Microcosms for evaluating microbial indicator persistence and mobilization in fluvial sediments during rainfall events.
Mediterranean rivers, which are subject to long, dry periods and heavy rainfall events, could be particularly useful for understanding future climate scenarios. This study generated microcosms that mimicked riverbank sediment resuspension into the water of a typical Mediterranean river as a consequence of heavy rainfall. The mobilization and inactivation of six fecal pollution indicators and microbial source tracking markers were evaluated. The T90 values in the sediments were: 4 days for sorbitol-fermenting Bifidobacterium, 11 days for culturable E. coli, 36 days for bacteriophages infecting Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron strain GA17 and more than 42 days for qPCR-detected E. coli, somatic coliphages and sulfite-reducing clostridia spores. Bacteriophages and bacteria showed different resuspension and sedimentation patterns. The data obtained could be used in predictive models to assess the effects of climate change on surface water quality. Pathogen mobilization into the water column poses a risk for humans, animals and the natural environment, and breaches the One Health approach.
['Martín-Díaz|Julia|J|', 'García-Aljaro|Cristina|C|', 'Pascual-Benito|Míriam|M|', 'Galofré|Belén|B|', 'Blanch|Anicet R|AR|', 'Lucena|Francisco|F|']
D000818:Animals D057231:Climate Change D003090:Coliphages D004926:Escherichia coli D005243:Feces D006801:Humans D045483:Rivers D014871:Water Microbiology
Inactivation Fecal pollution Microbial source tracking Climate change Mesocosms