Microorganisms Of Fecal Origin Research Articles

Particulate matter emission sources and meteorological parameters combine to shape the airborne bacteria communities in the Ligurian coast, Italy

Aim of the present study is to explore how the chemical composition of particulate matter (PM) and meteorological conditions combine in shaping the air microbiome in Savona (Italy), a medium-size, heavily inhabited urban settlement, hosting a wide range of industrial activities. In particular, the air microbiome and PM10 were monitored over six months in 2012. During that time, the air microbiome was highly dynamic, fluctuating between different compositional states, likely resulting from the aerosolization of different microbiomes emission sources. According to our findings, this dynamic process depends on the combination of local meteorological parameters and particle emission sources, which may affect the prevalent aerosolized microbiomes, thus representing further fundamental tools for source apportionment in a holistic approach encompassing chemical as well as microbiological pollution. In particular, we showed that, in the investigated area, industrial emissions and winds blowing from the inlands combine with an airborne microbiome which include faecal microbiomes components, suggesting multiple citizens’ exposure to both chemicals and microorganisms of faecal origin, as related to landscape exploitation and population density. In conclusion, our findings support the need to include monitoring of the air microbiome compositional structure as a relevant factor for the final assessment of local air quality.

Irrigation water quality in smooth lettuce cultivation

Qualitative characteristics of surface and groundwater resources have been poorly verified by agricultural producers, who often irrigate their crops with contaminated water. This work aimed to analyze the quality parameters of two water sources (cistern and Brejão Lagoon) used by vegetable producers around the Brejão Lagoon in Sete Lagoas (MG) and to evaluate the influence of water quality on the growth of butterhead lettuce. Physico-chemical and microbiological analyses of the water sources used for irrigation were carried out, in addition to evaluating the height of the plants. The results of the physical-chemical analyses showed that the water studied is contaminated with fecal coliforms, 16.0 NMP (most likely number) in both samples, but at levels acceptable for Conama. For the electrical conductance, the water from the Brejão Lagoon presented a value of 119.7 mg L-1what is about 6 x greater than that observed in the water from the cistern, which presented a value of 18.89 mg L-1. The quality of the irrigation water did not influence the growth of butterhead lettuce. The pH of the two irrigation water sources used, fit in the values established by Conama. The vegetables’ irrigation sources are contaminated with microorganisms of fecal origin, but that contamination is still within the levels acceptable by Conama. Leafy vegetables can be used as a vehicle of infection for producers and consumers. According to the value determined for the electrical conductivity by Cetesb, the water from the Brejão Lagoon is not within the determined standards.

Hygienic surveillance in swimming pools: Assessment of the water quality in Bologna facilities in the period 2010–2012

In the three-year period 2010–2012, 80 public swimming facilities in the metropolitan area of Bologna (Emilia Romagna Region, Italy), including 144 pools (69 indoor, 75 outdoor), were monitored to assess the microbiological and chemical water quality, after about ten years of implementing the new Italian guidance which introduced the principles of internal safety plans in the surveillance of swimming pools. According to the Italian guidance, water samples were collected from supply water (370 samples), pool water (645), and recirculating water entering the pool (307). The samples of supply water always conformed to the microbiological limits for drinking water. The pool water did not conform to the Italian legal requirements in around 16% of indoor pools and 25% of outdoor pools. In 65% of non-compliant samples, only one parameter exceeded the required standards. The microorganisms of faecal origin were isolated very rarely (Enterococci in less than 2% of samples) and pH and residual chlorine showed good compliance in pool water, implying an efficient management of the internal control. The inlet water exceeded the required standards in about 36% and 50% of samples, respectively in indoor and outdoor pools. However, 83.6% of the corresponding samples of pool water met the required limits. The microbiological incongruities were prevalently due to high levels of total heterotrophic counts (THCs) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and were indicative of bacterial colonization of the filters. The sampling of inlet water can thus be indicated as a critical control point for checking the correct functioning of the filters. The non-conformity of samples led to pool closure only in 1.5% of cases. In the other cases, the operators were officially invited to perform the corrective measures previously established in the plan of risk assessment. On the whole, the approach based on internal safety plans produced satisfactory results in terms of pool water quality, demonstrating the effective working of the internal system of analysis and management of risks.

Occurrence, molecular characterization and antibiogram of water quality indicator bacteria in river water serving a water treatment plant

Water pollution by microorganisms of fecal origin is a current world-wide public health concern. Total coliforms, fecal coliforms ( Escherichia coli) and enterococci are indicators commonly used to assess the microbiological safety of water resources. In this study, influent water samples and treated water were collected seasonally from a water treatment plant and two major water wells in a Black Belt county of Alabama and evaluated for water quality indicator bacteria. Influent river water samples serving the treatment plant were positive for total coliforms, fecal coliforms ( E. coli), and enterococci. The highest number of total coliform most probable number (MPN) was observed in the winter (847.5 MPN/100 mL) and the lowest number in the summer (385.6 MPN/100 mL). Similarly E. coli MPN was substantially higher in the winter (62.25 MPN/100 mL). Seasonal variation of E. coli MPN in influent river water samples was strongly correlated with color (R 2 = 0.998) and turbidity (R 2 = 0.992). Neither E. coli nor other coliform type bacteria were detected in effluent potable water from the treatment plant. The MPN of enterococci was the highest in the fall and the lowest in the winter. Approximately 99.7 and 51.5 enterococci MPN/100 mL were recorded in fall and winter seasons respectively. One-way ANOVA tests revealed significant differences in seasonal variation of total coliforms (P < 0.05), fecal coliforms (P < 0.01) and enterococci (P < 0.01). Treated effluent river water samples and well water samples revealed no enterococci contamination. Representative coliform bacteria selected by differential screening on Coliscan Easygel were identified by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis. E. coli isolates were sensitive to gentamicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethazole, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, tetracycline, ampicillin, cefixime, and nitrofurantoin. Nonetheless, isolate BO-54 displayed decreased sensitivity compared to other E. coli isolates. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern can be employed in microbial source tracking.

Microbiological and physico-chemical characteristic of Rwandese traditional beer " Ikigage "

Samples of traditional sorghum beer Ikigage was collected in the southern province of Rwanda and analyzed for microbiological and physico-chemical contents.Ikigage contained total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (33.55 x 106 cfu/ml), yeast (10.15 x 106 cfu/ml), lactic acid bacteria (35.35 x 104 cfu/ml), moulds (4.12 x 104cfu/ml), E. coli (21.90 x 103 cfu/ml), fecal streptococci (22.50 x 103 cfu/ml),Staphylococcus aureus (16.02 x 103 cfu/ml), total coliform (32.30 x 103 cfu/ml), ethanol, soluble protein, reducing sugars, total acidity, pH and Brix were 2.2% (v/v), 9.2 g/l, 2.3, 1.7%, 3.9 and 11.5 bx, respectively. The yeast was identified by API 20 C test and confirmed by PCR-Sequencing of ITS-5.8S region of rDNA. Seventy yeasts isolated in the samples were found to belong to either Saccharomyces cerevisae, Candida inconspicua, Issatchenkia orientalis, Candida magnolia andCandida humilis. Lactic acid bacteria were identified using the API 50 CHL system. Ten different isolates of lactic acid bacteria belonged exclusively to the genus Lactobacillus: Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus buchneri, and Lactobacillussp. The micro-organisms of fecal origin are from the water and the operations post-fermentation process. The presence of potential pathogens emphasizes the importance of developing starter cultures with GRAS status for commercialization of ikigage. Key words: Sorghum beer, Ikigage, alcohol fermentation, microbiology, physico-chemistry.

Indicadores microbiológicos de contaminación de las fuentes de agua.

El crecimiento de la población a nivel mundial ha incrementado los niveles de contaminación. Esta contaminación está relacionada con el vertido de agua de desecho de origen doméstico e industrial a los cuerpos de agua. En el caso de los residuos de origen doméstico, la carga contaminante está representada por altos porcentajes de materia orgánica y microorganismos de origen fecal. El control de la calidad microbiológica del agua de consumo y de desecho, requiere de análisis dirigidos a determinar la presencia de microorganismos patógenos; los agentes involucrados en la transmisión hídrica son las bacterias, virus y protozoos, que pueden causar enfermedades con diferentes niveles de gravedad, desde gastroenteritis simple hasta casos fatales de diarrea, disentería, hepatitis o fiebre tifoidea. El diagnóstico de estos microorganismos, requiere laboratorios especializados y representa varios días de análisis y costos elevados. Como alternativa a estos inconvenientes, se ha propuesto el uso de indicadores microbianos que se puedan identificar mediante el uso de métodos sencillos, rápidos y económicos.El diagnóstico y posterior recuperación de las fuentes de agua naturales contaminadas, debe hacerse además, teniendo en cuenta las implicaciones que en términos ecológicos y sanitarios representa la degradación del recurso. En este sentido, las microalgas perifiticas se constituyen como buenos indicadores del estado trófico de los ecosistemas y responden a los disturbios ocurridos modificando su estructura en cuanto a composición y abundancia se refiere. Este trabajo hace una revisión de los principales bioindicadores de contaminación y su significado en la evaluación de la calidad del agua.

Microbial monitoring of the influence of the stabilization degree of sludge when applied to soil

The aim of this study was to establish the degree of stabilization of sludge and its influence on the evolution of total aerobic micro-organisms and those of faecal origin when the sludge is applied to soil. Two different sludges were used, from a food industry (D) and from an urban treatment plant, (E). Both sludges were stabilized aerobically in laboratory conditions. The stabilization process was monitored by following the evolution of pathogenic micro-organisms and the content of total solids and volatile matter in suspension, while on the other hand the microbial evolution of the samples of soil plus sludge and control soil (S) were monitored over an incubation period of 80 days. After 20 or 40 days of incubation, in both sludge treatments the populations of pathogenic micro-organisms of faecal origin were below detectable limits, regardless of the degree of stabilization of the sludge. Soil without sludge treatment did not show pathogenic micro-organisms.