Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of bacteria across an intertidal shellfish bed: Implications for regulatory monitoring of faecal indicator organisms

Clements, Katie; Jones, Davey L.; Wilson, James A.; Malham, Shelagh K.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.10.100

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…E. coli (and fecal coliform concentrations) in shellfish increased rapidly after discharge, with E. coli concentrations exceeded the European shellfish hygiene class C limit of 46,000 per 100 g −1 and decayed during subsequent discharge-free periods. Clements et al (2015) [27] reported heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of bacteria at an intertidal of shellfish bed.…”

Section: The Effect Of Distance From the Sewage Source On The Numbersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Influencing the Concentration of Fecal Coliforms in Oysters in the River Blackwater Estuary, UK

Florini

Shahsavari

Ngo

et al. 2020

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Contamination of water systems can not only entail high risks to human health but can also result in economic losses due to closure of beaches and shellfish harvesting areas. Understanding the origin of fecal pollution at locations where shellfish are grown is essential in assessing associated health risks—as well as the determining actions necessary to remedy the problem. The aim of this work is to identify the species-specific source(s) of fecal contamination impacting waters overlying the shellfisheries in the Blackwater Estuary, East Anglia, UK. Over a twelve-month period, water samples were taken from above the oysters and from a variety of upstream points considered to be likely sources of fecal microorganism, together with oyster samples, and the number of fecal streptococci and E. coli were determined. Transition from low to high tide significantly decreased the concentration of fecal streptococci in waters overlying the oyster beds, indicative of a freshwater input of fecal pollution in oyster bed waters. In 12 months, the number of E. coli remained constant throughout, while fecal streptococci numbers were generally higher in the winter months. Analyses of upstream samples identified a sewage outfall to be the main source of E. coli to the oyster beds, with additional fecal streptococci from agricultural sources. The findings may assist in developing approaches for assessing the risks to shellfishery industries of various fecal inputs into an estuary, which could then help local governmental authorities address the problem.

show abstract

Section: The Effect Of Distance From the Sewage Source On The Numbersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Influencing the Concentration of Fecal Coliforms in Oysters in the River Blackwater Estuary, UK

Florini

Shahsavari

Ngo

et al. 2020

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Water used for recreation, drinking or food production (including shell fisheries) is routinely screened for faecal indicator organisms (FIOs) by regulators to track compliance with health related standards and associated legislation ( Pachepsky et al., 2016 , Clements et al., 2015 ). The detection of FIOs in environmental matrices is indicative of faecal contamination and their presence in high numbers can suggest a risk to human health in addition to posing wider economic and environmental threats ( Oliver et al., 2016a , Oliver et al., 2016b , Quilliam et al., 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal persistence of faecal indicator organisms in soil following dairy slurry application to land by surface broadcasting and shallow injection

Hodgson

Oliver

Fish

et al. 2016

Journal of Environmental Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dairy farming generates large volumes of liquid manure (slurry), which is ultimately recycled to agricultural land as a valuable source of plant nutrients. Different methods of slurry application to land exist; some spread the slurry to the sward surface whereas others deliver the slurry under the sward and into the soil, thus helping to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of two slurry application methods (surface broadcast versus shallow injection) on the survival of faecal indicator organisms (FIOs) delivered via dairy slurry to replicated grassland plots across contrasting seasons. A significant increase in FIO persistence (measured by the half-life of E. coli and intestinal enterococci) was observed when slurry was applied to grassland via shallow injection, and FIO decay rates were significantly higher for FIOs applied to grassland in spring relative to summer and autumn. Significant differences in the behaviour of E. coli and intestinal enterococci over time were also observed, with E. coli half-lives influenced more strongly by season of application relative to the intestinal enterococci population. While shallow injection of slurry can reduce agricultural GHG emissions to air it can also prolong the persistence of FIOs in soil, potentially increasing the risk of their subsequent transfer to water. Awareness of (and evidence for) the potential for ‘pollution-swapping’ is critical in order to guard against unintended environmental impacts of agricultural management decisions.

show abstract

“…For example, shellfish flesh is known to be an environmental reservoir of FIOs [41] therefore presenting a possible hazard to human health when consumed. Clements et al [42] observed no correlation between the total coliform and E. coli abundance in mussel ( Mytilus edulis ) tissues and spatially corresponding surface sediments, therefore direct measurement or prediction of E. coli abundance in sediments directly underlying shellfish beds are unlikely to be of use. However, knowledge of the potential for upstream or estuarine sediments to resuspend and release FIOs into the water column which then may accumulate in shellfish tissue through filter feeding is of importance to determining and identifying the causes of bioaccumulation of FIOs in shellfish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Risk of E. coli Resuspension from Intertidal Estuarine Sediments: Implications for Water Quality

Wyness

Paterson

Rimmer

et al. 2019

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Estuarine sediments are a reservoir for faecal bacteria, such as E. coli, where they reside at greater concentrations and for longer periods than in the overlying water. Faecal bacteria in sediments do not usually pose significant risk to human health until resuspended into the water column, where transmission routes to humans are facilitated. The erosion resistance and corresponding E. coli loading of intertidal estuarine sediments was monitored in two Scottish estuaries to identify sediments that posed a risk of resuspending large amounts of E. coli. In addition, models were constructed in an attempt to identify sediment characteristics leading to higher erosion resistance. Sediments that exhibited low erosion resistance and a high E. coli loading occurred in the upper- and mid-reaches of the estuaries where sediments had higher organic content and smaller particle sizes, and arose predominantly during winter and autumn, with some incidences during summer. Models using sediment characteristics explained 57.2% and 35.7% of sediment shear strength and surface stability variance respectively, with organic matter content and season being important factors for both. However large proportions of the variance remained unexplained. Sediments that posed a risk of resuspending high amounts of faecal bacteria could be characterised by season and sediment type, and this should be considered in the future modelling of bathing water quality.

show abstract

Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of bacteria across an intertidal shellfish bed: Implications for regulatory monitoring of faecal indicator organisms

Cited by 10 publications

References 35 publications

Factors Influencing the Concentration of Fecal Coliforms in Oysters in the River Blackwater Estuary, UK

Factors Influencing the Concentration of Fecal Coliforms in Oysters in the River Blackwater Estuary, UK

Seasonal persistence of faecal indicator organisms in soil following dairy slurry application to land by surface broadcasting and shallow injection

Assessing Risk of E. coli Resuspension from Intertidal Estuarine Sediments: Implications for Water Quality

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About