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Opportunistic Aspergillus pathogens measured in home and hospital tap water by quantitative PCR (QPCR)

S J Vesper1, R A Haugland, M E Rogers

  • 1National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45216, USA. vesper.stephen@epa.gov

Journal of Water and Health
|September 20, 2007
PubMed

Insights

A new, rapid DNA testing method can detect dangerous Aspergillus fungi in home tap water. This method helps protect immunocompromised patients by quickly identifying potential contamination sources.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Molecular diagnostics
  • Public health

Background:

  • Opportunistic fungal infections pose a significant risk to immunocompromised individuals.
  • Contaminated water systems can serve as a reservoir for pathogenic fungi.
  • Rapid detection methods are crucial for timely intervention and patient protection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate a simple DNA extraction and quantitative PCR (qPCR) method for detecting Aspergillus species in water.
  • To assess the occurrence of Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus, A. terreus, and A. niger in domestic tap water and hospital water supplies.

Main Methods:

  • Collected water samples from kitchen taps of 60 legionellosis patients and three hospital locations.
  • Utilized a novel, simple DNA extraction technique.
  • Employed quantitative PCR (qPCR) for rapid detection and quantification of target Aspergillus DNA.

Main Results:

  • Aspergillus terreus DNA detected in 16.7% of home tap water samples.
  • Aspergillus fumigatus DNA detected in 1.7% of home tap water samples.
  • No Aspergillus species were detected in any of the hospital water samples.

Conclusions:

  • The developed DNA extraction and qPCR method is effective for rapid screening of opportunistic fungal pathogens in tap water.
  • This method provides results in approximately 3 hours, significantly faster than traditional culture methods.
  • Timely pathogen detection can facilitate prompt removal from water supplies, enhancing safety for immunocompromised patients.

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