Enterococcus phages as potential tool for identifying sewage inputs in the Great Lakes region |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, 5047 Gullen Mall, Detroit, MI 48202, USA;2. United States Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, 1100 N. Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304, USA;3. Environment & Public Health Research Unit, School of Environment and Technology, University of Brighton, Cockcroft Building, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GJ, United Kingdom;1. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2003 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA;2. Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA;3. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 07316 State Highway 371, Walker, MN 56484, USA;4. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 5351 North Shore Drive, Duluth, MN 55804, USA;1. Large Lakes Research Station, 9311 Groh Road, Grosse Ile, MI 48138, USA;2. Z-Tech Corporation, ICF Company, Large Lakes Research Station, 9311 Groh Road, Grosse Ile, MI 48138, USA;3. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, Large Lakes and Rivers Forecasting Research Branch, Large Lakes Research Station, 9311 Groh Road, Grosse Ile, MI 48138, USA;1. University of Guelph, Department of Integrative Biology, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2W1;2. Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Rd., Thunder Bay, ON, Canada, P7B 5E1;1. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI 49931, USA;2. Physical Scientist, NOAA/Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA |
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| Abstract: | Bacteriophages are viruses living in bacteria that can be used as a tool to detect fecal contamination in surface waters around the world. However, the lack of a universal host strain makes them unsuitable for tracking fecal sources. We evaluated the suitability of two newly isolated Enterococcus host strains (ENT-49 and ENT-55) capable for identifying sewage contamination in impacted waters by targeting phages specific to these hosts. Both host strains were isolated from wastewater samples and identified as E. faecium by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Occurrence of Enterococcus phages was evaluated in sewage samples (n = 15) from five wastewater treatment plants and in fecal samples from twenty-two species of wild and domesticated animals (individual samples; n = 22). Levels of Enterococcus phages, F + coliphages, Escherichia coli and enterococci were examined from four rivers, four beaches, and three harbors. Enterococcus phages enumeration was at similar levels (Mean = 6.72 Log PFU/100 mL) to F + coliphages in all wastewater samples, but were absent from all non-human fecal sources tested. The phages infecting Enterococcus spp. and F + coliphages were not detected in the river samples (detection threshold < 10 PFU/100 mL), but were present in the beach and harbor samples (range = 1.83 to 2.86 Log PFU/100 mL). Slightly higher concentrations (range = 3.22 to 3.69 Log MPN/100 mL) of E. coli and enterococci when compared to F + coliphages and Enterococcus phages, were observed in the river, beach and harbor samples. Our findings suggest that the bacteriophages associated with these particular Enterococcus host strains offer potentially sensitive and human-source specific indicators of enteric pathogen risk. |
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