Monitoring E. coli and total coliforms in natural spring water as related to recreational mountain areas

Natural spring water has unique properties, as it is rich in minerals that are considered to be beneficial to human health. A survey of the microbiological quality of natural spring water was conducted to assess possible risks from the consumption of the water by visitors in recreational mountain areas located in Seoul, South Korea. The densities of total coliforms and Escherichia coli were measured during the spring and the summer of 2002 to investigate the presence of coliform bacteria in the drinking spring waters. Total coliforms were detected in all samples and the mean density of total coliforms was up to a maximum of 228 CFU/mL. Detectable E. coli was found in 78% of all samples and the mean densities of E. coli varied from a minimum of 0 CFU/mL to a maximum of 15 CFU/mL in all samples. Malfunctioning septic systems and wildlife population appear to be the main source of E. coli contamination. Presence of E. coli in natural spring water indicates potential adverse health effects for individuals or populations exposed to this water. The fecal contaminated spring water may present an unacceptable risk to humans if it is used as raw drinking water.     

Efficiency of Modified H2S Test for Detection of Faecal Contamination in Water

Faecal contamination is a major causative factor for incidence of water borne infectious diseases. Certain hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) producing enteric bacteria such as Salmonella sp. and Citrobacter sp., assosiated with coliforms, have been considered for rapid detection of recent faecal contamination in water. The basic H₂S test medium, modified by adding 0.25 gm/L of L-cystine HCl, was examined for its efficiency with 90 water samples collected from 40 pipe supplies, 20 open wells, 15 hand pumps and 15 different surface water bodies (river, streams and ponds). Sterilized modified culture medium in glass vials was inoculated with 100 mL of each sample and incubated at 20, 25, 30, 35 and 44 ^∘C for 18, 24, 42, 48, 66 and 72 h. Blackening of content in incubated vials was considered positive. For comparison, most probable number (MPN) of coliform and faecal coliform per 100 mL was also estimated in each sample by multiple tube fermentation (MTF) method. H₂S positive result was exhibited by 78% of samples. Coliform (> 10) and faecal coliform/100 mL were also detected in 59% of samples. Maximum H₂S positive results (100%) were found with well and surface water samples incubated at 30, 35 and 44 ^∘C for 18 h. Coliform (> 10) and faecal coliform/100 mL were also detected in most of these samples. Pipe supplies (60%) and hand pumps (73%) also exhibited considerable H₂S production. Coliforms and faecal coliforms were also found in significant number of these samples. Thus, the modified H₂S test may prove a useful alternative indicator of faecal contamination for water quality surveillance and screening of large number of water samples in short duration, particularly during any outbreak of water borne disease among rural population.     

基于拟杆菌16S rRNA基因进行微生物溯源的研究进展

微生物溯源方法可利用粪便中的微生物区分来自人或动物的粪便污染.其中,拟杆菌以其丰度高、不能体外繁殖和宿主特异性强等优势被广泛应用于微生物溯源研究中.本文以拟杆菌16S rRNA基因为标记物,总结了拟杆菌及其标记物在环境中的衰减、拟杆菌引物的敏感性和特异性以及分子生物学技术在微生物溯源中的运用,可为粪便污染源解析提供一定的科学参考依据.     

Ecosystem evolution of seal colony and the influencing factors in the 20th century on Fildes Peninsula,West Antarctica

As the topmost predator in Antarctica, the seal is a unique indicator of Antarctic environment and climate changes. In this study, we collected a sediment core from the Fildes Peninsula of West Antarctica, and used cholesterol, cholestanol, epicoprostanol, coprostanol, and seal hair numbers as the proxy indicators of seal population size and phytol as of general vegetation, and we reconstructed the 20th century history of variation of the seal population and vegetation abundance on this island. The sealing industry in the early 20th century caused the dramatic decline of seal population, and the ban of seal hunting since the 1960s led to its recovery of seal population. The seal population during the past century was primarily controlled by human activities and krill density. The reconstructed relation between seal population and vegetation abundance may oifer new insights into Antarctic environment and ecology.     

抗生素抗性分析法在粪便污染源示踪技术中的应用

伴随着沿海人口的递增和养殖业的发展,粪便污染已成为近岸海域污染的一个重要污染源,日益威胁着人类的生存和经济发展。抗生素抗性分析法(Antibiotic Resistance Analysis,ARA)凭借对不同物种粪便源中相同示踪因子特异性抗生素抗性的检测,可以达到识别粪便污染源的目的。作为一种经济有效的粪便污染源示踪工具,ARA研究在欧美等国已开展并得到了应用。简要介绍了ARA原理、着重阐述了ARA的应用方法学,并概括了目前ARA在国内外发展现状。以期为同领域专家学者提供参考,促进中国利用ARA法在识别粪便源技术中的应用。     

水质标准中指示微生物的发展及现状

饮用水病原微生物污染是公共卫生面临的主要威胁之一,微生物监测在水质监测中的必要性日益受到人们的认可。在实际工作中,一般是通过检测指示微生物间接反映病原微生物的存在。通过调研国内外各组织、机构颁布的水质标准发现,近年来,我国环境质量标准和污染物排放标准中对于指示微生物的选择有从总大肠菌群向粪大肠菌群和大肠埃希氏菌(E.coli)转变的趋势,而美国环保署、欧盟、世界卫生组织、澳大利亚国家健康与医疗研究委员会等根据最新的流行病学证据,强调了大肠埃希氏菌(E.coli)、肠球菌(Enterococci)与粪便污染的相关性更强,可用于替代大肠菌群。建议我国在后续水质标准中对微生物指标进行增补修订时,参考国外经验,形成集成多种指示微生物与多种特定病原体的监测指标体系,以更好地保护环境功能和民众健康。     

多管发酵法与其改进法检测水中粪大肠菌群的比较

粪大肠菌群是水体中粪便污染的重要指示菌,对于评价水质污染程度具有重要的卫生学意义。多管发酵法是传统的粪大肠菌群检测方法,但其步骤繁杂、周期长。目前,已有部分监测及科研人员对其进行了改进,笔者采用改进法与国标多管发酵法进行比较验证,认为Ec培养法可完全替代国标多管发酵法,纸片法亦可用于除酸性水样及菌量大的原污水外的其他环境水样中粪大肠菌群的检测。     

Effect of nitroethane and nitroethanol on the production of indole and 3-methylindole (skatole) from bacteria in swine feces by gas chromatography

Indole and 3-methylindole (skatole) are odor pollutants in livestock waste, and skatole is a major component of boar taint. Skatole causes pulmonary edema and emphysema in ruminants and causes damage to lung Clara cells in animals and humans. A gas chromatographic method that originally used a nitrogen–phosphorus detector to increase sensitivity was modified resulting in an improved flame ionization detection response for indole and skatole of 236% and 207%, respectively. The improved method eliminates the large amount of indole decomposition in the injector. A 10 μ g mL^–1 spike of indole and skatole in water and swine fecal slurries resulted in recovery of 78.5% and 96% in water and 76.1% and 85.8% in fecal slurries, respectively. The effect of the addition of nitroethane and nitroethanol at 21.8 mM in swine fecal slurries was studied on the microbial production of indole and skatole. Nitroethane and nitroethanol decreased the production of skatole in swine fecal slurries at 24 h. The nitroethane effect on l-tryptophan-supplemented fecal slurries after 6 and 24 h incubation resulted in a decrease of 69.0% (P = 0.02) and 23.5% skatole production, respectively, and a decrease of 14.9% indole at 6 h, but an increase in indole production of 81.1% at 24 h.     

Faecal Coliforms in Bivalve Harvesting Areas of the Alvor Lagoon (Southern Portugal): Influence of Seasonal Variability and Urban Development

Faecal coliform (FC) levels in surface water and clams (Ruditapes decussatus) and variations in environmental parameters were studied in two bivalve harvesting areas in the Alvor lagoon (southern Portugal). Land use and cover characteristics in adjacent subwatersheds were also analysed to assess their contributions as sources of faecal contamination. High FC levels in clams from the harvesting area in the most urbanized subwatershed (impervious surface coverage ≈ 10.5%) were positively associated with rainfall and with the cooler periods of the year. FC levels in clams from the least urbanized subwatershed were generally very low and did not present any detectable seasonal trend. From these results, it was concluded that the periodic deterioration of the microbiological quality of clams derives from the cumulative impact of the reservoir of faecal contamination created in urbanized areas, entering into the lagoon during storm water runoff.     

沼液贮存及田间施用后大肠菌群的消长动态

以猪场粪污水厌氧发酵产生的沼液为材料,分别在冬春季和夏秋季对其采用加盖和无盖2种方式贮存,定期检测沼液中大肠菌群数量;通过田间生菜种植试验,定期施用大肠菌群数量(以下均以CFU计)分别为104(WF)、105(LF)、106(MF)和107g-1(HF)的沼液,在沼液施用完毕后第3、10、17和24天检测土壤、生菜表面和生菜体内大肠菌群数量。结果表明:夏秋季大肠菌群存活时间较长,沼液无盖贮存可使大肠菌群数量减少。沼液贮存50 d后,除冬春季无盖贮存的沼液中大肠菌群数量达到GB 8978—2002《污水综合排放标准》中三级排放要求,可以排放以外,其他处理均未达到排放要求。沼液中大肠菌群数量越高,经农田施用后土壤中大肠菌群数量越多,生菜表面和体内大肠菌群数量也越高,但随时间延长大肠菌群数量变化略有不同。检测期内,WF处理农田土壤中大肠菌群数量显著低于其他处理;沼液施毕后第3天,WF处理生菜表面及体内大肠菌群数量均显著小于HF和MF处理;24 d时各处理生菜体内大肠菌群数量均检测不到,达到GB 4789.3—2010《食品安全国家标准食品微生物学检验大肠菌群计数》要求,生菜表面大肠菌群数量对数值小于3.51,但未达GB 4789.3—2010要求。