MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF GROUNDWATER IN WEST VIRGINIA
Investigators: Bissonnette, G., Sexstone, A.
Performing Department: PLANT & SOIL SCIENCES -- 1825
Start Date: 10/01/1998
Termination Date:
09/30/2003
Reporting period:
01/01/2000 to 12/31/2000
Progress Report:
In vitro studies have been initiated to examine the survival of Arcobacter butzleri,
a recently recognized pathogen associated with humans and domestic animals,
in groundwater environments. Arcobacter butzleri proved to be relatively resistant
to exposure to the nutrient-depleted environment of groundwater at 15C as demonstrated
by D-values of approximately 14 days (time required to reduce the population
by 90%). In comparison, identical experiments conducted with the standard water
quality indicator organism, Escherichia coli, resulted in D-values of 20 days.
In addition, we observed that incorporation of blood to recovery media permitted
efficient detection of survivors under aerobic incubation conditions, thereby
providing an alternative to more costly and complex microaerophilic incubation.
We are extending our studies to include other stress temperatures (5 and 25C)
and to develop a selective recovery medium that incorporates both specificity
and selectivity.
Publications:
Sexstone, A.J., Aiton, M., Bissonnette, G.K., Fleming, K., Kineer, K., Hench,
K., Bozicevich, T., Cooley, B. and Wiant, E. 2000. A survey of home aeration
units operating in six West Virginia counties. EPA Small Flows Quaterly 1:38-46.
Ravenscroft, J. 2000. Evaluation of survival and recovery characteristics of bifidobacteria as indicators of fecal pollution of water. M.S. thesis, West Virginia Univ., Morgantown.
Impact:
Relatively little is known about the survival, distribution, and public health
significance of A. butzleri in surface or ground waters. Our current investigations
should contribute to the development of reliable methodology for the detection
of this organism from aquatic environments and human/animal wastes.