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Male-specific coliphage: fecal source identification in an urban watershed
Citation:
Friedman, S., E. Cooper, A. Kincke-Tootle, A. Blackwell, M. Elliott, AND T. Pierce. Male-specific coliphage: fecal source identification in an urban watershed. Water Microbiology Conference, Chapel Hill, NC, May 13 - 16, 2019.
Impact/Purpose:
Present poster at Water Microbiology meeting; to share information using viruses as fecal indicators of pollution regarding source (animal or human impacts).
Description:
Contamination of surface waters often leads to drinking water contamination, degradation of aquatic biota and their habitat and ultimately the decline of the quality of life for both humans and animals. Pathogen contamination, as determined by bacterial fecal indicators, is the leading cause of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) exceedance in watersheds and has been shown to be associated with nutrient enrichment. According to the TMDL, Turkey Creek is listed as impaired for fecal coliform loading according to the Clean Water Act. Measures taken to reduce, eliminate or remediate pollution sources are only effective if the source is identified. EPA recommends the use of bacteria as indicators of fecal pollution. However, fecal indicators of bacterial origin are not always an accurate predictor of fecal viral loads and the waters may be deemed “clean” when in fact they are polluted. In addition, viral indicators of pollution often are indicative of fecal source (human vs animal); and the presence of fecal-indicator viruses has been associated with human-health risks. Male-specific ssRNA coliphage, family Leviviridae, were genotyped to their respective genera and sub-group (I, II, III, IV) using RT-PCR assays. Genotyping the sub-group provides insight as to the fecal-source (animal or human) in the watershed. Preliminary viral genotyping indicates stations Rippy, Hutter and Canal are impacted with human wastes. In addition, E. coli Most Probable Numbers (MPN) were determined, nutrients were analyzed, and the landscape was mapped to provide additional information when seeking solutions to contamination issues in Turkey Creek.