pathogen presence (1,61). Recent reports have shown a positive relationship between sand contact activities and enteric illness as a function of concentrations of fecal microbial pollution in beach sand (33,34).…”

“…Once seeded into beach sand, these bacteria are able to persist (3,4,14,15,18,21,32,37,48,71). The persistence and growth of FIB have been investigated extensively to better understand contamination at recreational beaches (10,12,14,15,32,48,55,65,68,69,70,71), identifying important growth requirements in microcosms such as moisture content, temperature, and lack of predators. However, no set of factors can consistently account for the variation and patchy distribution of indicator levels in the natural beach environment.…”

Avaliação Da Qualidade Microbiológica De Efluentes Sanitários Tratados Por Sistemas De Lodos Ativados

“…As bactérias coliformes são os microrganismos mais utilizados como referência para indicar e medir a grandeza da contaminação O uso de E. coli para indicar contaminação sanitária mostra-se mais significativo que o uso da bactéria coliforme total, pois as primeiras são restritas ao trato intestinal de animais de sangue quente. Sendo assim, a determinação da concentração dos coliformes pode indicar a existência de microrganismos patogênicos, responsáveis pela transmissão de doenças de veiculação hídrica, tais como febre tifoide e paratifoide, desinteria bacilar e cólera (ORTEGA et al, 2009;LECT, 2017 De acordo com Von Sperling (2005), espera-se eficiência de remoção de 90% de microrganismos em processos de lodo ativado. No presente estudo, foram obtidos valores acima de 98% referentes à remoção de microrganismos neste sistema, ou seja, mais satisfatório do que descrito na literatura.…”