MA9 Hazard Assessments for Near Coastal Ecosystems
D137-140
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Monday
() Identification of Bacterial Pollution Hazards in Coastal Watersheds Using Multiple Antibiotic Resistance and Coliphage Analysis.
Scott, G1, Fulton, M1, Thompson, B1, Webster, L1, Leight, A2, Stewart, J1, Gooch, J1, Chestnut, D3, Van Dolah, R4, Kelsey, H5, 1 NOAA/NOS, NCCOS Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC, USA2 NOAA/NOS, NCCOS Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Oxford, MD, USA3 SC Dept. of Health and Env. Control, Columbia, SC, USA4 SC Dept. of Natural Resources, Charleston, SC, USA5 Univ. of South Carolina, School of Public Health, Dept of Env Health Sciences, Columbia, SC, USA
ABSTRACT- Discharges of wastewater from sewage treatment plants (STPs), septic tanks, farm animal operations (FAOs), urbanization and wildlife pollution sources are significant environmental hazards that may adversely affect estuarine water quality in coastal waters, causing impairments of intended uses (swimming and shellfish harvestability). Most shellfish closures in the southeastern U.S. result from urbanization (e.g. GA) or wildlife (e.g. SC) sources. Development of methods for differentiating human versus wildlife coliform bacterial sources are needed to properly manage bacterial pollution emanating from different sources. Several methods for differentiating human and wildlife coliform bacterial sources were evaluated including Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) and coliphage. Water samples were collected from several river and estuarine watersheds in SC and selected pollution sources (STPs, FMOs and septic tanks). Samples were enumerated for fecal coliform bacterial densities (MPNs or MF) and E. coli were isolated by API biotyping. Samples were then analyzed by MAR and coliphage. Results indicated that the % of E. coli comprising the coliform group and MAR was highest at sewage treatment plants and in FAOs and urban areas with septic tanks or influenced by sewer discharges. Wildlife areas had negative MARs or resistance to a single antibiotic and a lower % of E. coli . Coliphage results proved useful in differentiating human versus animal pollution sources. Group 1 F+ coliphages were either animal or human, Group 2 and 3 were specific for human sources and Group 4 was specific for domestic animal sources (swine or poultry). High MARS and Groups 2 and 3 coliphages were common around STPs while high MARs and Group 4 coliphages were found at FAOs. Results indicated that these methods were helpful in identifying different fecal pollution sources and defining microbial hazards affecting surface water classification.
Key words: multiple antibiotic resistance, coliform bacteria, coliphage, E. coli