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Related Experiment Videos

Microbial source tracking: a forensic technique for microbial source identification?

Carl M Stapleton1, Mark D Wyer, David Kay

  • 1Centre for Catchment and Coastal Research, River Basin Dynamics and Hydrology Research Group, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK, S23 3DB.

Journal of Environmental Monitoring : JEM
|May 12, 2007
PubMed
Summary
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Microbial source tracking (MST) can distinguish between livestock and human fecal bacteria in water, but it

Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Water quality management
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • Integrated management of microbial pollution is crucial for water quality.
  • Faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in water bodies necessitate understanding their sources.
  • Catchment-scale microbial dynamics are key for regulatory compliance (e.g., Water Framework Directive, US Clean Water Act).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of microbial source tracking (MST) for identifying fecal bacteria sources in a catchment.
  • To assess MST's effectiveness in providing data for Water Framework Directive (WFD) and US Clean Water Act (USCWA) assessments.
  • To compare MST results with empirical data on microbial flux and land use.

Main Methods:

  • Genotyping of Bacteroidetes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Detection of male-specific ribonucleic acid coliphage (F+RNA coliphage) using hybridization.
  • Collection of quantitative faecal indicator source apportionment empirical data and land use information.
  • Analysis of microbial samples under high and low flow conditions.

    • Main Results:

    • MST showed some ability to discriminate between livestock and human fecal sources.
    • Discrimination was less distinct in areas with mixed land use.
    • MST data reliability increased with high flow samples, when most microbial flux occurs.
    • MST did not provide quantitative source apportionment for the study catchment.

    Conclusions:

    • Microbial source tracking (MST) is a potentially useful supplementary tool for water quality management.
    • Current MST techniques may not yet meet the standards for a reliable forensic tool for source apportionment.
    • Further method development and catchment-scale studies are needed to increase confidence in MST applications.
    • Empirical measurement of microbial flux remains essential for robust source apportionment.