Arcobacter spp. isolated from untreated domestic effluent.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Microbiology
• Public Health Microbiology
• Water Quality Research

Background:

• Arcobacter species are increasingly recognized as emerging pathogens.
• Previous studies have detected Arcobacter in domestic sewage across Europe.
• The presence and prevalence of Arcobacter in UK sewage remained largely uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence of Arcobacter butzleri and Arcobacter cryaerophilus in raw domestic sewage in the UK.
• To determine if Arcobacter species are detectable in UK wastewater treatment facilities.
• To assess the potential implications of Arcobacter in the human community and as a gastrointestinal pathogen.

Main Methods:

• Samples of raw, untreated domestic sewage were collected from nine wastewater treatment facilities in Cheshire, UK.
• Isolation and identification of Arcobacter butzleri and Arcobacter cryaerophilus were performed using standard microbiological techniques.

Main Results:

• Arcobacter butzleri and Arcobacter cryaerophilus were successfully isolated from sewage samples.
• This marks the first documented report of Arcobacter species in sewage within the United Kingdom.
• The findings suggest the circulation of Arcobacter within the local human population.

Conclusions:

• This study confirms the presence of Arcobacter species in UK domestic sewage, supporting findings from other European countries.
• The detection of Arcobacter implies its presence in the human community, identifying it as a potentially underestimated gastrointestinal pathogen in the UK.
• This research contributes to understanding the epidemiology of this emerging pathogen and its significance for water safety and public health in the UK.