The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL) studies the source, occurrence, and distribution of the bacterial pathogens Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC), Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus and the relation of occurrence of pathogens with fecal indicator bacteria, land-use, season, hydrology, geology, weather factors (wind direction, wave height), and emerging chemical contaminants. We have conducted several studies that have evaluated surface water and source samples for markers specific to these bacterial pathogens. Pathogens have been studied in surface waters from several different settings including both agricultural and urban environments, rivers, inland lakes, and the Great Lakes. New methods to test for additional bacterial pathogens are continually being developed.
Reports are available for the following studies:
Factors related to occurrence and distribution of selected bacterial and protozoan pathogens in Pennsylvania streams
Pathogenic bacteria and microbial-source tracking markers in Brandywine Creek Basin, Pennsylvania and Delaware, 2009-10
Comparing wastewater chemicals, indicator bacteria concentrations, and bacterial pathogen genes as fecal pollution indicators
Chemical and microbiological water quality of subsurface agricultural drains during a field trial of liquid dairy manure effluent application rate and varying tillage practices, Upper Tiffin Watershed, southeastern Michigan
- Overview
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL) studies the source, occurrence, and distribution of the bacterial pathogens Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC), Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus and the relation of occurrence of pathogens with fecal indicator bacteria, land-use, season, hydrology, geology, weather factors (wind direction, wave height), and emerging chemical contaminants. We have conducted several studies that have evaluated surface water and source samples for markers specific to these bacterial pathogens. Pathogens have been studied in surface waters from several different settings including both agricultural and urban environments, rivers, inland lakes, and the Great Lakes. New methods to test for additional bacterial pathogens are continually being developed.
- Publications
Reports are available for the following studies:
Factors related to occurrence and distribution of selected bacterial and protozoan pathogens in Pennsylvania streams
The occurrence and distribution of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and bacterial and protozoan pathogens are controlled by diverse factors. To investigate these factors in Pennsylvania streams, 217 samples were collected quarterly from a 27-station water-quality monitoring network from July 2007 through August 2009. Samples were analyzed for concentrations of Escherichia coli (EC) and enterococci (AuthorsJoseph W. Duris, Andrew G. Reif, Donna A. Crouse, Natasha M. IsaacsPathogenic bacteria and microbial-source tracking markers in Brandywine Creek Basin, Pennsylvania and Delaware, 2009-10
The City of Wilmington, Delaware, is in the downstream part of the Brandywine Creek Basin, on the main stem of Brandywine Creek. Wilmington uses this stream, which drains a mixed-land-use area upstream, for its main drinking-water supply. Because the stream is used for drinking water, Wilmington is in need of information about the occurrence and distribution of specific fecally derived pathogenicAuthorsJoseph W. Duris, Andrew G. Reif, Leif E. Olson, Heather E. JohnsonComparing wastewater chemicals, indicator bacteria concentrations, and bacterial pathogen genes as fecal pollution indicators
The objective of this study was to compare fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) (fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli [EC], and enterococci [ENT]) concentrations with a wide array of typical organic wastewater chemicals and selected bacterial genes as indicators of fecal pollution in water samples collected at or near 18 surface water drinking water intakes. Genes tested included esp (indicating human-pathAuthorsS.K. Haack, J.W. Duris, L.R. Fogarty, D.W. Kolpin, M. J. Focazio, E. T. Furlong, M. T. MeyerChemical and microbiological water quality of subsurface agricultural drains during a field trial of liquid dairy manure effluent application rate and varying tillage practices, Upper Tiffin Watershed, southeastern Michigan
A field trial was done in the Upper Tiffin River Watershed, in southeastern Michigan, to determine the influence of liquid dairy manure effluent (LDME) management practices on the quality of agricultural subsurface-drain water. Samples from subsurface drains were analyzed for nutrients, fecal-coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, antibiotics, chemicals typically detected in wastewater,AuthorsSheridan Kidd Haack, Joseph W. Duris