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Related Concept Videos

Reservoir of Infection01:30

Reservoir of Infection

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Infectious diseases arise from intricate interactions between pathogens and their reservoirs. A reservoir of infection refers to the natural habitat where a pathogen lives, grows, and multiplies, serving as a continual source of infection. Reservoirs are broadly classified as either living or nonliving, and each plays a unique role in disease transmission, significantly influencing public health interventions and control strategies.Humans act as reservoirs for a wide array of pathogens,...
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Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.Vibrio cholerae is a motile, Gram-negative bacterium of the family Vibrionaceae, primarily associated with waterborne outbreaks in areas with inadequate sanitation. Although over 200 serogroups of V. cholerae exist, only O1 and O139 are responsible for epidemic cholera. The O1 serogroup,...
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Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid...
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Tracing enteric pathogen contamination in sub-Saharan African groundwater.

J P R Sorensen1, D J Lapworth1, D S Read2

  • 1British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK.

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Groundwater in Kabwe, Zambia, shows significant fecal contamination, with 72% of tested supplies containing enteric bacteria like Citrobacter freundii and Vibrio cholerae. Shallow wells and deeper boreholes are vulnerable, indicating risks to public health.

Keywords:
Enteric bacterial pathogensQuantitative PCRSub-Saharan AfricaThermotolerant coliformsTryptophan-like fluorescenceUrban

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Hydrogeology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Groundwater contamination poses a significant threat to public health, especially in urban areas with inadequate sanitation.
  • Quantitative PCR (qPCR) offers a rapid method for detecting fecal bacteria as indicators of groundwater contamination.
  • Understanding groundwater vulnerability is crucial for ensuring safe drinking water supplies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence and seasonality of enteric bacterial contamination in groundwater supplies in Kabwe, Zambia.
  • To identify specific bacterial species indicative of fecal pollution using qPCR.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of traditional and emerging fecal indicators in assessing groundwater quality.

Main Methods:

  • A microbial DNA qPCR array targeting 45 bacterial species was used on 22 groundwater samples collected seasonally.
  • Samples were analyzed for thermotolerant coliforms and tryptophan-like fluorescence.
  • Geological context (shallow wells, boreholes in laterite/saprolite and dolomite) was considered.

Main Results:

  • Enteric bacterial DNA was detected in 72% of analyzed groundwater supplies.
  • Citrobacter freundii (69%) and Vibrio cholerae (41%) were the most prevalent detected bacteria.
  • Contamination was highest in shallow wells, but deeper boreholes were also affected, indicating vulnerability of bedrock aquifers.
  • Thermotolerant coliforms and tryptophan-like fluorescence confirmed fecal contamination in most positive sites.

Conclusions:

  • Kabwe's groundwater is highly vulnerable to fecal contamination, with rapid subsurface pathways facilitating pollution.
  • Both shallow and deeper groundwater resources are at risk, challenging the protective capacity of geological formations.
  • Peri-urban areas showed less contamination, suggesting limited lateral transport outside the city.
  • qPCR and tryptophan-like fluorescence are effective tools for assessing groundwater contamination and associated health risks.