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A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Health Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2024 | Viewed by 7527

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ana Machado

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Guest Editor

Organization Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Interests: water quality; environmental exposure; microbial ecology; public health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water and human health are closely intertwined. Water is essential to life but is also a primordial exposure pathway to potentially pathogenic microorganisms and chemical agents. Universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water is recognized as a basic human right and is one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. However, the World Health Organization estimates that about 2.2 billion people still live without access to safe water, with most of them in low-income countries. On the other hand, outbreaks linked to recreational water bathing and ongoing climate changes are increasing, including in the Northern Hemisphere. The recent World Health Organization guidelines on bathing water quality identified potential pathogenic anthropogenic sources and naturally occurring microorganisms of possible concern, thus highlighting the need for research to understand the associated microbial ecology. Increasing knowledge leads to the need to revise and update standards and guidelines almost permanently, both for legal criteria and recently identified contaminants. Finally, public health problems related to water quality are expected to increase in the upcoming years under the current climate change and population growth scenario. Newly integrated knowledge is pivotal to developing risk assessment tools and mitigation strategies. This Special Issue aims to bridge the gap in knowledge bringing together the most recent research on the association between water quality and human health. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Suggested topic areas include (but are not limited to) new integrated risk assessment schemes, water quality indicators, microbial source tracking, novel detection methods, environmental exposure, and the association between climate change and water quality.

Dr. Ana Machado
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

drinking water
recreational water
microorganisms
biomarkers
emerging contaminants
risk assessment
waterborne diseases
One Health

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1634 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Isolation of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio vulnificus from Estuarine Waters, and Genotyping of V. vulnificus Isolates Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

by Shin-ichi Miyoshi, Megumi Kurata, Riho Hirose, Masaya Yoshikawa, Yong Liang, Yosuke Yamagishi and Tamaki Mizuno

Microorganisms 2024, 12(5), 877; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12050877 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024

Viewed by 217

Abstract

Bacteria in the genus Vibrio are ubiquitous in estuarine and coastal waters. Some species (including Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio vulnificus) are known human pathogens causing ailments like cholera, diarrhea, or septicemia. Notably, V. vulnificus can also cause a severe systemic infection (known as vibriosis) in eels raised in aquaculture facilities. Water samples were periodically collected from the estuary of the Asahi River, located in the southern part of Okayama City, Japan. These samples were directly plated onto CHROMagar Vibrio plates, and colonies displaying turquoise-blue coloration were selected. Thereafter, polymerase chain reaction was used to identify V. cholerae and V. vulnificus. A total of 30 V. cholerae strains and 194 V. vulnificus strains were isolated during the warm season when the water temperature (WT) was higher than 20 °C. Concurrently, an increase in coliforms was observed during this period. Notably, V. vulnificus has two genotypes, designated as genotype 1 and genotype 2. Genotype 1 is pathogenic to humans, while genotype 2 is pathogenic to both humans and eels. The loop-mediated isothermal amplification method was developed to rapidly determine genotypes at a low cost. Of the 194 strains isolated, 80 (41.2%) were identified as genotype 1 strains. Among the 41 strains isolated when the WTs were higher than 28 °C, 25 strains (61.0%) belonged to genotype 1. In contrast, of the 32 strains isolated when the WTs were lower than 24 °C, 27 strains (84.4%) belonged to genotype 2. These results suggest that the distribution of the two genotypes was influenced by WT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Microorganisms Associated with Human Health)

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21 pages, 2643 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gulls in Porto Coastline as Reservoirs for Salmonella spp.: Findings from 2008 and 2023

by Inês C. Rodrigues, Ana Paula Cristal, Marisa Ribeiro-Almeida, Leonor Silveira, Joana C. Prata, Roméo Simões, Paulo Vaz-Pires, Ângela Pista and Paulo Martins da Costa

Microorganisms 2024, 12(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12010059 - 28 Dec 2023

Viewed by 924

Abstract

Gulls act as intermediaries in the exchange of microorganisms between the environment and human settlements, including Salmonella spp. This study assessed the antimicrobial resistance and molecular profiles of Salmonella spp. isolates obtained from fecal samples of gulls in the city of Porto, Portugal, in 2008 and 2023 and from water samples in 2023. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiling revealed an improvement in the prevalence (71% to 17%) and antimicrobial resistance between the two collection dates. Two isolate collections from both 2008 and 2023 underwent serotyping and whole-genome sequencing, revealing genotypic changes, including an increased frequency in the monophasic variant of S. Typhimurium. qacE was identified in 2008 and 2023 in both water and fecal samples, with most isolates exhibiting an MDR profile. The most frequently observed plasmid types were IncF in 2008 (23%), while IncQ1 predominated in 2023 (43%). Findings suggest that Salmonella spp. circulate between humans, animals, and the environment. However, the genetic heterogeneity among the isolates from the gulls’ feces and the surface water may indicate a complex ecological and evolutionary dynamic shaped by changing conditions. The observed improvements are likely due to measures to reduce biological contamination and antimicrobial resistance. Nevertheless, additional strategies must be implemented to reduce the public health risk modeled by the dissemination of pathogens by gulls. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Microorganisms Associated with Human Health)

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10 pages, 1935 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity of Fecal Indicator Enterococci among Different Hosts: Importance to Water Contamination Source Tracking

by Soichiro Tamai and Yoshihiro Suzuki

Microorganisms 2023, 11(12), 2981; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11122981 - 14 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 942

Abstract

Enterococcus spp. are common bacteria present in the intestinal tracts of animals and are used as fecal indicators in aquatic environments. On the other hand, enterococci are also known as opportunistic pathogens. Elucidating their composition in the intestinal tracts of domestic animals can assist in estimating the sources of fecal contamination in aquatic environments. However, information on the species and composition of enterococci in animal hosts (except humans) is still lacking. In this study, enterococci were isolated from the feces of cattle, pigs, birds, and humans using selective media. Enterococcal species were identified using mass spectrometry technology, and each host was characterized by diversity and cluster analysis. The most dominant species were E. hirae in cattle, E. faecium in birds, and E. faecalis in pigs and humans. Cattle had the highest alpha diversity, with high interindividual and livestock farm diversity. The dominant enterococcal species in pigs and humans were identical, and cluster analysis showed that the majority of the two hosts’ species clustered together. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Microorganisms Associated with Human Health)

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19 pages, 7699 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contamination of a Water Stream and Water Drainage Reaching Matosinhos Beach by Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

by Matilde A. Pereira, Josman D. Palmeira and Helena Ferreira

Microorganisms 2023, 11(12), 2833; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11122833 - 22 Nov 2023

Viewed by 931

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria represent a major public health concern, especially impacting medical care centers and hospitals, thereby challenging the effectiveness of current infection treatment protocols. The emergence and persistence of antimicrobial resistance in the environment have been thoroughly researched, with a focus on the aquatic environment as a potential reservoir of these bacteria in areas with anthropogenic contamination. Having this in mind, this work aims to investigate the water streams of Riguinha and Brito Capelo Street, both of which ultimately flow into Matosinhos Beach in Portugal, to determine the potential presence of fecal contamination. Six water samples were collected and analyzed within twenty-four hours from these two water streams. A phenotypic characterization was performed in various volumes on MacConkey agar with antibiotics. Randomly selected lactose-fermenting gram-negative bacteria underwent antimicrobial susceptibility tests using the agar diffusion method following EUCAST guidelines, covering β-lactam and non-β-lactam antibiotics. The isolates were analyzed through Polymerase Chain Reaction. The findings of this study confirm that both water streams were contaminated by multidrug-resistant bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae, including Escherichia coli, the KESC group, and Pseudomonas, exhibiting extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL), AmpC β-lactamases, and carbapenemases. These indicate the presence of fecal contamination with relevant antimicrobial-resistant threats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Microorganisms Associated with Human Health)

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13 pages, 888 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relating Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence in Surface-Water E. coli

by Connor D. LaMontagne, Elizabeth C. Christenson, Anna T. Rogers, Megan E. Jacob and Jill R. Stewart

Microorganisms 2023, 11(11), 2647; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11112647 - 28 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1726

Abstract

The role of the environment in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is being increasingly recognized, raising questions about the public health risks associated with environmental AMR. Yet, little is known about pathogenicity among resistant bacteria in environmental systems. Existing studies on the association between AMR and virulence are contradictory, as fitness costs and genetic co-occurrence can be opposing influences. Using Escherichia coli isolated from surface waters in eastern North Carolina, we compared virulence gene prevalence between isolates resistant and susceptible to antibiotics. We also compared the prevalence of isolates from sub-watersheds with or without commercial hog operations (CHOs). Isolates that had previously been evaluated for phenotypic AMR were paired by matching isolates resistant to any tested antibiotic with fully susceptible isolates from the same sample date and site, forming 87 pairs. These 174 isolates were evaluated by conventional PCR for seven virulence genes (bfp, fimH, cnf-1, STa (estA), EAST-1 (astA), eae, and hlyA). One gene, fimH, was found in 93.1% of isolates. Excluding fimH, at least one virulence gene was detected in 24.7% of isolates. Significant negative associations were found between resistance to at least one antibiotic and presence of at least one virulence gene, tetracycline resistance and presence of a virulence gene, resistance and STa presence, and tetracycline resistance and STa presence. No significant associations were found between CHO presence and virulence, though some sub-significant associations merit further study. This work builds our understanding of factors controlling AMR dissemination through the environment and potential health risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Microorganisms Associated with Human Health)

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14 pages, 1740 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Host-Associated Bacteroides 16S rDNA-Based Markers for Source Tracking of Fecal Pollution in Laguna Lake, Philippines

by Gicelle T. Malajacan, Mae Ashley G. Nacario, Marie Christine M. Obusan and Windell L. Rivera

Microorganisms 2023, 11(5), 1142; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051142 - 27 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1633

Abstract

Sources of fecal contamination in Laguna Lake, Philippines, were identified using a library-independent microbial source tracking method targeting host-associated Bacteroides 16S rDNA-based markers. Water samples from nine lake stations were assessed for the presence of the fecal markers HF183 (human), BoBac (cattle), Pig-2-Bac (swine), and DuckBac (duck) from August 2019 to January 2020. HF183 (average concentration = 1.91 log₁₀ copies/mL) was the most frequently detected, while Pig-2-Bac (average concentration = 2.47 log₁₀ copies/mL) was the most abundant. The detected marker concentrations in different stations corresponded to the land use patterns around the lake. Generally, all marker concentrations were higher during the wet season (August–October), suggesting the effect of rainfall-associated factors on the movement and retention of markers from sources. There was a significant association (ρ = 0.45; p < 0.001) between phosphate and the concentration of HF183, suggesting domestic sewage-derived pollution. The markers had acceptable sensitivity and specificity, i.e., HF183 (S = 0.88; R = 0.99), Pig-2-Bac (S = 1.00; R = 1.00), and DuckBac (S = 0.94; R = 1.00), and therefore may be used for the continuous monitoring of fecal pollution in the lake and in designing interventions to improve the quality of the lake water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Microorganisms Associated with Human Health)

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