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Public and Environmental Health Microbiology

Evidence of Avian and Possum Fecal Contamination in Rainwater Tanks as Determined by Microbial Source Tracking Approaches

W. Ahmed, K. A. Hamilton, P. Gyawali, S. Toze, C. N. Haas
C. A. Elkins, Editor
W. Ahmed
aCSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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K. A. Hamilton
aCSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
bDrexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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P. Gyawali
aCSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
cSchool of Public Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
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S. Toze
aCSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
cSchool of Public Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
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C. N. Haas
bDrexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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C. A. Elkins
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Roles: Editor
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DOI: 10.1128/AEM.00892-16
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ABSTRACT

Avian and possum fecal droppings may negatively impact roof-harvested rainwater (RHRW) water quality due to the presence of zoonotic pathogens. This study was aimed at evaluating the performance characteristics of a possum feces-associated (PSM) marker by screening 210 fecal and wastewater samples from possums (n = 20) and a range of nonpossum hosts (n = 190) in Southeast Queensland, Australia. The host sensitivity and specificity of the PSM marker were 0.90 and 0.95 (maximum value, 1.00), respectively. The mean concentrations of the GFD marker in possum fecal DNA samples (8.8 × 107 gene copies per g of feces) were two orders of magnitude higher than those in the nonpossum fecal DNA samples (5.0 × 105 gene copies per g of feces). The host sensitivity, specificity, and concentrations of the avian feces-associated GFD marker were reported in our recent study (W. Ahmed, V. J. Harwood, K. Nguyen, S. Young, K. Hamilton, and S. Toze, Water Res 88:613–622, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.10.050). The utility of the GFD and PSM markers was evaluated by testing a large number of tank water samples (n = 134) from the Brisbane and Currumbin areas. GFD and PSM markers were detected in 39 of 134 (29%) and 11 of 134 (8%) tank water samples, respectively. The GFD marker concentrations in PCR-positive samples ranged from 3.7 × 102 to 8.5 × 105 gene copies per liter, whereas the concentrations of the PSM marker ranged from 2.0 × 103 to 6.8 × 103 gene copies per liter of water. The results of this study suggest the presence of fecal contamination in tank water samples from avian and possum hosts. This study has established an association between the degradation of microbial tank water quality and avian and possum feces. Based on the results, we recommend disinfection of tank water, especially for tanks designated for potable use.

IMPORTANCE The use of roof-harvested rainwater (RHRW) for domestic purposes is a globally accepted practice. The presence of pathogens in rainwater tanks has been reported by several studies, supporting the necessity for the management of potential health risks. The sources of fecal pollution in rainwater tanks are unknown. However, the application of microbial source tracking (MST) markers has the potential to identify the sources of fecal contamination in a rainwater tank. In this study, we provide evidence of avian and possum fecal contamination in tank water samples using molecular markers. This study established a potential link between the degradation of the microbial quality of tank water and avian and possum feces.

FOOTNOTES

    • Received 22 March 2016.
    • Accepted 6 May 2016.
    • Accepted manuscript posted online 13 May 2016.
  • Supplemental material for this article may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00892-16.

  • Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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Evidence of Avian and Possum Fecal Contamination in Rainwater Tanks as Determined by Microbial Source Tracking Approaches
W. Ahmed, K. A. Hamilton, P. Gyawali, S. Toze, C. N. Haas
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Jun 2016, 82 (14) 4379-4386; DOI: 10.1128/AEM.00892-16

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Evidence of Avian and Possum Fecal Contamination in Rainwater Tanks as Determined by Microbial Source Tracking Approaches
W. Ahmed, K. A. Hamilton, P. Gyawali, S. Toze, C. N. Haas
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Jun 2016, 82 (14) 4379-4386; DOI: 10.1128/AEM.00892-16
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