Integrating microbial source tracking with quantitative microbial risk assessment to evaluate site specific risk based thresholds at two South Florida beaches
Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) can be used to evaluate health risks associated with recreational beach use. This study developed a site-specific risk assessment using a novel approach that combined quantitative PCR-based measurement of microbial source tracking (MST) genetic markers (...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1210192/full |
| _version_ | 1827794729706717184 |
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| author | Anna Gitter Maribeth Gidley Maribeth Gidley Kristina D. Mena Alesia Ferguson Christopher Sinigalliano Anthony Bonacolta Anthony Bonacolta Helena Solo-Gabriele |
| author_facet | Anna Gitter Maribeth Gidley Maribeth Gidley Kristina D. Mena Alesia Ferguson Christopher Sinigalliano Anthony Bonacolta Anthony Bonacolta Helena Solo-Gabriele |
| author_sort | Anna Gitter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) can be used to evaluate health risks associated with recreational beach use. This study developed a site-specific risk assessment using a novel approach that combined quantitative PCR-based measurement of microbial source tracking (MST) genetic markers (human, dog, and gull fecal bacteria) with a QMRA analysis of potential pathogen risk. Water samples (n = 24) from two recreational beaches were collected and analyzed for MST markers as part of a broader Beach Exposure And Child Health Study that examined child behavior interactions with the beach environment. We report here the measurements of fecal bacteria MST markers in the environmental DNA extracts of those samples and a QMRA analysis of potential health risks utilizing the results from the MST measurements in the water samples. Human-specific Bacteroides was enumerated by the HF183 Taqman qPCR assay, gull-specific Catellicoccus was enumerated by the Gull2 qPCR assay, and dog-specific Bacteroides was enumerated by the DogBact qPCR assay. Derived reference pathogen doses, calculated from the MST marker concentrations detected in recreational waters, were used to estimate the risk of gastrointestinal illness for both children and adults. Dose–response equations were used to estimate the probability of the risk of infection (Pinf) per a swimming exposure event. Based on the QMRA simulations presented in this study, the GI risk from swimming or playing in water containing a mixture of human and non-human fecal sources appear to be primarily driven by the human fecal source. However, the estimated median GI health risk for both beaches never exceeded the U.S. EPA risk threshold of 32 illnesses per 1,000 recreation events. Our research suggests that utilizing QMRA together with MST can further extend our understanding of potential recreational bather risk by identifying the source contributing the greatest risk in a particular location, therefore informing beach management responses and decision-making. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:38:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e6009e28166487cb5d58f3746fb1dc7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:38:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e6009e28166487cb5d58f3746fb1dc72023-10-12T15:29:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2023-10-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.12101921210192Integrating microbial source tracking with quantitative microbial risk assessment to evaluate site specific risk based thresholds at two South Florida beachesAnna Gitter0Maribeth Gidley1Maribeth Gidley2Kristina D. Mena3Alesia Ferguson4Christopher Sinigalliano5Anthony Bonacolta6Anthony Bonacolta7Helena Solo-Gabriele8Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center Houston School of Public Health, El Paso, TX, United StatesCooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United StatesAtlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Miami, FL, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center Houston School of Public Health, El Paso, TX, United StatesDepartment of Built Environment, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC, United StatesAtlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Miami, FL, United StatesDepartment of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United StatesInstitut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Catalonia, SpainDepartment of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United StatesQuantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) can be used to evaluate health risks associated with recreational beach use. This study developed a site-specific risk assessment using a novel approach that combined quantitative PCR-based measurement of microbial source tracking (MST) genetic markers (human, dog, and gull fecal bacteria) with a QMRA analysis of potential pathogen risk. Water samples (n = 24) from two recreational beaches were collected and analyzed for MST markers as part of a broader Beach Exposure And Child Health Study that examined child behavior interactions with the beach environment. We report here the measurements of fecal bacteria MST markers in the environmental DNA extracts of those samples and a QMRA analysis of potential health risks utilizing the results from the MST measurements in the water samples. Human-specific Bacteroides was enumerated by the HF183 Taqman qPCR assay, gull-specific Catellicoccus was enumerated by the Gull2 qPCR assay, and dog-specific Bacteroides was enumerated by the DogBact qPCR assay. Derived reference pathogen doses, calculated from the MST marker concentrations detected in recreational waters, were used to estimate the risk of gastrointestinal illness for both children and adults. Dose–response equations were used to estimate the probability of the risk of infection (Pinf) per a swimming exposure event. Based on the QMRA simulations presented in this study, the GI risk from swimming or playing in water containing a mixture of human and non-human fecal sources appear to be primarily driven by the human fecal source. However, the estimated median GI health risk for both beaches never exceeded the U.S. EPA risk threshold of 32 illnesses per 1,000 recreation events. Our research suggests that utilizing QMRA together with MST can further extend our understanding of potential recreational bather risk by identifying the source contributing the greatest risk in a particular location, therefore informing beach management responses and decision-making.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1210192/fullfecal indicator bacteriamicrobial source trackingquantitative microbial risk assessmentbeachchildexposure |
| spellingShingle | Anna Gitter Maribeth Gidley Maribeth Gidley Kristina D. Mena Alesia Ferguson Christopher Sinigalliano Anthony Bonacolta Anthony Bonacolta Helena Solo-Gabriele Integrating microbial source tracking with quantitative microbial risk assessment to evaluate site specific risk based thresholds at two South Florida beaches Frontiers in Microbiology fecal indicator bacteria microbial source tracking quantitative microbial risk assessment beach child exposure |
| title | Integrating microbial source tracking with quantitative microbial risk assessment to evaluate site specific risk based thresholds at two South Florida beaches |
| title_full | Integrating microbial source tracking with quantitative microbial risk assessment to evaluate site specific risk based thresholds at two South Florida beaches |
| title_fullStr | Integrating microbial source tracking with quantitative microbial risk assessment to evaluate site specific risk based thresholds at two South Florida beaches |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating microbial source tracking with quantitative microbial risk assessment to evaluate site specific risk based thresholds at two South Florida beaches |
| title_short | Integrating microbial source tracking with quantitative microbial risk assessment to evaluate site specific risk based thresholds at two South Florida beaches |
| title_sort | integrating microbial source tracking with quantitative microbial risk assessment to evaluate site specific risk based thresholds at two south florida beaches |
| topic | fecal indicator bacteria microbial source tracking quantitative microbial risk assessment beach child exposure |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1210192/full |
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