Zooplankton as a Transitional Host for Escherichia coli in Freshwater

Abstract

The contamination of freshwater with feces-derived bacteria is a major concern regarding drinking water acquisition and recreational activities. Ecological interactions promoting their persistence are still very scarcely studied. This study, which analyses the survival of E. coli in the presence of zooplankton, is thus of ecological and water safety relevance.

Influence of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) on Concentration and Distribution of Escherichia coli in Water Surrounding an Informal Floating Community in Iquitos, Peru

“…coli from water, they do not necessarily inactivate them and E . coli can re‐enter the water (Badgley et al., 2010; Di Cesare et al., 2022). A notable portion of culturable E .…”

“…It appeared that E. coli was removed from water in the presence of floating plants due to sorption onto plant roots and/or due to grazing by other organisms that congregated in greater numbers when plants were present. While both of these mechanisms remove E. coli from water, they do not necessarily inactivate them and E. coli can re-enter the water (Badgley et al, 2010;Di Cesare et al, 2022). A notable portion of culturable E. coli within the water column (a median 20%-40%) was associated with roots in treatments that had water hyacinth.…”

“…The vegetation supports removal of pathogens via different mechanisms: Pathogens can associate with or sorb onto the plant roots, which removes them from water but does not necessarily deactivate them (Badgley et al., 2010; Kansiime and van Bruggen, 2001; MacIntyre et al., 2006; Mathai et al., 2019; Rivera et al., 1995). Plants can foster a protective environment for higher organisms like zooplankton, which eat the pathogens (Decamp & Warren, 2000; González et al., 1990; Menon et al., 2003; Song et al., 2008); though ingestion by zooplankton does not necessarily deactivate the pathogens and eventually they can re‐enter the water (Di Cesare et al., 2022) Plant roots can trap sediment particles, including plant detritus, and facilitate settling of particles out of the water column. Pathogens can associate with or sorb onto these settling particles (Boutilier et al., 2009; Jasper et al., 2013; Kansiime & van Bruggen, 2001; Quiñónez‐Dìaz et al., 2001).…”

“…Plants can foster a protective environment for higher organisms like zooplankton, which eat the pathogens (Decamp & Warren, 2000; González et al., 1990; Menon et al., 2003; Song et al., 2008); though ingestion by zooplankton does not necessarily deactivate the pathogens and eventually they can re‐enter the water (Di Cesare et al., 2022)…”

Zooplankton impacts on the persistence of the anthropogenic pollution markerintI1 in lake water

“…This strongly suggests a sudden intense enrichment of the zooplankton microbiota with specific intI1-hosting bacteria. Zooplankton microbiota composition is considered to be very flexible (Eckert et al 2021) and such short-term enrichments of zooplankton microbiota were observed for e.g., E. coli, and even natural antibiotic resistance gene containing bacteria (tetA) and intI1 (Eckert et al 2016;Di Cesare et al 2018, 2022a. However, this does not seem to be the case in our system since the addition of Daphnia generally decreased intI1 containing bacteria even in the food-web experiment where DNA extractions were done from the whole community and thus included also the bacteria associated with the animal itself.…”