Persistence of E. coli O157:H7 in urban recreational waters from Spring and Autumn: a comparison analysis

Abstract

Persistence of E. coli O157: H7 (EcO157) in 48 water samples (24 Spring samples and 24 Autumn samples) from 3 urban recreational waters in Changchun City was investigated, and multivariate statistical analysis was performed to correlate survival data with water physicochemical properties and bacterial communities. Our data showed that EcO157 survived longer in Spring samples than in Autumn samples regardless of the lakes. Results revealed that recreational water physicochemical properties and bacterial community in Spring samples were different from those in Autumn samples. Mantel and Partial Mantel tests, as well as co-occurrence network analysis illustrated that EC salinity, TOC and bacterial community were correlated with survival time (ttd) (p < 0.05). Variation partition analysis (VPA) indicated that bacterial community, EC, TOC and TN explained about 64.81% of overall ttd variation in Spring samples, and bacterial community, EC, pH and TP accounted for about 56.59% of overall ttd variation in Autumn samples. Structural equation model (SEM) illustrated that EC indirectly positively affected ttd through bacterial community. The correlation between bacterial community and ttd was negative in Spring samples and positive in Autumn samples. TN appeared a direct positive effect on ttd in Spring samples. TP displayed a direct negative effect on ttd in Autumn samples. Our results concluded that there was seasonal variation in environmental factors that directly or indirectly affected the survival of EcO157 in urban recreational waters.

Safety Properties of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Specific Bacteriophages: Recent Advances for Food Safety

“…The transmission of E. coli O157:H7 through water has been documented in various settings, including both drinking water that has been contaminated [56] and recreational water bodies [57,58]. Furthermore, studies conducted in Nigeria and South Africa demonstrated that water used for irrigation had notable influence on the dissemination of E. coli O157:H7 through the contamination of food products [59,60].…”

“…Untreated sewage released from hospitals, farms, and residential areas containing E. coli O157:H7 into nearby water bodies also increases the risk of human infections significantly [61]. Based on the evidence, E. coli O157:H7 easily survives in water and may persist for several weeks and even longer [58]. Strong rainstorms may cause sediments to be re-suspended, which could lead to an abrupt rise in E. coli O157:H7 concentrations in the water [62].…”

“…Strong rainstorms may cause sediments to be re-suspended, which could lead to an abrupt rise in E. coli O157:H7 concentrations in the water [62]. Xie et al [58] reported the detection of E. coli O157 in urban recreational water and provided evidence of the correlation between contact with these water bodies through activities such as swimming, boating, bathing, and sailing and the development of infections. In addition, an outbreak of E. coli O157 infections occurred among a group of seven children in the United Kingdom who came in contact with recreational water at a coastal beach [63].…”