Assessing Pathogen Presence in an Intensively Tile Drained, Agricultural Watershed.

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Agricultural science
• Water quality analysis

Background:

• Swine production generates manure, a source of nutrients and potential pathogens.
• Long-term impacts of manure application on pathogen transport in waterways remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term effects of manure application on pathogen transport in the South Fork Iowa River watershed.
• To identify specific pathogen-containing genera and their environmental pathways.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 16S-rRNA gene sequencing to detect and quantify pathogen-containing genera in water samples.
• Collected monthly samples from surface water and artificial drainage outlets.
• Combined sequencing data with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for accurate abundance measurements.

Main Results:

• Abundances of specific pathogenic genera increased in surface water following fall manure application.
• Identified artificial drainage as a primary transport pathway for some genera.
• Identified surface runoff as a key transport pathway for other genera.

Conclusions:

• Manure application significantly alters microbial community structures and increases pathogen presence in surface waters.
• Understanding pathogen transport pathways is crucial for developing mitigation strategies in agricultural watersheds.
• This research provides insights into the environmental fate of diverse pathogenic genera in agroecosystems.