The application of a recently isolated strain of Bacteroides (GB-124) to identify human sources of faecal pollution in a temperate river catchment.
Recent work has suggested that bacteriophages infecting Bacteroides are a potential tool for faecal source tracking, but that different host strains may be needed for different geographic areas. This study used a recently identified strain of Bacteroides (GB-124) to detect human sources of faecal pollution in a river catchment in southeast England (UK). A total of 306 river water, municipal wastewater and animal samples were obtained over a 16-month period. Bacteriophages capable of infecting GB-124 were present in all municipal wastewaters but were not detected in faecal samples from animals, and were detected at significantly lower levels (P< 0.001) in river waters directly downstream of a dairy farm. This last observation was despite the presence of high levels of faecal indicator bacteria at this site. The study suggests that GB-124 appears to be specific to human faeces. As such it may represent an effective and low-cost method of faecal source identification.
Ebdon
James
J
Environment and Public Health Research Unit, School of the Environment, University of Brighton, Cockcroft Building, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK. je3@bton.ac.uk
Muniesa
Maite
M
Taylor
Huw
H
D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D045483:Rivers / Q000382:microbiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
D014873:Water Pollutants