The Assessment of Fecal Pollution in River by Host-specific Polymerase Chain Reaction and Microbial Indicators
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Huang, Hsin
Abstract
Fecal pollution is frequently detected in the Taipei drinking water drainage basin by traditional indicator microbial cultures. However, it is difficult to defind the origin of fecal pollution by culturing methods. To identify the possible fecal contamination sources in the watershed, this study used microbial source tracking (MST) method identify fecal source by host-specific polymerase chain reaction (host-specific PCR). Sixteen pairs of host-specific primers from varies studies were tested for the suitability in detecting fecal pollution in Taipei water source catchment (including Pei-Shih River, Nan-Shih river, and Sin-Dian River). After cross examination of 57 feces from 8 different species collected in Taiwan, 11 pairs of host-specific primers were selected for the following 21 water samples analysis from the Taipei water source catchment. Water quality parameters (including pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, total phosphorus, suspended solid, turbidity, and total organic carbon) and indicator microorganism (including total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus) were also determined. The traditional cultivation results shown that fecal pollution were dectected in several sample locations. From the MST experiments, human was the major fecal source in Nan-Shih River and Sin-Dian River. In Pei-Shih River, human, chicken, and ruminate were the major sources of fecal pollution. The microbial indicator concentration positively correlated to suspended solid, ammonia, and total phosphorus (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated to pH level (p < 0.05). Tea plantations and camp grounds are the major human activities performed in Bei-Shih River; and deer farm and chicken farm are also found in this area. Therefore, human, chicken, and ruminate may be the major source of fecal pollutions. The results of host-specific PCR were well corresponded with land usage. The results from this study may provide the knowledge in tracking fecal pollution for watershed management.
Subjects
host-specific polymerase chain reaction (host-specific PCR)
fecal pollution
microbial indicators
Taipei water source catchment
microbial source traking (MST)
Type
thesis
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