Microbial Source Tracking at the Ohio Water
Microbiology Laboratory.
What is Microbial Source Tracking?
Microbial source tracking is the science (and art) of distinguishing the
origins of gut microbes based on source-specific characteristics. This has
been accomplished by looking for individual species that are host specific
(such as the bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, found in
humans), by looking for populations with host-related characteristics (such
as E. coli that are resistant to the antibiotics commonly used by humans),
or by looking for genetic markers relevant to host-microbe interactions
(such as the adhesin gene esp in human-associated Enterococcus
faecium).
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tracking reviews
Microbial Source Tracking applications.
Microbial source tracking often is used to inform managers so they can
control fecal-contamination sources and meet water-quality standards. Many
MST tools are able to detect the presence of fecal material from animal
sources (such as humans, ruminants, dogs, pigs, and others). At this time,
there is no compelling evidence that current MST tools can quantify inputs
from various sources (such as 47% from humans, 12% from cattle, and 41% from
wildlife). Also, MST tools alone cannot differentiate among specific
contaminant pathways (such as septic systems or wastewater treatment
facilities) with the same animal source. Discrimination of specific pathways
of contamination requires additional information and an appropriate sampling
strategy.
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field application studies
Microbial Source Tracking at USGS.
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with other agencies, state, and
local governments, has made significant contributions to the science of
microbial source tracking. MST continues to be an active area of research at
the Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory, and in other locations at the USGS.
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tracking studies from the USGS
Microbial
Source Tracking Reviews
Meays, C.L., Broersma, K., Nordin, R., Mazumder, A. 2004. Source tracking
fecal bacteria in water: a critical review of current methods.
Journal of Environmental Management 73:71-9.
Scott, T.M., Rose,
J.B., Jenkins, T.M., Farrah, S.R., Lukasik, J. 2002. Microbial source
tracking: current methodology and future directions. Applied and
Environmental Microbiology 68:5796-5803.
Seurinck, S., Verstraete, W., Siciliano, S. 2005. Microbial source tracking
for identification of fecal pollution. Rev. Environ. Sci. Bio/Tech. 4:19-37.
Simpson, J.M., Santo Domingo, J.W., Reasoner, D.J. 2002. Microbial source
tracking: state of the science. Environmental Science and Technology
36:5279-5288.
Sinton, L.W., Finlay, R.K., Hannah, D.J. 1998. Distinguishing human from
animal fecal contamination in water: a review. Nature New Zealand Journal of
Marine and Freshwater Research 32:323-348.
Yan, T., Sadowsky, M.J. 2006. Determining sources of fecal bacteria in
waterways. Environmental Monitering and Assessment Oct 28.
MST
studies from the USGS:
Products produced, in part, with support
of the USGS
cooperative water program.
Becker, M.F., Peter, K.D., Masoner, J. 2002. Possible sources of nitrate in
ground water at swine licensed-managed feeding operations in Oklahoma,
2001. USGS Water-Resources Investigations 2002-4257.
Davis, J.V. and
Barr, Miya N. 2006. Assessment of possible sources of microbiological
contamination in the water column and streambed sediment of the Jacks Fork,
Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri - Phase III. USGS Scientific
Investigations Report 2006-5161.
Davis, J.V.,
Richards, J.M. 2002. Assessment of possible sources of microbiological
contamination and water-quality characteristics of the Jacks Fork, Ozark
National Scenic Riverways, Missouri – pahse II. USGS Water-Resources
Investigations 2002-4209.
Dumouchelle,
D.H., 2006. Use of DNA Markers for Investigating Sources of Bacteria in
Contaminated Ground Water: Wooster Township, Wayne County, Ohio. USGS Open
File Report 2006-1382.
Francy, D.S., Bertke, E.E.,
Finnegan, D.P., Kephart, C.M., Sheets, R.A., Rhoades, J., and Stumpe, L.
2006. Use of spatial sampling and microbial source-tracking tools for
understanding fecal contamination at two Lake Erie beaches. USGS Scientific
Investigations Report 2006-5298.
Francy, D.S., Struffolino, P.,
Brady, A.M.G. and Dwyer, D.F. 2005. A spatial, multivariable approach for
identifying proximate sources of Escherichia coli to Maumee Bay, Lake
Erie, Ohio. USGS Open File Report 2005-1386.
Griffin, G.W., Stokes, R., Rose, J.B., Paul III, J.H. 2000. Bacterial
indicator occurrence and the use of an F+ specific RNA coliphage assay to
identify fecal sources of Homosassa Springs, Florida. Microbiology Ecology.
39(1):56-64.
Hartel, P.G.,
Frick, E.A., Funk, A.L., Hill, J.L., Summer, J.D., Gregory, M.B. 2004.
Sharing of ribotype patterns of Escherichia coli isolates during
baseflow and stormflow conditions. USGS Scientific Investigations Report
2004-5004.
Hyer, K.E., Moyer,
D.L. 2003. Patterns and sources of fecal coliform bacteria in three streams
in Virginia, 1999-2000. USGS Water-Resources Investigations 2003-4115.
Lamendella, R., Santo Domingo, J.W., Oerther, D.B., Vogel, J.R., Stoeckel,
D.M. 2007. Assessment of fecal pollution sources in a small northern-plains
watershed using PCR and phylogenetic analyses of Bacteroidetes 16S
rRNA gene. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 59 (3), 651–660.
Moyer, D.L., Hyer,
K.E. 2003. Use of the Hydrological Simulation Program-FORTRAN and Bacterial
Source Tracking for development of the fecal coliform Total Maximum Daily
load (TMDL) for Accotink Creek, Fairfax County, Virginia. USGS
Water-Resources Investigations 2003-4160.
Moyer, D.L., Hyer,
K.E. 2003. Use of the Hydrological Simulation Program_FORTRAN and Bacterial
Source Tracking for development of the fecal coliform Total Maximum Daily
Load (TMDL) for Blacks Run, Rockingham County, Virginia. USGS
Water-Resources Investigations 2003-4161.
Moyer, D.L., Hyer,
K.E. 2003. Use of the Hydrological Simulation Program-FORTRAN and Bacterial
Source Tracking for development of the fecal coliform Total Maximum Daily
Load (TMDL) for Christians Creek, Augusta County, Virginia. USGS
Water-Resources Investigations 2003-4162.
Schlottmann, J.L.,
Tanner, R.S., Samadpour, M. 2000. Reconnaissance of the hydrology, water
quality, and sources of bacterial and nutrient contamination in the Ozark
Plateaus Aquifer System and Cave Springs Branch of Honey Creek, Delaware
County, Oklahoma, March 1999-March 2000. USGS Water-Resources Investigations
2000-4210.
Stoeckel, D.M., Mathes, M.V., Hyer, K.E., Hagedorn, C., Kator, H., Lukasik,
J., O'Brien, T.L., Fenger, T.W., Samadpour, M., Strickler, K.M., Wiggins,
B.A. 2004. Comparison of seven protocols. to identify fecal contamination
sources using Escherichia coli. Environmental Science and Technology
38(22):6109-17.
Vogel, J.R.,
Stoeckel, D.M., Lamendella, R., Zelt, R.B., Santo Domingo, J.W., Walker,
S.R., and Oerther, D.B. 2007. Identifying fecal sources in a selected
catchment reach using multiple source-tracking tools. Journal of
Environmental Quality 36:718-729.
Wicklein, S.M.
2004. Evaluation of water quality for two St. Johns River tributaries
receiving septic tank effluent, Duval County, Florida. USGS Water-Resources
Investigations 2003-4299.
Other products supported, in whole or in part, by USGS
Stoeckel, D.M.,
and Harwood, V.J. 2007. Performance, design, and analysis in microbial
source tracking studies. Applied and Environmental Microbiology
73:2405-2415. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02473-06.
Stoeckel, D.M. 2006.
Selection and application of microbial source tracking tools for
water-quality investigations. USGS Techniques and Methods 2-A3.
USEPA 2005.
Microbial Source Tracking Guide Document. EPA 600/R-05/064.
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
