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The Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) have effectively kept lower antibiotic-resistant bacterial (ARB) pathogen rates than many other countries. However, in recent years, these five countries have encountered a rise in ARB cases and challenges in treating infections due to the growing prevalence of ARB pathogens. Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) is a valuable supplement to clinical methods for ARB surveillance, but there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of WBS application for ARB in the Nordic countries. This review aims to compile the latest state-of-the-art developments in WBS for ARB monitoring in the Nordic countries and compare them with clinical surveillance practices. After reviewing 1480 papers from the primary search, 54 were found relevant, and 15 additional WBS-related papers were included. Among 69 studies analyzed, 42 dedicated clinical epidemiology, while 27 focused on wastewater monitoring. The PRISMA review of the literature revealed that Nordic countries focus on four major WBS objectives of ARB: assessing ARB in the human population, identifying ARB evading wastewater treatment, quantifying removal rates, and evaluating potential ARB evolution during the treatment process. In both clinical and wastewater contexts, the most studied targets were pathogens producing carbapenemase and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), primarily Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. However, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have received more attention in clinical epidemiology than in wastewater studies, probably due to their lower detection rates in wastewater. Clinical surveillance has mostly used culturing, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and genotyping, but WBS employed PCR-based and metagenomics alongside culture-based techniques. Imported cases resulting from international travel and hospitalization abroad appear to have frequently contributed to the rise in ARB pathogen cases in these countries. The many similarities between the Nordic countries (e.g., knowledge exchange practices, antibiotic usage patterns, and the current ARB landscape) could facilitate collaborative efforts in developing and implementing WBS for ARB in population-level screening.
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Águas Residuárias , Águas Residuárias/microbiologia , Países Escandinavos e Nórdicos/epidemiologia , Antibacterianos , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana , Humanos , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Bactérias/efeitos dos fármacos , Bactérias/isolamento & purificação , Bactérias/genéticaRESUMO
In the face of growing global freshwater scarcity, the imperative to recycle and reuse water becomes increasingly apparent across industrial, agricultural, and domestic sectors. Eliminating a range of organic pollutants in wastewater, from pesticides to industrial byproducts, presents a formidable challenge. Among the potential solutions, membrane technologies emerge as promising contenders for treating diverse organic contaminants from industrial, agricultural, and household origins. This paper explores cutting-edge membrane-based approaches, including reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, microfiltration, gas separation membranes, and pervaporation. Each technology's efficacy in removing distinct organic pollutants while producing purified water is scrutinized. This review delves into membrane fouling, discussing its influencing factors and preventative strategies. It sheds light on the merits, limitations, and prospects of these various membrane techniques, contributing to the advancement of wastewater treatment. It advocates for future research in membrane technology with a focus on fouling control and the development of energy-efficient devices. Interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, engineers, policymakers, and industry players is vital for shaping water purification innovation. Ongoing research and collaboration position us to fulfill the promise of accessible, clean water for all.
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Membranas Artificiais , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Purificação da Água , Purificação da Água/métodos , Poluentes Químicos da Água/química , Poluentes Químicos da Água/isolamento & purificação , Eliminação de Resíduos Líquidos/métodos , Filtração/métodos , Filtração/instrumentação , Ultrafiltração/métodos , Compostos Orgânicos/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
Wastewater-based testing (WBT) for SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly expanded over the past three years due to its ability to provide a comprehensive measurement of disease prevalence independent of clinical testing. The development and simultaneous application of WBT measured biomarkers for research activities and for the pursuit of public health goals, both areas with well-established ethical frameworks. Currently, WBT practitioners do not employ a standardized ethical review process, introducing the potential for adverse outcomes for WBT professionals and community members. To address this deficiency, an interdisciplinary workshop developed a framework for a structured ethical review of WBT. The workshop employed a consensus approach to create this framework as a set of 11 questions derived from primarily public health guidance. This study retrospectively applied these questions to SARS-CoV-2 monitoring programs covering the emergent phase of the pandemic (3/2020-2/2022 (n = 53)). Of note, 43% of answers highlight a lack of reported information to assess. Therefore, a systematic framework would at a minimum structure the communication of ethical considerations for applications of WBT. Consistent application of an ethical review will also assist in developing a practice of updating approaches and techniques to reflect the concerns held by both those practicing and those being monitored by WBT supported programs.
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COVID-19 , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Saúde Pública , Estudos Retrospectivos , SARS-CoV-2 , Águas Residuárias , Revisão ÉticaRESUMO
Intestinal enterococci indicate the fecal contamination of bathing waters. This study defines the performance characteristics of the reference method ISO 7899-2:2000 with water samples collected from inland and coastal bathing areas in Finland. From a total of 341 bacterial isolates grown on Slanetz and Bartley medium, 63.6% were confirmed as intestinal enterococci on bile aesculin agar. The partial 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis clades accounted for 93.1% of the confirmed isolates. The range of the false positive and false negative rate of the ISO 7899-2 was 0.0-18.5% and 5.6-57.1%, respectively, being affected by the presumptive colony count on the membrane. The analysis of multiple sample volumes is proposed to reach 10-100 colonies per membrane when 47 mm diameter membranes are used to prevent overestimation of low counts and underestimation of the high counts.
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Enterococcus , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Microbiologia da Água/normas , Enterococcus faecium , Finlândia , RNA Ribossômico 16S , Qualidade da Água/normasRESUMO
The purpose of this equivalence study was to compare an alternative method, Colilert-18 Quanti-Tray (ISO 9308-2) with the European bathing water directive (2006/7/EC) reference method, the miniaturised most probable number (MMPN) method (ISO 9308-3), for the analysis of Escherichia coli. Six laboratories analysed a total of 263 bathing water samples in Finland. The comparison was carried out according to ISO 17994:2004. The recovery of E. coli using the Colilert-18 method was 7.0% and 8.6% lower than that of the MMPN method after 48 hours and 72 hours of incubation, respectively. The confirmation rate of presumptive E. coli-positive wells in the Colilert-18 and MMPN methods was high (97.8% and 98.0%, respectively). However, the testing of presumptive E. coli-negative but coliform bacteria-positive (yellow but not fluorescent) Colilert-18 wells revealed 7.3% false negative results. There were more false negatives in the naturally contaminated waters than in the samples spiked with waste water. The difference between the recovery of Colilert-18 and the MMPN method was considered not significant, and subsequently the methods are considered as equivalent for bathing water quality monitoring in Finland. Future bathing water method equivalence verification studies may use the data reported herein. The laboratories should make sure that any wells showing even minor fluorescence will be determined as positive for E. coli.
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Banhos , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Escherichia coli/isolamento & purificação , Microbiologia da Água , Qualidade da Água , Contagem de Colônia MicrobianaRESUMO
Wastewater surveillance (WWS) has received significant attention as a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective tool for monitoring various pathogens in a community. WWS is employed to assess the spatial and temporal trends of diseases and identify their early appearances and reappearances, as well as to detect novel and mutated variants. However, the shedding rates of pathogens vary significantly depending on factors such as disease severity, the physiology of affected individuals, and the characteristics of pathogen. Furthermore, pathogens may exhibit differential fate and decay kinetics in the sewerage system. Variable shedding rates and decay kinetics may affect the detection of pathogens in wastewater. This may influence the interpretation of results and the conclusions of WWS studies. When selecting a pathogen for WWS, it is essential to consider it's specific characteristics. If data are not readily available, factors such as fate, decay, and shedding rates should be assessed before conducting surveillance. Alternatively, these factors can be compared to those of similar pathogens for which such data are available.
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Monitoramento Ambiental , Águas Residuárias , Águas Residuárias/microbiologia , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Microbiologia da Água , Eliminação de Resíduos Líquidos/métodosRESUMO
Despite its popularity for water activities, such as swimming, surfing, fishing, and rafting, inland and coastal bathing areas occasionally experience outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI), including A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b. Asymptomatic infections and symptomatic outbreaks often impact many aquatic birds, which increase chances of spill-over events to mammals and pose concerns for public health. This review examined the existing literature to assess avian influenza virus (AIV) transmission risks to beachgoers and the general population. A comprehensive understanding of factors governing such crossing of the AIV host range is currently lacking. There is limited knowledge on key factors affecting risk, such as species-specific interactions with host cells (including binding, entry, and replication via viral proteins hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, nucleoprotein, and polymerase basic protein 2), overcoming host restrictions, and innate immune response. AIV efficiently transmits between birds and to some extent between marine scavenger mammals in aquatic environments via consumption of infected birds. However, the current literature lacks evidence of zoonotic AIV transmission via contact with the aquatic environment or consumption of contaminated water. The zoonotic transmission risk of the circulating A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b virus to the general population and beachgoers is currently low. Nevertheless, it is recommended to avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds and to refrain from bathing in locations where mass bird mortalities are reported. Increasing reports of AIVs spilling over to non-human mammals have raised valid concerns about possible virus mutations that lead to crossing the species barrier and subsequent risk of human infections and outbreaks.
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Aves , Surtos de Doenças , Virus da Influenza A Subtipo H5N1 , Influenza Aviária , Influenza Humana , Humanos , Influenza Aviária/epidemiologia , Influenza Aviária/transmissão , Animais , Influenza Humana/epidemiologia , Influenza Humana/transmissão , Monitoramento Ambiental , Praias , Saúde ÚnicaRESUMO
In regions without adequate centralized wastewater treatment plants, sample collection from rivers and sewers can be an alternative sampling strategy for wastewater surveillance. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of alternative sampling strategies by testing samples collected from rivers (n = 246) and sewers (n = 244) in the Kathmandu Valley between March 2021 and February 2022. All samples were concentrated using the skimmed-milk flocculation method and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA was quantified using the nucleocapsid (N) and envelope (E) genes qPCR assays. Of the total, 75 % (371/490) of the samples tested positive using at least one qPCR assay, with concentrations ranging from 3.0 to 8.3 log10 gene copies/L. No significant correlation between concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 from both sewers and river with the number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Kathmandu valley was observed (p > 0.05). Despite the high concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in rivers and sewers, we hypothesize this finding to be a result of inaccurate number of clinical cases possibly due to inadequate clinical testing. This longitudinal study further supports the statement to consider sampling strategies from sewers and rivers for WBS in Nepal and other low and middle-income countries.
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Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) of infectious disease agents is increasingly seen as a reliable source of population health data. To date, wastewater-based surveillance efforts have largely focused on individual pathogens. However, given that wastewater contains a broad range of pathogens circulating in the population, a more comprehensive approach could enhance its usability. We focused on the simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2, sapovirus, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Salmonella spp., pathogenic Escherichia coli, Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) of clinical relevance. To achieve this goal, biomass concentration and nucleic acid extraction methods were optimized, and samples were analyzed by using a set of (RT)-qPCR and (HT)-qPCR methods. We determined the prevalence and the spatial and temporal trends of the targeted pathogens and collected novel information on ARGs in Finnish wastewater. In addition, the use of different wastewater concentrates, namely the ultrafiltered concentrate of the supernatant and the centrifuged pellet, and the effect of freezing and thawing wastewater prior to sample processing were investigated with the indicator microbe crAssphage. Freeze-thawing of wastewater decreased the gene copy count of crAssphage in comparison to analyzing fresh samples (p < 0.001). Campylobacters were most abundant in two of the four studied summer months (30 % detection rate) and in wastewaters from regions with intensive animal farming. Salmonella, however, was detected in 40 % of the samples without any clear seasonal trends, and the highest gene copy numbers were recorded from the largest wastewater treatment plants. Beta-lactamase resistance genes that have commonly been detected in bacteria isolated from humans in Finland, namely blaCTX-M, blaOXA48, blaNDM, and blaKPC, were also frequently detected in wastewaters (100, 98, 98, and 70 % detection rates, respectively). These results confirm the reliability of using wastewater in public health surveillance and demonstrate the possibility to simultaneously perform WBS of multiple pathogens.
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An alternative and complementary diagnostic method of surveillance is provided by wastewater-based surveillance (WBS), particularly in low-income nations like Nepal with scant wastewater treatment facilities and clinical testing infrastructure. In this study, a total of 146 water samples collected from two hospitals (n = 63) and three housing wastewaters (n = 83) from the Kathmandu Valley over the period of March 2021-Febraury 2022 were investigated for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using quantitative reverse transcription TaqMan PCR assays targeting the N and E genes. Of the total, 67 % (98/146) samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA either by using N- or E-gene assay, with concentrations ranging from 3.6 to 9.1 log10 copies/L. There was a significant difference found between positive ratio (Chi-square test, p < 0.05) and concentration (t-test, p = 0.009) of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected from hospital wastewater and housing waters. Wastewater data are correlated with COVID-19 active cases, indicating significance in specific areas like the Hospital (APFH) (p < 0.05). According to the application of a bivariate linear regression model (p < 0.05), the concentrations of N gene may be used to predict the COVID-19 cases in the APFH. Remarkably, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected prior to, during, and following clinical case surges, implying that wastewater surveillance could serve as an early warning system for public health decisions. The significance of WBS in tracking and managing pandemics is emphasized by this study, especially in resource-constrained settings.
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COVID-19 , Hospitais , SARS-CoV-2 , Vigilância Epidemiológica Baseada em Águas Residuárias , Águas Residuárias , Águas Residuárias/virologia , COVID-19/epidemiologia , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Humanos , Nepal/epidemiologia , Habitação , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodosRESUMO
Wastewater comprises multiple pathogens and offers a potential for wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) to track the prevalence of communicable diseases. The Finnish WastPan project aimed to establish wastewater-based pandemic preparedness for multiple pathogens (viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi), including antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This article outlines WastPan's experiences in this project, including the criteria for target selection, sampling locations, frequency, analysis methods, and results communication. Target selection relied on epidemiological and microbiological evidence and practical feasibility. Within the WastPan framework, wastewater samples were collected between 2021 and 2023 from 10 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) covering 40 % of Finland's population. WWTP selection was validated for reported cases of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase-producing bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) from the National Infectious Disease Register. The workflow included 24-h composite influent samples, with one fraction for culture-based analysis (bacteria and fungi) and the rest of the sample was reserved for molecular analysis (viruses, bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and parasites). The reproducibility of the monitoring workflow was assessed for SARS-CoV-2 through inter-laboratory comparisons using the N2 and N1 assays. Identical protocols were applied to same-day samples, yielding similar positivity trends in the two laboratories, but the N2 assay achieved a significantly higher detection rate (Laboratory 1: 91.5 %; Laboratory 2: 87.4 %) than the N1 assay (76.6 %) monitored only in Laboratory 2 (McNemar, p < 0.001 Lab 1, = 0.006 Lab 2). This result indicates that the selection of monitoring primers and assays may impact monitoring sensitivity in WBS. Overall, the current study recommends that the selection of sampling frequencies and population coverage of the monitoring should be based on pathogen-specific epidemiological characteristics. For example, pathogens that are stable over time may need less frequent annual sampling, while those that are occurring across regions may require reduced sample coverage. Here, WastPan successfully piloted WBS for monitoring multiple pathogens, highlighting the significance of one-litre community composite wastewater samples for assessing community health. The infrastructure established for COVID-19 WBS is valuable for monitoring various pathogens. The prioritization of the monitoring targets optimizes resource utilization. In the future legislative support in target selection, coverage determination, and sustained funding for WBS is recomended.
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Vigilância Epidemiológica Baseada em Águas Residuárias , Águas Residuárias , Finlândia/epidemiologia , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Antibacterianos , Escherichia coliRESUMO
Wastewater surveillance (WS) has been used globally as a complementary tool to monitor the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) throughout the pandemic. However, a concern about the appropriateness of WS in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) exists due to low sewer coverage and expensive viral concentration methods. In this study, influent wastewater samples (n = 63) collected from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) of the Kathmandu Valley between March 2021 and February 2022 were concentrated using the economical skimmed-milk flocculation method (SMFM). The presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was tested by qPCR using assays that target the nucleocapsid (N) and envelope (E) genes. Overall, 84% (53/63) of the total samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 according to at least one of the tested assays, with concentrations ranging from 3.5 to 8.3 log10 gene copies/L, indicating the effectiveness of the SMFM. No correlation was observed between the total number of COVID-19 cases and SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater collected from the two WWTPs (p > 0.05). This finding cautions the prediction of future COVID-19 waves and the estimation of the number of COVID-19 cases based on wastewater concentration in settings with low sewer coverage by WWTPs. Future studies on WS in LMICs are recommended to be conducted by downscaling to sewer drainage, targeting a limited number of houses. Overall, this study supports the notion that SMFM can be an excellent economical virus-concentrating method for WS of COVID-19 in LMICs.
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BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and sub-group-specific prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carrier rate among Healthcare Workers (HCWs) in South Asia. METHODOLOGY: We considered prospective and cross-sectional studies published in the English language with participants ≥50 by searching different electronic databases to locate the relevant articles that reported the epidemiology of MRSA. The participants were healthy South Asian nationality HCWs (asymptomatic for any infectious disease) of any age and gender with a definitive diagnosis of MRSA carriage. The result was synthesized for the pooled prevalence of MRSA carriers among HCWs using 95% confidence interval (CI) with DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of MRSA carriage among HCWs was 9.23% (95%CI; 6.50%, 12.35%) with a range from 0.67% to 36.06%. The prevalence in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh was 5.65% (95%CI; 3.65%, 8.03%), 8.83% (95%CI; 6.77%, 11.11%), 17.20% (95%CI; 10.70%, 24.85%), 22.56% (95%CI; 4.93%, 47.83%), and 4.93% (95%CI; 1.88%, 9.20%) respectively. The pooled prevalence of MRSA carriage among nurses and doctors was 8.90% (95%CI; 6.00%, 12.24%) and 6.53% (95%CI; 3.63%, 10.06%) respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings from our study suggests that if the propagation of MRSA continues, then it can lead to a situation of an outbreak. Hence, proper preventive measures are to be adopted to prevent this outbreak.
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Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina , Infecções Estafilocócicas , Humanos , Ásia Meridional , Prevalência , Estudos Transversais , Estudos Prospectivos , Infecções Estafilocócicas/epidemiologia , Infecções Estafilocócicas/prevenção & controle , Pessoal de Saúde , Portador Sadio/epidemiologiaRESUMO
The effective detection of viruses in aircraft wastewater is crucial to establish surveillance programs for monitoring virus spread via aircraft passengers. This study aimed to compare the performance of two virus concentration workflows, adsorption-extraction (AE) and Nanotrap® Microbiome A Particles (NMAP), in detecting the prevalence and concentrations of 15 endogenous viruses including ssDNA, dsDNA, ssRNA in 24 aircraft lavatory wastewater samples. The viruses tested included two indicator viruses, four enteric viruses, and nine respiratory viruses. The results showed that cross-assembly phage (crAssphage), human polyomavirus (HPyV), rhinovirus A (RhV A), and rhinovirus B (RhV B) were detected in all wastewater samples using both workflows. However, enterovirus (EV), human norovirus GII (HNoV GII), human adenovirus (HAdV), bocavirus (BoV), parechovirus (PeV), epstein-barr virus (EBV). Influenza A virus (IAV), and respiratory syncytial virus B (RsV B) were infrequently detected by both workflows, and hepatitis A virus (HAV), influenza B virus (IBV), and respiratory syncytial virus B (RsV A) were not detected in any samples. The NMAP workflow had greater detection rates of RNA viruses (EV, PeV, and RsV B) than the AE workflow, while the AE workflow had greater detection rates of DNA viruses (HAdV, BoV, and EBV) than the NMAP workflow. The concentration of each virus was also analyzed, and the results showed that crAssphage had the highest mean concentration (6.76 log10 GC/12.5 mL) followed by HPyV (5.46 log10 GC/12.5 mL using the AE workflow, while the mean concentrations of enteric and respiratory viruses ranged from 2.48 to 3.63 log10 GC/12.5 mL. Using the NMAP workflow, the mean concentration of crAssphage was 5.18 log10 GC/12.5 mL and the mean concentration of HPyV was 4.20 log10 GC/12.5 mL, while mean concentrations of enteric and respiratory viruses ranged from 2.55 to 3.74 log10 GC/12.5 mL. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean concentrations of crAssphage and HPyV were observed when employing the AE workflow in comparison to the NMAP workflow. Conversely, the NMAP workflow yielded significantly greater (p < 0.05) concentrations of RhV A, and RhV B compared to the AE workflow. The findings of this study can aid in the selection of an appropriate concentration workflow for virus surveillance studies and contribute to the development of efficient virus detection methods.
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Adenovírus Humanos , Bacteriófagos , Infecções por Vírus Epstein-Barr , Microbiota , Polyomavirus , Humanos , Águas Residuárias , Fluxo de Trabalho , Adsorção , Banheiros , Herpesvirus Humano 4RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Analysing samples of municipal wastewater influent (before treatment) can help to map the status of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) at the population level in sewershed communities and may also help in predicting the public health risks of ARB in surface water because of the outfall of wastewater. In this study, we investigated the bacterial isolates carrying beta-lactamase genes in wastewater and compared their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. METHODS: A total of 399 bacterial isolates grown on CHROMagarESBL (n = 207) and CHROMagarKPC (n = 192) from composite wastewater influent samples (n = 7) from the Viikinmäki wastewater treatment plant (Helsinki) were subcultured, nucleic acid was extracted, and the prevalence of different beta-lactamase genes was screened with multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All PCR-positive isolates were identified with MALDI-TOF. RESULTS: A total of 32.6% of isolates (130 of 399) were PCR positive for at least one resistance gene, and 13% of these positive isolates out of 130 had at least three resistance genes. Among the 22 detected genes, blaGES group was the most prevalent, at 25.8% (n = 198; many isolates carried multiple genes), followed by blaMOX (13.1%) and blaTEM (10.1%) as most frequently detected. Furthermore, out of 18 different bacterial species/genera detected as carrying beta-lactamase genes, A. hydrophila/caviae (28.5%), Enterobacter spp. (16.9%), and E. coli (14.6%) were the most prevalent. Enterobacter spp., Aeromonas spp., and K. cryocescens potentially carried AmpC genes, and E. coli carried ESBL genes. CONCLUSION: We recorded a huge variety of beta-lactamases (blaAmpC, blaESBL, and blaCARBA) genes in many potential pathogens that probably originated from both enteric and environmental sources.
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Escherichia coli , beta-Lactamases , Humanos , beta-Lactamases/genética , beta-Lactamases/análise , Escherichia coli/genética , Águas Residuárias , Finlândia , Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina , Inibidores da Enzima Conversora de Angiotensina , Enterobacter/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase MultiplexRESUMO
The ongoing global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as COVID-19, has disrupted public health, businesses, and economies worldwide due to its widespread transmission. While previous research has suggested a possible link between environmental factors and increased COVID-19 cases, the evidence regarding this connection remains inconclusive. The purpose of this research is to determine whether or not there is a connection between the presence of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and meteorological conditions and COVID-19 infection rates in Bangkok, Thailand. The study employs a statistical method called Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to find a positive and non-linear association between RH, AH, and R and the number of verified COVID-19 cases. The impacts of the seasons (especially summer) and rainfall on the trajectory of COVID-19 cases were also highlighted, with an adjusted R-square of 0.852 and a deviance explained of 85.60%, both of which were statistically significant (pâ¯<â¯0.05). The study results assist in preventing the future seasonal spread of COVID-19, and public health authorities may use these findings to make informed decisions and assess their policies.
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Knowledge of the decay characteristics of health-related microbes in surface waters is important for modeling the transportation of waterborne pathogens and for assessing their public health risks. Although water temperature and light exposure are major factors determining the decay characteristics of enteric microbes in surface waters, such effects have not been well studied in subarctic surface waters. This study comprehensively evaluated the effect of temperature and light on the decay characteristics of health-related microbes [Escherichia coli, enterococci, microbial source tracking markers (GenBac3 & HF183 assays), coliphages (F-specific and somatic), noroviruses GII and Legionella spp.] under simulated subarctic river water conditions. The experiments were conducted in four different laboratory settings (4 °C/dark, 15 °C/dark, 15 °C/light, and 22 °C/light). The T90 values (time required for a 90 % reduction in the population of a target) of all targets were higher under cold and dark (2.6-51.3 days depending upon targets) than under warm and light conditions (0.6-3.5 days). Under 4 °C/dark (simulated winter) water conditions, F-specific coliphages had 27.2 times higher, and coliform bacteria had 3.3 times higher T90 value than under 22 °C/light (simulated summer) water conditions. Bacterial molecular markers also displayed high variation in T90 values, with the greatest difference between 4 °C/dark and 22 °C/light recorded for HF183 DNA (20.6 times) and the lowest difference for EC23S857 RNA (6.6 times). E. coli, intestinal enterococci, and somatic coliphages were relatively more sensitive to light than water temperature, but F-specific coliphages, norovirus, and all bacterial rDNA and rRNA markers were relatively more sensitive to temperature than light exposure. Due to the slow microbial decay in winter under subarctic conditions, the microbial quality of river water might remain low for a long time after a sewage spill. This increased risk associated with fecal pollution during winter may deserve more attention, especially when river waters are used for drinking water production.
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Água Potável , Legionella , Norovirus , Microbiologia da Água , Escherichia coli , Fezes/microbiologia , Colífagos , Enterococcus , Bactérias , Monitoramento AmbientalRESUMO
Campylobacter spp. is one of the four leading causes of diarrhoeal diseases worldwide, which are generally mild but can be fatal in children, the elderly, and immunosuppressed persons. The existing disease surveillance for Campylobacter infections is usually based on untimely clinical reports. Wastewater surveillance or wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been developed for the early warning of disease outbreaks and the detection of the emerging new variants of human pathogens, especially after the global pandemic of COVID-19. However, the WBE monitoring of Campylobacter infections in communities is rare due to a few large data gaps. This study is a meta-analysis and systematic review of the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in various wastewater samples, primarily the influent of wastewater treatment plants. The results showed that the overall prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was 53.26 % in influent wastewater and 52.97 % in all types of wastewater samples. The mean concentration in the influent was 3.31 ± 0.39 log10 gene copies or most probable number (MPN) per 100 mL. The detection method combining culture and PCR yielded the highest positive rate of 90.86 %, while RT-qPCR and qPCR were the two most frequently used quantification methods. In addition, the Campylobacter concentration in influent wastewater showed a seasonal fluctuation, with the highest concentration in the autumn at 3.46 ± 0.41 log10 gene copies or MPN per 100 mL. Based on the isolates of all positive samples, Campylobacter jejuni (62.34 %) was identified as the most prevalent species in wastewater, followed by Campylobacter coli (30.85 %) and Campylobacter lari (4.4 %). These findings provided significant data to further develop and optimize the wastewater surveillance of Campylobacter spp. infections. In addition, large data gaps were found in the decay of Campylobacter spp. in wastewater, indicating insufficient research on the persistence of Campylobacter spp. in wastewater.
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The paucity of information on the genomic diversity of drug-resistant bacteria in most food-producing animals, including poultry in Nigeria, has led to poor hazard characterization and the lack of critical control points to safeguard public health. Hence, this study used whole genome sequencing (WGS) to assess the presence and the diversity of antibiotic resistance genes, mobile genetic elements, virulence genes, and phages in Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL - E. coli) isolates obtained from poultry via the EURL guideline of 2017 in Ilorin, Nigeria. The prevalence of ESBL - E. coli in poultry was 10.5 % (n = 37/354). The phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that all the ESBL- E. coli isolates were multi-drug resistant (MDR). The in-silico analysis of the WGS raw-read data from 11 purposively selected isolates showed that the isolates had a wide array of ARGs that conferred resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, and 8 other classes of antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, foliate pathway antagonists, aminoglycoside, phenicol, tetracycline, epoxide, macrolides, and rifamycin). All the ARGs were in the bacterial chromosome except in two isolates where plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) was detected. Two isolates carried the gyrAp.S83L mutation which confers resistance to certain fluoroquinolones. The mobilome consisted of several Col-plasmids and the predominant IncF plasmids belonged to the IncF64:A-:B27 sequence type. The virulome consisted of genes that function as adhesins, iron acquisition genes, toxins, and protectins. Intact phages were found in 8 of the 11 isolates and the phageome consisted of representatives of four families of viruses: Myoviridae (62.5 %, n = 5/8), Siphoviridae (37.5 %, n = 3/8), Inoviridae (12.5 %, n = 1), and Podoviridae (12.5 %, n = 1/8). ESBL - E. coli isolates harboured 1-5 intact phages and no ARGs were identified on any of the phages. Although five of the isolates belonged to phylogroup A, the isolates were diverse as they belonged to different serotype and sequence types. Our findings demonstrate the high genomic diversity of ESBL - E. coli of poultry origin in Ilorin, Nigeria. These diverse isolates harbor clinically relevant ARGs, mobile elements, virulence genes, and phages that may have detrimental zoonotic potentials on human health.
Assuntos
Bacteriófagos , Infecções por Escherichia coli , Animais , Humanos , Escherichia coli , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Aves Domésticas/microbiologia , Infecções por Escherichia coli/veterinária , Infecções por Escherichia coli/microbiologia , Virulência/genética , Bacteriófagos/genética , Bacteriófagos/metabolismo , Nigéria , beta-Lactamases/genética , beta-Lactamases/metabolismo , Plasmídeos , Resistência Microbiana a Medicamentos , FluoroquinolonasRESUMO
The emergence and development of next-generation sequencing technologies (NGS) has made the analysis of the water microbiome in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) more accessible and opened new perspectives in microbial ecology studies. The current study focused on the characterization of the water microbiome employing a gene- and genome-centric metagenomic approach to five waterworks in Finland with different raw water sources, treatment methods, and disinfectant. The microbial communities exhibit a distribution pattern of a few dominant taxa and a large representation of low-abundance bacterial species. Changes in the community structure may correspond to the presence or absence and type of disinfectant residual which indicates that these conditions exert selective pressure on the microbial community. The Archaea domain represented a small fraction (up to 2.5%) and seemed to be effectively controlled by the disinfection of water. Their role particularly in non-disinfected DWDS may be more important than previously considered. In general, non-disinfected DWDSs harbor higher microbial richness and maintaining disinfectant residual is significantly important for ensuring low microbial numbers and diversity. Metagenomic binning recovered 139 (138 bacterial and 1 archaeal) metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) that had a >50% completeness and <10% contamination consisting of 20 class representatives in 12 phyla. The presence and occurrence of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB)-like microorganisms have significant implications for nitrogen biotransformation in drinking water systems. The metabolic and functional complexity of the microbiome is evident in DWDSs ecosystems. A comparative analysis found a set of differentially abundant taxonomic groups and functional traits in the active community. The broader set of transcribed genes may indicate an active and diverse community regardless of the treatment methods applied to water. The results indicate a highly dynamic and diverse microbial community and confirm that every DWDS is unique, and the community reflects the selection pressures exerted at the community structure, but also at the levels of functional properties and metabolic potential.