title: Multi-laboratory evaluations of the performance of Catellicoccus marimammalium PCR assays developed to target gull fecal sources.
abstract: Here we report results from a multi-laboratory (n = 11) evaluation of four different PCR methods targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Catellicoccus marimammalium originally developed to detect gull fecal contamination in coastal environments. The methods included a conventional end-point PCR method, a SYBR(®) Green qPCR method, and two TaqMan(®) qPCR methods. Different techniques for data normalization and analysis were tested. Data analysis methods had a pronounced impact on assay sensitivity and specificity calculations. Across-laboratory standardization of metrics including the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), target detected but not quantifiable (DNQ), and target not detected (ND) significantly improved results compared to results submitted by individual laboratories prior to definition standardization. The unit of measure used for data normalization also had a pronounced effect on measured assay performance. Data normalization to DNA mass improved quantitative method performance as compared to enterococcus normalization. The MST methods tested here were originally designed for gulls but were found in this study to also detect feces from other birds, particularly feces composited from pigeons. Sequencing efforts showed that some pigeon feces from California contained sequences similar to C. marimammalium found in gull feces. These data suggest that the prevalence, geographic scope, and ecology of C. marimammalium in host birds other than gulls require further investigation. This study represents an important first step in the multi-laboratory assessment of these methods and highlights the need to broaden and standardize additional evaluations, including environmentally relevant target concentrations in ambient waters from diverse geographic regions.
authors.affiliation: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, USA. Electronic address: christopher.sinigalliano@noaa.gov.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Sinigalliano
authors.forename: Jared S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ervin
authors.forename: Laurie C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Van De Werfhorst
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Badgley
authors.forename: Elisenda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ballesté
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartkowiak
authors.forename: Alexandria B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: Muruleedhara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Byappanahalli
authors.forename: Kelly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gourmelon
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jay
authors.forename: Blythe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Layton
authors.forename: Cheonghoon
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jiyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wim G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raith
authors.forename: Hodon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sadowsky
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schriewer
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wanless
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whitman
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wuertz
authors.forename: Jorge W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Santo Domingo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002140:California; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000382:microbiology*; D010856:Columbidae / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D056569:Enterococcaceae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: C(t); CFU; CV; Catellicoccus marimammalium; DNQ; FIB; Fecal indicator bacteria; Gulls; LLOQ; MST; Microbial source tracking; ND; PCR; QC; QMRA; Quantitative PCR; ROQ; SIPP; Source Identification Protocol Project; TMDL; Water quality monitoring; coefficient of variation; colony forming unit; cycle threshold; detected but not quantifiable; fecal indicator bacteria; lower limit of quantification; not detected; polymerase chain reaction; qPCR; quality control; quantitative microbial risk assessment; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; range of quantification; total maximum daily load