Microbial source markers assessment in the Bogotá River basin (Colombia)

Abstract

The microbiological indicators traditionally used to assess fecal contamination are insufficient to identify the source. The aim of this study was to detect microbial markers to identify the source of fecal pollution in the Bogotá River (Colombia). For this, we determined non-discriminating indicators such as Escherichia coli, somatic coliphages and phages infecting strain RYC2056 of Bacteroides, and potential source tracking markers as phages infecting strains GA17, HB13, and CA8 of Bacteroides, sorbitol-fermenting bifidobacteria, and molecular markers of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifiodobacterium dentium, and Bacteroidetes in raw municipal wastewaters, slaughterhouse wastewaters, and the Bogotá River. Bacteriophages infecting Bacteroides strain GA17 and the molecular markers identified the wastewater sources. In contrast, sorbitol-fermenting bifidobacteria failed regarding specificity. In the Bogotá River, phages infecting strain GA17 were detected in all samples downstream of Bogotá, whereas they should be concentrated from 1 l samples in upstream samples containing less than 10(3) E. coli/100 ml to be detected. In the river water, the fraction of positive detections of molecular markers was lower than that of phages infecting strain GA17. The ratio SOMCPH/GA17PH was shown also to be a good marker. These results provide information that will allow focusing measures for sanitation of the Bogotá River.

Bacteriophages as indicators of human and animal faecal contamination in raw and treated wastewaters from Tunisia

“…; Venegas et al . ). The percentage distribution of genogroups of F‐specific RNA bacteriophages can also be used for microbial source tracking (Mauffret et al .…”

“…Consequently, these markers could be investigated as potential indicators to predict the presence of enteric viruses and to determine the origin of faecal contamination in wastewaters for epidemiological purpose. Information available taking into consideration dilution and inactivation, indicate that this methods for MST is applicable with concentrating one litre samples with a quite feasible and cost effective concentration method (Mendez et al 2004) for samples containing 10 3 or more E. coli per 100 ml (Jofre et al 2014;Venegas et al 2015). The percentage distribution of genogroups of F-specific RNA bacteriophages can also be used for microbial source tracking (Mauffret et al 2012).…”

Bacteriophages as indicators of faecal pollution and enteric virus removal

“…; Venegas et al . ; Yahya et al . ), while B. fragilis (GB124) seems to be somewhat more widespread, but suffers from lower concentrations in sewage and environmental waters (Ebdon et al .…”

Determination of crAssphage in water samples and applicability for tracking human faecal pollution

“…In this context, the molecular detection of host‐specific Bacteroides species as well as bacteriophages infecting different Bacteroides species (Tartera and Jofre, ; Payan et al ., ; Gómez‐Doñate et al ., ; Jofre et al ., ; McMinn et al ., ; Venegas et al ., ) have proved to be useful in MST studies. However, a drawback with both approaches is a certain geographical inconsistency of the results (Reischer et al ., ; Jofre et al ., ).…”