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Article
Occurrence of a Human-associated Microbial Source Tracking Marker and Its Relationship With Faecal Indicator Bacteria in an Urban Estuary
Letters in Applied Microbiology
  • Sibel Zeki, Istanbul University
  • Asli Aslan, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
  • Selmin Burak, Istanbul University
  • J.B. Rose, Michigan State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2020
DOI
10.1111/lam.13405
Abstract

One of the main impacts of urban sprawl in rapidly growing countries has been contamination of coastal environments by waterborne pathogens, posing a critical risk to ecosystem and human health. Microbial source tracking (MST) has been a robust tool to identify the origin of these pathogens globally. This study compared the occurrence of a human-associated Bacteroides marker (BT-α) with faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in an urban estuary (Golden Horn, Istanbul, Turkey). Faecal coliform (culture method), enterococci (both culture and qPCR method) concentrations and physicochemical variables were compared with the BT-α concentrations in monthly collected samples for a year (n = 108). Enterococci concentrations detected by culture and qPCR were positively correlated (r = 0·86, P < 0·01) suggesting that qPCR can be an alternative method for monitoring. BT-α marker was positive for 30% of the samples and positively correlated with enterococci (r = 0·61 and r = 0·64 for culture and qPCR methods respectively, P < 0·01). Rainfall had a moderate positive correlation with all faecal/MST indicators suggesting combined sewer overflows also severely impacted estuarine water quality. The high FIB and BT-α concentrations at upper estuary suggested that faecal pollution mainly originated from the peri-urban settlements around two creeks entering the estuary.

Citation Information
Sibel Zeki, Asli Aslan, Selmin Burak and J.B. Rose. "Occurrence of a Human-associated Microbial Source Tracking Marker and Its Relationship With Faecal Indicator Bacteria in an Urban Estuary" Letters in Applied Microbiology Vol. 72 Iss. 2 (2020) p. 167 - 177 ISSN: 1472-765X
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/asli_aslan/193/