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Markers Specific to Bacteroides fragilis Group Bacteria as Indicators of Anthropogenic Pollution of Surface Waters

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  • Sebastian Niestępski

    (Department of Engineering of Water Protection and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Monika Harnisz

    (Department of Engineering of Water Protection and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Ewa Korzeniewska

    (Department of Engineering of Water Protection and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Adriana Osińska

    (Department of Engineering of Water Protection and Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of markers specific to Bacteroides fragilis group (BFG) bacteria as indicators of anthropogenic pollution of surface waters. In addition, the impact of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on the spread of genes specific to fecal indicator bacteria and genes encoding antimicrobial resistance in water bodies was also determined. Samples of hospital wastewater (HWW), untreated wastewater (UWW), and treated wastewater (TWW) evacuated from a WWTP were collected, and samples of river water were taken upstream (URW) and downstream (DRW) from the wastewater discharge point to determine, by qPCR, the presence of genes specific to BFG, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis , and the abundance of 11 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and two integrase genes. The total number of bacterial cells (TCN) in the examined samples was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Genes specific to BFG predominated among the analyzed indicator microorganisms in HWW, and their copy numbers were similar to those of genes specific to E. coli and E. faecalis in the remaining samples. The abundance of genes specific to BFG was highly correlated with the abundance of genes characteristic of E. coli and E. faecalis , all analyzed ARGs and int I genes. The results of this study indicate that genes specific to BFG can be used in analyses of human fecal pollution, and as indicators of environmental contamination with ARGs. A significant increase in the copy numbers of genes specific to BFG, E. coli , and seven out of the 11 analyzed ARGs was noted in samples of river water collected downstream from the wastewater discharge point, which suggests that WWTPs are an important source of these genes in riparian environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastian Niestępski & Monika Harnisz & Ewa Korzeniewska & Adriana Osińska, 2020. "Markers Specific to Bacteroides fragilis Group Bacteria as Indicators of Anthropogenic Pollution of Surface Waters," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:7137-:d:421470
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jaqueline Rocha & Telma Fernandes & Maria V. Riquelme & Ni Zhu & Amy Pruden & Célia M. Manaia, 2019. "Comparison of Culture- and Quantitative PCR-Based Indicators of Antibiotic Resistance in Wastewater, Recycled Water, and Tap Water," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Antti Karkman & Katariina Pärnänen & D. G. Joakim Larsson, 2019. "Fecal pollution can explain antibiotic resistance gene abundances in anthropogenically impacted environments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ye Ji Kim & Lyu Jin Jun & Da Won Lee & Young Juhn Lee & Ye Jin Ko & Yeong Eun Oh & Soo Ji Woo & Myoung Sug Kim & Seung Min Kim & Joon Bum Jeong, 2022. "Antibiotic Susceptibility of Bacterial Pathogens That Infect Olive Flounder ( Paralichthys olivaceus ) Cultivated in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, July.

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