Detection of pathogenic Campylobacter, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. in wastewater by PCR assay.
The aim of this study was the evaluation of the occurrence of pathogenic Campylobacter, Escherichia coli O157:H7, E. coli virulence genes and Salmonella spp. in different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) using a method based on an enrichment step and PCR. This method was sensitive enough to detect low levels (∼2 CFU100 ml(-1) of raw sewage) of all the investigated pathogens. In the WWTP samples, E. coli O157:H7 DNA and the eae gene were never found, but 33 % of influents and effluents exhibited amplicons corresponding to Shiga-like toxin I. Twenty-five percent of the influent and 8 % of the effluent exhibited the presence of Shiga-like toxin II. Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli DNA were identified in 50 and 25 % of the influents and in 8 and 25 % of the effluents, respectively. Salmonella spp. DNA was present in all the samples. Considering the results obtained, the method tested here offers a reliable and expeditious tool for evaluating the efficiency of the effluent treatment in order to mitigate contamination risk. Influent contamination by Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. provides indirect information about their circulation; moreover, their presence in effluents underlines the role of WWTPs in the contamination of the receiving surface waters, which affects public health directly or indirectly.
Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126, Torino, Italy.
Si
S
Bonetta
Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126, Torino, Italy.
C
C
Pignata
Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A., C.so XI Febbraio, 14, Torino, 10152, Italy.
E
E
Lorenzi
Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A., C.so XI Febbraio, 14, Torino, 10152, Italy.
M
M
De Ceglia
Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A., C.so XI Febbraio, 14, Torino, 10152, Italy.
L
L
Meucci
Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126, Torino, Italy.
Sa
S
Bonetta
Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126, Torino, Italy.
G
G
Gilli
Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126, Torino, Italy. elisabetta.carraro@unito.it.
E
E
Carraro
D000818:Animals; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000235:genetics*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D058889:Molecular Typing; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012475:Salmonella / Q000235:genetics*; D012621:Seasons; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics; D062065:Wastewater / Q000382:microbiology*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D060753:Water Quality
D037521:Virulence Factors; D062065:Wastewater
Campylobacter spp.; E. coli O157:H7; PCR; Salmonella spp.; Virulence genes; Wastewater