Microbial Source Tracking: An Emerging Technology for Microbial Water Quality Assessment: A Review

Abstract

Microbial Source Tracking is a scientific approach that primarily aims to identify the sources of faecal contamination in water bodies. Microbial Source Tracking (MST) is a set of techniques employed to identify the origins of faecal contamination in water. The capacity to track faecal bacteria to their source is a crucial aspect of both public health and water quality management. The utilisation of information obtained from the method of MST would provide water quality managers with an enhanced comprehension of the origins of contamination, thus facilitating the implementation of remedial measures to impede transmission. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the gut-associated bacteria of the order Bacteroidales, specifically the Bacteroides genus, has a tendency to undergo co-evolution with the host, making it a highly viable option for MST applications. However, it is noteworthy that MST is also facilitating the scientific community with effective techniques for tracing faecal bacteria and pathogens in water sources. The methodologies utilised in MST are frequently categorised as either Library-Dependent Methods (LDMs) or Library-Independent Methods (LIMs). Microbial source tracking has been employed for diverse objectives, such as ensuring adherence to regulations, remediating pollution, and evaluating risk. The implementation of MST is expected to mitigate the prevalence of waterborne illnesses resulting from contamination. The implementation of MST has facilitated the ability to anticipate the probable origins of faecal contamination and the associated health hazards linked to compromised water systems. In addition to conventional faecal indicators, these methodologies are suggested as means to furnish supplementary insights into the origins of pollution, as well as the ecological and public health ramifications of animal-derived water contamination.