Campylobacter spp. , Giardia spp. , Cryptosporidium spp., Noroviruses, and Indicator Organisms in Surface Water in Southwestern Finland, 2000-2001

Abstract

A total of 139 surface water samples from seven lakes and 15 rivers in southwestern Finland were analyzed during five consecutive seasons from autumn 2000 to autumn 2001 for the presence of various enteropathogens (Campylobacter spp., Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., and noroviruses) and fecal indicators (thermotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, and F-RNA bacteriophages) and for physicochemical parameters (turbidity and temperature); this was the first such systematic study. Altogether, 41.0% (57 of 139) of the samples were positive for at least one of the pathogens; 17.3% were positive for Campylobacter spp. (45.8% of the positive samples contained Campylobacter jejuni, 25.0% contained Campylobacter lari, 4.2% contained Campylobacter coli, and 25.0% contained Campylobacter isolates that were not identified), 13.7% were positive for Giardia spp., 10.1% were positive for Cryptosporidium spp., and 9.4% were positive for noroviruses (23.0% of the positive samples contained genogroup I and 77.0% contained genogroup II). The samples were positive for enteropathogens significantly (P < 0.05) less frequently during the winter season than during the other sampling seasons. No significant differences in the prevalence of enteropathogens were found when rivers and lakes were compared. The presence of thermotolerant coliforms, E. coli, and C. perfringens had significant bivariate nonparametric Spearman's rank order correlation coefficients (P < 0.001) with samples that were positive for one or more of the pathogens analyzed. The absence of these indicators in a logistic regression model was found to have significant predictive value (odds ratios, 1.15 ؋ 10 8 , 7.57, and 2.74, respectively; P < 0.05) for a sample that was negative for the pathogens analyzed. There were no significant correlations between counts or count levels for thermotolerant coliforms or E. coli or the presence of F-RNA phages and pathogens in the samples analyzed.

Impact of Rurality, Broiler Operations, and Community Socioeconomic Factors on the Risk of Campylobacteriosis in Maryland

“…In a Danish population-based study, Nielsen et al (2012) found that incidence of C. jejuni and C. coli infection varied seasonally, with incidence peaking in late summer months, whereas C. concisus exhibited an almost constant monthly prevalence (Nielsen, 2012). Similar results were found in Finland by Hörman et al (2004) who detected Campylobacter spp less frequently in lakes and rivers during winter than in spring, summer, or autumn (Hörman, et al). Kovats et al (2005) applied a regression analysis to data linking temperature and cases of campylobacteriosis across Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, finding a distinct peak of infection in the spring for many areas.…”

“…Urease-positive thermophilic campylobacters (UPTC) have also been measured in sea water, but are believed to originate from birds (Obiri-Danso, 2001) as is often the case for coastal waters, as well as estuaries, rivers and lakes. (Hörman, 2004). This is consistent with the fact that the majority of Campylobacteraceae are not able to multiply outside of animal hosts and survive poorly in the environment due to light and temperature sensitivity (Levin, 2007).…”

“…Interestingly, the various species of Campylobacter thrive differently depending on water temperature and amount of solar radiation, two factors which have an impact on the survival and recovery of the different Campylobacter species (Hörman, 2004). Most studies point to lower temperatures being more optimal to Campylobacter growth than higher; for example C. jejuni and C. coli survive in cold water (at temperatures below 10°C) much longer than they survive in water at temperatures higher than 18°C (Hörman, 2004) Campylobacter seasonality driven by air temperature has been studied extensively.…”

Influences of natural and anthropogenic factors on surface and groundwater quality in rural and urban areas

“…(Lemarchand and Lebaron 2003), Campylobacter spp. (Lund 1996;Bonadonna et al 2002;Lemarchand and Lebaron 2003;Horman et al 2004), Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. (Lund 1996;Bonadonna et al 2002;Lemarchand and Lebaron 2003;Horman et al 2004;Harwood et al 2005), human enteroviruses (Geldenhuys and Pretorius 1989;Lemarchand and Lebaron 2003;Horman et al 2004;Harwood et al 2005;Pusch et al 2005) including adenoviruses (Noble and Fuhrman 2001) and coliphages (Jiang et al 2001).…”

“…(Lund 1996;Bonadonna et al 2002;Lemarchand and Lebaron 2003;Horman et al 2004), Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. (Lund 1996;Bonadonna et al 2002;Lemarchand and Lebaron 2003;Horman et al 2004;Harwood et al 2005), human enteroviruses (Geldenhuys and Pretorius 1989;Lemarchand and Lebaron 2003;Horman et al 2004;Harwood et al 2005;Pusch et al 2005) including adenoviruses (Noble and Fuhrman 2001) and coliphages (Jiang et al 2001). Elevated levels of both nutrients and dissolved and suspended inorganic and organic matter, which are mainly generated from uneaten feed, fish excretion, and faecal production, might induce eutrophication in coastal zones (Holby and Hall 1991;Hall et al 1992;Wu 1995;Lee et al 2003).…”