The transport ofMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisthrough saturated aquifer materials

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the processes controlling the transport of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) through aquifer materials. Methods and Results: We measured two important surface characteristics known to affect bacterial attachment to sediment surfaces: surface charge and hydrophobicity. We then measured the transport of Map through laboratory columns packed with aquifer sand with varying ionic strength solutions and sediment surface charge. We found that Map has a strong negative charge and is highly hydrophobic and that the transport of Map through positively charged Fe‐coated sands was reduced compared with transport through negatively charged clean quartz sand, although Map transport for all treatments was low compared with the transport behaviour reported in the literature for other bacteria. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the potential for groundwater contamination by Map is low; however, the organism may remain bound to the soil near the surface where it can be ingested by grazing animals or be released during run off events. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first study looking at the surface characteristics and transport behaviour of Map through aquifer materials and therefore provides important information for understanding the movement of Map in the environment.

A spatial epidemiological analysis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in Queensland, Australia

“…Synthesizing these perspectives, transmission of M. intracellulare may be more related to dust inhalation or direct ground water contamination by soil. Contamination during run-off events is also possible and this has been previously postulated as a potential mechanism for another species of NTM [29]. The co-incidence of high relative risk in Yuleba for both M. kansasii and M. intracellulare may indicate common routes of exposure potentially mediated through inhalation of dust or fine soil particles or contamination of water by these two species.…”

Fate ofMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisafter Application of Contaminated Dairy Cattle Manure to Agricultural Soils

“…Intact soil core samples that maintained undisturbed soil and plant structures, texture, hydraulic conductivity, and porosity were more accurate in predicting pathogen movement under natural soil conditions (43,49). Two recent studies investigated the passage of M. paratuberculosis through a saturated aquifer and the adsorption of the bacteria to soil particles (4,6). In both studies, factors affecting organism movement and attachment were analyzed in columns containing specific soil types artificially composed in a lysimeter.…”

Effect of Soil Slope on the Appearance of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Water Running off Grassland Soil after Application of Contaminated Slurry

“…paratuberculosis does not percolate down into the soil. Rather, it is retained at the soil surface (13,19). Thus, we hypothesized that M. avium subsp.…”

“…There are major differences in the cell wall structure of mycobacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. These differences likely affect adsorption to soil particles mediated by van der Waals electrostatic forces or by hydrophobic interactions with the cell surface (19,20). Adsorption to soil would also be affected by soil pH (20).…”