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
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: