It is often important to understand the source of fecal indicator bacteria, pathogens, or chemicals that impair the normal use of water. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their genes, specific bacterial pathogens (such as E. coli O157:H7 which is primarily associated with cattle), and host-associated bacterial genes (such as human or animal specific Bacteroides genes), can be used to evaluate the source of fecal pollution. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL) uses both genetic and antibiotic-resistance methods in source tracking studies. By using DNA-based methods that detect genes from human- or animal-associated organisms in conjunction with chemical methods that detect wastewater compounds, a more accurate assessment of the source of biological and chemical contamination can be conducted. All of our studies use a multiple-lines-of-evidence approach to ascertain potential sources of pollution.
Reports are available for the following studies:
Comparing wastewater chemicals, indicator bacteria concentrations, and bacterial pathogen genes as fecal pollution indicators
Escherichia coli and enterococci at beaches in the Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan: Sources, characteristics, and environmental pathways
- Overview
It is often important to understand the source of fecal indicator bacteria, pathogens, or chemicals that impair the normal use of water. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their genes, specific bacterial pathogens (such as E. coli O157:H7 which is primarily associated with cattle), and host-associated bacterial genes (such as human or animal specific Bacteroides genes), can be used to evaluate the source of fecal pollution. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL) uses both genetic and antibiotic-resistance methods in source tracking studies. By using DNA-based methods that detect genes from human- or animal-associated organisms in conjunction with chemical methods that detect wastewater compounds, a more accurate assessment of the source of biological and chemical contamination can be conducted. All of our studies use a multiple-lines-of-evidence approach to ascertain potential sources of pollution.
- Publications
Reports are available for the following studies:
Comparing 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. MeyerEscherichia coli and enterococci at beaches in the Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan: Sources, characteristics, and environmental pathways
This study quantified Escherichia coli(EC) and enterococci (ENT) in beach waters and dominant source materials, correlated these with ambient conditions, and determined selected EC genotypes and ENT phenotypes. Bathing-water ENT criteria were exceeded more frequently than EC criteria, providing conflicting interpretations of water quality. Dominant sources of EC and ENT were bird feces (108/d/birdAuthorsS.K. Haack, L.R. Fogarty, C. Wright