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Bacteriophages as Fecal Pollution Indicators
Daniel Toribio-Avedillo1, Anicet R Blanch1, Maite Muniesa1
1Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Viruses
|July 2, 2021
Summary
Bacteriophages, particularly coliphages, show potential as indicators of fecal pollution and viral risk. They mimic enteric virus behavior, offering an alternative to traditional bacterial indicators.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Virology
- Water quality assessment
Background:
- Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria.
- Enteric viruses pose risks in various environments.
- Fecal pollution is a significant environmental concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of enteric bacteriophages as indicators.
- To discuss their role in viral pathogen risk assessment.
- To explore detection methods and regulations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of bacteriophage applications.
- Analysis of bacteriophage characteristics and behavior.
- Overview of detection and enumeration techniques.
Main Results:
- Bacteriophages, especially coliphages, can effectively indicate fecal pollution.
- They share characteristics with enteric viruses, aiding risk assessment.
- Various methods exist for their detection and enumeration.
Conclusions:
- Enteric bacteriophages are valuable tools for monitoring environmental contamination.
- They offer a viable alternative or complement to fecal indicator bacteria.
- Further research and regulatory frameworks are needed for widespread application.
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