Presence of Antibiotic Resistant Escherichia Coli in Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents Utilized as Water Reuse for Irrigation

Tiong Gim Aw, Tulane UniversityFollow
Mano Sivaganesan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Shannon Briggs, Water Resources Division, Michigan Department of Environmental QualityFollow
Erin Dreelin, Michigan State UniversityFollow
Asli Aslan, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Samuel Dorevitch, University of Illinois at ChicagoFollow
Abhilasha Shrestha, University of Illinois at ChicagoFollow
Natasha Isaacs, U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science CenterFollow
Julie Kinzelman, City of Racine Public Health DepartmentFollow
Greg Kleinheinz, University of Wisconsin-OshkoshFollow
Rachel Noble, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFollow
Rick Rediske, Annis Water Resources Institute, Lake Michigan CenterFollow
Brian Scull, Annis Water Resources Institute, Lake Michigan Center
Susan Rosenberg, Oakland County Health Division LaboratoryFollow
Barbara Weberman, Oakland County Health Division Laboratory
Tami Sivy, Saginaw Valley State University
Ben Southwell, Lake Superior State University
Shawn Siefring, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory
Kevin Oshima, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research LaboratoryFollow
Richard Haugland, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research LaboratoryFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-16-2019

Publication Title

Water Research

DOI

10.1016/j.watres.2019.03.014

ISSN

0043-1354

Abstract

There is interest in the application of rapid quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods for recreational freshwater quality monitoring of the fecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli). In this study we determined the performance of 21 laboratories in meeting proposed, standardized data quality acceptance (QA) criteria and the variability of target gene copy estimates from these laboratories in analyses of 18 shared surface water samples by a draft qPCR method developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for E. coli. The participating laboratories ranged from academic and government laboratories with more extensive qPCR experience to “new” water quality and public health laboratories with relatively little previous experience in most cases. Failures to meet QA criteria for the method were observed in 24% of the total 376 test sample analyses. Of these failures, 39% came from two of the “new” laboratories. Likely factors contributing to QA failures included deviations in recommended procedures for the storage and preparation of reference and control materials. A master standard curve calibration model was also found to give lower overall variability in log10 target gene copy estimates than the delta-delta Ct (ΔΔCt) calibration model used in previous EPA qPCR methods. However, differences between the mean estimates from the two models were not significant and variability between laboratories was the greatest contributor to overall method variability in either case. Study findings demonstrate the technical feasibility of multiple laboratories implementing this or other qPCR water quality monitoring methods with similar data quality acceptance criteria but suggest that additional practice and/or assistance may be valuable, even for some more generally experienced qPCR laboratories. Special attention should be placed on providing and following explicit guidance on the preparation, storage and handling of reference and control materials.

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Copyright belongs to Elsevier. Information regarding the dissemination and usage of journal articles can be accessed through the following links.

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