Distribution of faecal indicator bacteria in tropical waters of Peninsular Malaysia and their decay rates in tropical seawater

Wong, Yi You; Lee, Choon Weng; Chai, Stanley Choon Yip; Lim, Joon Hai; Bong, Chui Wei; Sim, Edmund Ui Hang; Narayanan, K.; Hii, Yii Siang; Wang, Ai‐Jun

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114297

Cited by 3 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The surface water temperatures recorded at the five lakes were relatively high with low variability, and is typical of tropical waters ( Lim et al, 2018 ). The DO concentrations measured at Tasik Varsiti, Tasik Aman, Tasik Kelana and Tasik Central Park Bandar Utama were at healthy levels, and within the range previously reported for tropical freshwater ( Wong et al, 2022 ). However, for Tasik Taman Jaya, we observed hypoxic levels (2.65 ± 1.78 mg L −1 ) ( Farrell & Richards, 2009 ), which was not surprising as Wong et al (2022) had previously classified Tasik Taman Jaya at Class III for total coliform and Class V for faecal coliform, indicative of extensive treatment required for the suitability of water supply ( Department of Environment , 2008 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The total coliform abundance enumerated in five lake waters were within the range previously reported in Malaysia ( Wong et al, 2022 ). According to National Water Quality Standards for Malaysia, Tasik Varsiti, Tasik Taman Jaya and Tasik Kelana were categorized as Class V for total coliform, whereas Tasik Aman and Tasik Central Park Bandar Utama as Class III.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Since the abundance of E. coli in the upper water column is also affected by its growth or decay, we concurrently carried out habitat transition experiments with size-fractionation decay experiments according to Lee et al (2011) . Our results helped shed light on the possible reasons for the persistence of E. coli in urban tropical lakes as shown earlier by Wong et al (2022) , and could help improve the current water surveillance strategies.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…According to National Water Quality Standards for Malaysia, Tasik Varsiti, Tasik Taman Jaya and Tasik Kelana were categorized as Class V for total coliform, whereas Tasik Aman and Tasik Central Park Bandar Utama as Class III. Relative to Wong et al (2022) , the water quality in these lakes had deteriorated over the last two years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigating Escherichia coli habitat transition from sediments to water in tropical urban lakes

Liu,

Lee,

Bong

et al. 2024

PeerJ

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Background Escherichia coli is a commonly used faecal indicator bacterium to assess the level of faecal contamination in aquatic habitats. However, extensive studies have reported that sediment acts as a natural reservoir of E. coli in the extraintestinal environment. E. coli can be released from the sediment, and this may lead to overestimating the level of faecal contamination during water quality surveillance. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of E. coli habitat transition from sediment to water on its abundance in the water column. Methods This study enumerated the abundance of E. coli in the water and sediment at five urban lakes in the Kuala Lumpur-Petaling Jaya area, state of Selangor, Malaysia. We developed a novel method for measuring habitat transition rate of sediment E. coli to the water column, and evaluated the effects of habitat transition on E. coli abundance in the water column after accounting for its decay in the water column. Results The abundance of E. coli in the sediment ranged from below detection to 12,000 cfu g–1, and was about one order higher than in the water column (1 to 2,300 cfu mL–1). The habitat transition rates ranged from 0.03 to 0.41 h–1. In contrast, the E. coli decay rates ranged from 0.02 to 0.16 h−1. In most cases (>80%), the habitat transition rates were higher than the decay rates in our study. Discussion Our study provided a possible explanation for the persistence of E. coli in tropical lakes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first quantitative study on habitat transition of E. coli from sediments to water column.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigating Escherichia coli habitat transition from sediments to water in tropical urban lakes

Liu,

Lee,

Bong

et al. 2024

PeerJ

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“…In this study, Enterococcus had significantly higher decay rate in seawater than E. coli (Table 1). This finding contradicts most others, in which Enterococcus was more resistant than E. coli in seawater (Byappanahalli et al, 2012;WHO, 1999;Wong et al, 2022). Furthermore, Enterococcus has been recommended for use as an indicator of seawater for years (USEPA, 2003;WHO, 1999).…”

Section: Survival Of Fib In Aquatic Environmentmentioning

confidence: 81%

Effects of chlorination on the survival of sewage bacteria in seawater microcosms

Tang,

Lau

2023

Environ Microbiol Rep

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Chlorination is a commonly used disinfection method in sewage treatment process. However, resistant bacteria may survive chlorination and enter the receiving aquatic environment upon effluent discharge. There has been limited research on the effects of chlorination on bacterial survival in seawater. To address this knowledge gap, microcosm experiments were conducted to simulate the discharge of chlorinated effluents into coastal seawater. The results revealed that bacterial communities in seawater‐based effluents survived better in seawater than those in freshwater‐based effluents. High chlorine dosages could significantly reduce the viable bacterial populations and their chance of regrowth in seawater. Additionally, faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) that entered the viable but non‐culturable (VBNC) state under chlorination tended to persist in the VBNC state without resuscitation during seawater incubation. Because of the prevalence of VBNC indicator bacteria, qPCR quantification of FIB was more effective than conventional culture‐based methods in tracing viable pathogenic chlorine‐resistant bacteria, although the correlation strength varied depending on the type of effluent. This study sheds light on how chlorine dosages and the intrinsic properties of effluents affect bacterial survival in seawater and highlights the potential and limitations of using FIB in monitoring the health risks associated with the discharge of chlorinated effluents.

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Addressing the Insufficiency of Marine Outfall Regulations in Mitigating Microplastic and AMR Pollution from Wastewater Treatment

Bhikhoo,

Bezuidenhout,

Molale-Tom

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Microplastics are found in all marine compartments, ranging from sea ice to sediments, beaches, and the open ocean, with a significant portion originating from land-based wastewater treatment plants. Policy in the South African context permits responsible disposal of wastewater through a marine outfall provided that the raw wastewater undergoes treatment and does not cause any adverse effects to the receiving body. However, a desktop study focused on regulatory framework for marine outfalls in South African coastal cities shows that partially treated (primary or preliminary treated) wastewater could be deposited into oceans. Microplastics form a considerable proportion of the wastewater mixture but also Enterobacteriaceae. To demonstrate the relevance of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) bacteria in biofilms on microplastics, this study aimed at identifying and characterizing Enterobacteriaceaeisolates from a simulated marine environment using microcosms. Experiments challenging the regulations were based on microbiology of the effluent that is discharged through an outfall. Microcosms were set up by spiking seawater with WWTP effluent and adding the sterilized collected plastic pieces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine colonization on the microplastics. After 30 days of microcosm exposure, selective media and incubation conditions were used to isolate Enterobacteriaceae. Pure isolates were tested against 16 antibiotics normally used in human clinical settings. In the initial biofilms directly from microplastics from the WWTPs, several genera generally associated with wastewater treatment were isolated. Dominant species isolated and identified were Citrobacter sp., Escherichia sp., Enterobacter sp., Serratia sp., Klebsiella sp. and Pseudomonas sp.. Several isolates were resistant to carbapenems (doripenem and imipenem; 9% to 27%). Some isolates were resistant to up to ten of the antibiotics. Bacterial infections caused by Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae have become a global concern in the fight against bacterial infections. The results of the present project show that clinically relevant Enterobacteriaceae colonize microplastics and that these survive in biofilms on these microplastics surfaces. Such results suggest that more data is needed that will challenge the current policy regulating the release of sewage through marine outfalls as well as the notion that dilution of sewage is an answer to pollution.

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Distribution of faecal indicator bacteria in tropical waters of Peninsular Malaysia and their decay rates in tropical seawater

Cited by 3 publications

References 46 publications

Investigating Escherichia coli habitat transition from sediments to water in tropical urban lakes

Investigating Escherichia coli habitat transition from sediments to water in tropical urban lakes

Effects of chlorination on the survival of sewage bacteria in seawater microcosms

Addressing the Insufficiency of Marine Outfall Regulations in Mitigating Microplastic and AMR Pollution from Wastewater Treatment

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