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Sun A, Mirzayans PM, Piggott AM, Stanton JAL, Sunna A. Adapted method for rapid detection and quantification of pathogen Campylobacter jejuni from environmental water samples. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad058. [PMID: 37245057 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Building on a previously developed workflow for rapid and sensitive pathogen detection by qPCR, this work has established a sample treatment strategy that produces consistent quantification efficiencies (QEs) for Campylobacter jejuni against a complex and highly variable sample matrix from a suburban river. The individual treatments most effective at minimizing the inhibitory effects of the sample matrix were pH buffering with HEPES (50 mM, pH 5.7) and addition of the surfactant Tween 20 (2% v/v). Unexpectedly, sample acidification (pH 4-5) resulting from the use of aged Tween 20 that had undergone partial hydrolysis, appeared to play a key role in enhancing QE. This effect could be replicated by direct pH adjustment with dilute hydrochloric acid and may be linked to the solubilization and removal of inhibitory particles at an acidic pH. While the effectiveness of each individual treatment method varied, a combined treatment of either HEPES buffer + Tween 20, or direct pH adjustment + Tween 20, consistently produced QEs of 60%-70% and up to 100%, respectively, over a sampling period of one year. The consistency and scalability of this workflow make it a suitable alternative to culture-based ISO methods for detecting Campylobacter spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Sun
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Paul M Mirzayans
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Andrew M Piggott
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- Biomolecular Discovery Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Jo-Ann L Stanton
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Anwar Sunna
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- Biomolecular Discovery Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
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Sattar AA, Good CR, Saletes M, Brandão J, Jackson SK. Endotoxin as a Marker for Water Quality. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:16528. [PMID: 36554408 PMCID: PMC9778876 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Water quality testing is vital to protect human health. Current testing relies mainly on culture-based detection of faecal indicator organisms such as Escherichia coli (E.coli). However, bacterial cultures are a slow process, taking 24-48 h and requiring specialised laboratories and trained personnel. Access to such laboratories is often sparse in developing countries and there are many fatalities deriving from poor water quality. Endotoxin is a molecular component of Gram-negative bacterial cell walls and can be used to detect their presence in drinking water. METHOD The current study used a novel assay (BacterisK) to rapidly detect endotoxin in various water samples and correlate the results with E. coli content measured by culture methods. The data generated by the BacterisK assay are presented as an 'endotoxin risk' (ER). RESULTS The ER values correlate with E. coli and thus endotoxin can be used as a marker of faecal contamination in water. Moreover, the BacterisK assay provides data in near real-time and can be used in situ allowing water quality testing at different spatial and temporal locations. CONCLUSION We suggest that BacterisK can be used as a convenient risk assessment tool to assess water quality where results are required quickly or access to laboratories is lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anas A. Sattar
- Molendotech Limited, Brixham Laboratory, Blackball Lane, Freshwater Quarry, Brixham TQ5 8BA, UK
| | - Christian R. Good
- Molendotech Limited, Brixham Laboratory, Blackball Lane, Freshwater Quarry, Brixham TQ5 8BA, UK
| | - Margaux Saletes
- Molendotech Limited, Brixham Laboratory, Blackball Lane, Freshwater Quarry, Brixham TQ5 8BA, UK
| | - João Brandão
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Animal Biology, University of Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Simon K. Jackson
- Molendotech Limited, Brixham Laboratory, Blackball Lane, Freshwater Quarry, Brixham TQ5 8BA, UK
- School of Biomedical Science, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
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Delaney S, Arcari T, O'Connor O. Legionella water testing and the EU Drinking Water Directive: could potentially harmful Legionella bacteria slip through the gaps? Biotechniques 2022; 72:229-231. [PMID: 35469440 DOI: 10.2144/btn-2022-0047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Delaney
- BioProbe Diagnostics, Room 218, Business Innovation Centre, Newcastle Road, NUI Galway, H91 NV29, Ireland
| | - Talia Arcari
- BioProbe Diagnostics, Room 218, Business Innovation Centre, Newcastle Road, NUI Galway, H91 NV29, Ireland
| | - Orla O'Connor
- BioProbe Diagnostics, Room 218, Business Innovation Centre, Newcastle Road, NUI Galway, H91 NV29, Ireland
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McQuillan JS, Wilson MW. Recombinase polymerase amplification for fast, selective, DNA-based detection of faecal indicator Escherichia coli. Lett Appl Microbiol 2021; 72:382-389. [PMID: 33175415 DOI: 10.1111/lam.13427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The bacterium Escherichia coli is commonly associated with the presence of faecal contamination in environmental samples, and is therefore subject to statutory surveillance. This is normally done using a culture-based methodology, which can be slow and laborious. Nucleic acid amplification for the detection of E. coli DNA sequences is a significantly more rapid approach, suited for applications in the field such as a point of sample analysis, and to provide an early warning of contamination. An existing, high integrity qPCR method to detect the E. coli ybbW gene, which requires almost an hour to detect low quantities of the target, was compared with a novel, isothermal RPA method, targeting the same sequence but achieving the result within a few minutes. The RPA technique demonstrated equivalent inclusivity and selectivity, and was able to detect DNA extracted from 100% of 99 E. coli strains, and exclude 100% of 30 non-target bacterial species. The limit of detection of the RPA assay was at least 100 target sequence copies. The high speed and simple, isothermal amplification chemistry may indicate that RPA is a more suitable methodology for on-site E. coli monitoring than an existing qPCR technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S McQuillan
- National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - M W Wilson
- National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
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Munene A, Lockyer J, Checkley S, Hall DC. Exploring Well Water Testing Behaviour Through the Health Belief Model. Environ Health Insights 2020; 14:1178630220910143. [PMID: 32206012 PMCID: PMC7077933 DOI: 10.1177/1178630220910143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Health problems can arise from consuming contaminated well water. Well water testing can help prevent negative health outcomes associated with consuming contaminated water. The aim of this study was to understand the factors influencing well owner decisions to conduct water testing through the theoretical lens of the Health Belief Model. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 well owners and used framework analysis to sort and analyse the data. The results demonstrated that well owners' perceived susceptibility to well water contamination was low, while the perceived severity of contamination, benefits of testing, and self-efficacy towards testing were high. Cues to action to promote testing focused on increasing well owner education and awareness through well stewardship programmes and reminders to test. Participants faced some barriers to water testing. Increasing education and awareness about well water contamination and water testing, while reducing logistical barriers to testing, may improve compliance with water testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Munene
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jocelyn Lockyer
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sylvia Checkley
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - David C. Hall
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
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MacLeod C, Peletz R, Kere F, Baye AM, Onyango M, Aw S, El Hadj Issabre M, Tung R, Khush R. Are Presence/Absence Microbial Tests Appropriate for Monitoring Large Urban Water Supplies in Sub-Saharan Africa? Water (Basel) 2019; 11:491. [PMID: 33552563 PMCID: PMC7839616 DOI: 10.3390/w11030491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Screening for fecal contamination via microbial water quality monitoring is a critical component of safe drinking water provision and public health protection. Achieving adequate levels of microbial water quality testing, however, is a challenge in resource-limited settings. One strategy for addressing this challenge is to improve the efficiency of monitoring programs. In African countries, quantitative microbial testing methods are commonly used to monitor chlorinated piped water systems. However, presence/absence (P/A) tests may provide an appropriate alternative for water supplies that generally show negative fecal contamination results. This study compares 1048 water quality test results for samples collected from five African urban water systems. The operators of the systems conducted parallel tests on the 1048 samples using their standard quantitative methods (e.g., most probable number or membrane filtration) and the Colitag™ method in P/A format. Combined data demonstrates agreement rates of 97.9% (1024/1046) for detecting total coliforms and 97.8% (1025/1048) for detecting E. coli. We conclude that the P/A test offers advantages as a simpler and similarly sensitive measure of potential fecal contamination for large, urban chlorinated water systems. P/A tests may also offer a cost-effective alternative to quantitative methods, as they are quicker to perform and require less laboratory equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara MacLeod
- Aquaya Institute, PO Box 21862-00505, Nairobi
00100, Kenya
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +254-797-549493
| | - Rachel Peletz
- Aquaya Institute, PO Box 1603, San Anselmo, CA
94797, USA;
(R.P.);
(R.K.)
| | - Francis Kere
- Office National de l’Eau et de
l’Assainissement (ONEA), Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso;
| | | | - Michael Onyango
- Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC),
Nairobi 00100, Kenya;
| | - Sadat Aw
- Société de Distribution
d’Eau de la Côte d’Ivoire (SODECI), Abidjan 01, Côte
d’Ivoire;
| | | | | | - Ranjiv Khush
- Aquaya Institute, PO Box 1603, San Anselmo, CA
94797, USA;
(R.P.);
(R.K.)
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Shilpa PV, Bhargava M. Water, sanitation and hygiene survey - Use of hydrogen sulfide strip at field level as a point-of-care test: A pilot study. Indian J Public Health 2018; 62:227-230. [PMID: 30232975 DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_76_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Safe drinking water is a basic element of primary health care. The government of India in its Indian Public Health Standards recommends the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) strip test as a desirable component at primary health centers for screening water for fecal coliforms. The objective of the present study was to conduct a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) survey followed by a H2S strip test of drinking water in a village with ninety households. The test was positive in 88% at the source and the point of consumption, with 100% concordance between both the points of test. A subsample of water samples was subjected to testing in microbiology laboratory, and fecal contamination was confirmed in all of them. To conclude, H2S strip test can be conveniently used at field level, and its ease of use and visual nature of results make it a useful point-of-care test of environmental and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- P V Shilpa
- Undergraduate Medical Student, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Madhavi Bhargava
- Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India
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Hill VR, Narayanan J, Gallen RR, Ferdinand KL, Cromeans T, Vinjé J. Development of a nucleic Acid extraction procedure for simultaneous recovery of DNA and RNA from diverse microbes in water. Pathogens 2015; 4:335-54. [PMID: 26016775 PMCID: PMC4493477 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens4020335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Revised: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Drinking and environmental water samples contain a diverse array of constituents that can interfere with molecular testing techniques, especially when large volumes of water are concentrated to the small volumes needed for effective molecular analysis. In this study, a suite of enteric viruses, bacteria, and protozoan parasites were seeded into concentrated source water and finished drinking water samples, in order to investigate the relative performance of nucleic acid extraction techniques for molecular testing. Real-time PCR and reverse transcription-PCR crossing threshold (CT) values were used as the metrics for evaluating relative performance. Experimental results were used to develop a guanidinium isothiocyanate-based lysis buffer (UNEX buffer) that enabled effective simultaneous extraction and recovery of DNA and RNA from the suite of study microbes. Procedures for bead beating, nucleic acid purification, and PCR facilitation were also developed and integrated in the protocol. The final lysis buffer and sample preparation procedure was found to be effective for a panel of drinking water and source water concentrates when compared to commercial nucleic acid extraction kits. The UNEX buffer-based extraction protocol enabled PCR detection of six study microbes, in 100 L finished water samples from four drinking water treatment facilities, within three CT values (i.e., within 90% difference) of the reagent-grade water control. The results from this study indicate that this newly formulated lysis buffer and sample preparation procedure can be useful for standardized molecular testing of drinking and environmental waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent R Hill
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop D-66, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
| | - Jothikumar Narayanan
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop D-66, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
| | - Rachel R Gallen
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop D-66, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
| | - Karen L Ferdinand
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Viral Diseases, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
| | - Theresa Cromeans
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Viral Diseases, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
| | - Jan Vinjé
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Viral Diseases, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
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Wimsatt J, Feldman SH, Heffron M, Hammond M, Ruehling MPR, Grayson KL, Mitchell JC. Detection of pathogenic Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis using water filtration, animal and bait testing. Zoo Biol 2014; 33:577-85. [PMID: 25231013 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Revised: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) can be challenging to detect at endangered amphibian reintroduction sites. Pre-release Bd detection can be confounded by imperfect animal sampling and the absence of animals. In Study 1, we used historical Bd-positive sites, to concurrently evaluate water filtrates and mouth bar (tadpoles) or skin swab (caudates) samples for Bd using molecular beacon realtime PCR. In Study 2, during a natural outbreak, we used PCR to detect Bd from zoospore-attracting keratin baits (three avian, three snake species). In Study 1, no captured animals (n=116) exhibited clinical signs, although 10.6% were positive, representing three of seven species sampled. In contrast, 5.4% of water filters (n=56) were Bd-positive. In Study 2, after short incubation times, a single duck down feather tested Bd-positive. In conclusion, Bd was detected in asymptomatic amphibians and water filtrate at two sites, and from water only, at two other sites. With continued refinement, semi-quantitative Bd water filtrate screening could better define zoospore-specific disease risk, allowing better characterization of the free-living phase of the organism's life cycle. Finally, these results suggest wild aquatic birds (e.g., waterfowl) should be systematically explored as a means of Bd spread. Since large numbers of aquatic birds migrate, even low Bd transfer rates could be a significant means for disease dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Wimsatt
- Department of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
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Caldwell BK, Smith WT, Lokuge K, Ranmuthugala G, Dear K, Milton AH, Sim MR, Ng JC, Mitra SN. Access to drinking-water and arsenicosis in Bangladesh. J Health Popul Nutr 2006; 24:336-45. [PMID: 17366775 PMCID: PMC3013254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of arsenic contamination in groundwater has challenged efforts to provide safe drinking-water to households in rural Bangladesh. Two nationally-representative surveys in 2000 and 2002 investigated water-usage patterns, water-testing, knowledge of arsenic poisoning, and behavioural responses to arsenic contamination. Knowledge of arsenicosis rose between the two surveys among women from 42% to 64% but awareness of consequences of arsenic remained limited; only 13% knew that it could lead to death. Behavioural responses to arsenic have been limited, probably in part because of the lack of concern but also because households are uncertain of how best to respond and have a strong preference for tubewell water even when wells are known to be contaminated. Further work conducted by the survey team highlighted the difficulties in providing alternative sources of water, with many households switching back to their original sources of water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce K Caldwell
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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