Journal article
Utility of Helicobacter spp. associated GFD markers for detecting avian fecal pollution in natural waters of two continents
Water research (Oxford), v 88, pp 613-622
01 Jan 2016
PMID: 26562798
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Avian fecal droppings may negatively impact environmental water quality due to the presence of high concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and zoonotic pathogens. This study was aimed at evaluating the performance characteristics and utility of a Helicobacter spp. associated GFD marker by screening 265 fecal and wastewater samples from a range of avian and non-avian host groups from two continents (Brisbane, Australia and Florida, USA). The host-prevalence and -specificity of this marker among fecal and wastewater samples tested from Brisbane were 0.58 and 0.94 (maximum value of 1.00). These values for the Florida fecal samples were 0.30 (host-prevalence) and 1.00 (host-specificity). The concentrations of the GFD markers in avian and non-avian fecal nucleic acid samples were measured at a test concentration of 10 ng of nucleic acid at Brisbane and Florida laboratories using the quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. The mean concentrations of the GFD marker in avian fecal nucleic acid samples (5.2 x 10(3) gene copies) were two orders of magnitude higher than non-avian fecal nucleic acid samples (8.6 x 10(1) gene copies). The utility of this marker was evaluated by testing water samples from the Brisbane River, Brisbane and a freshwater creek in Florida. Among the 18 water samples tested from the Brisbane River, 83% (n = 18) were positive for the GFD marker, and the concentrations ranged from 6.0 x 10(1)-3.2 x 10(2) gene copies per 100 mL water. In all, 92% (n = 25) water samples from the freshwater creek in Florida were also positive for the GFD marker with concentrations ranging from 2.8 x 10(1)-1.3 x 10(4) gene copies per 100 mL water. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the GFD marker is highly specific to avian host groups, and could be used as a reliable marker to detect the presence and amount of avian fecal pollution in environmental waters. Crown Copyright (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Details
- Title
- Utility of Helicobacter spp. associated GFD markers for detecting avian fecal pollution in natural waters of two continents
- Creators
- W. Ahmed - CSIRO Land and WaterV. J. Harwood - University of South FloridaK. Nguyen - University of South FloridaS. Young - University of South FloridaK. Hamilton - CSIRO Land and WaterS. Toze - CSIRO Land and Water
- Publication Details
- Water research (Oxford), v 88, pp 613-622
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship Program
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physical Therapy (and Rehabilitation Sciences)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000367276500059
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84946600622
- Other Identifier
- 991019169713004721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Engineering, Environmental
- Environmental Sciences
- Water Resources