Differentiating Sources of Fecal Contamination to Wilderness Waters Using Droplet Digital PCR and Fecal Indicator Bacteria Methods

dc.contributor.authorPendergraph, Daniel P.
dc.contributor.authorRanieri, John
dc.contributor.authorErmatinger, Lochlin
dc.contributor.authorBaumann, Adam
dc.contributor.authorMetcalf, Alexander L.
dc.contributor.authorDeLuca, Thomas H.
dc.contributor.authorChurch, Matthew J.
dc.date.accessioned2022-02-04T20:30:37Z
dc.date.available2022-02-04T20:30:37Z
dc.date.issued2021-06
dc.description.abstractIntroduction Human activity in wilderness areas has the potential to affect aquatic ecosystems, including through the introduction of microorganisms associated with fecal contamination. We examined fecal microorganism contamination in water sources (lake outlets, snowmelt streams) in the popular Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness in the United States. Although the region is remote, increasing human visitation has the potential to negatively affect water quality, with particular concern about human-derived microorganism fecal contaminants. Methods We used standard fecal indicator bacterial assays that quantified total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli concentrations, together with more specific polymerase chain reaction-based microbial assays that identified possible human sources of fecal microorganisms in these waters. Results Total coliforms were detected at all lake outlets (21 of 21 sites), and E coli was detected at 11 of 21 sites. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction assays revealed the presence of human feces-derived microorganisms, albeit at abundances below the limit of detection (<10 gene copies per milliliter of water) at all but 1 of the sampling sites. Conclusions Our results suggest low prevalence of water-borne pathogens (specifically E coli and human-derived Bacteroides) in this popular wilderness area. However, widespread detection of total coliforms, Bacteroides, and E coli highlight the importance of purifying water sources in wilderness areas before consumption. Specific sources of total coliforms and E coli in these waters remain unknown but could derive from wild or domesticated animals that inhabit or visit the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness. Hence, although contamination by human fecal microorganisms appears minimal, human visitation could indirectly influence fecal contamination through domesticated animals.en_US
dc.identifier.citationPendergraph, Daniel P., John Ranieri, Lochlin Ermatinger, Adam Baumann, Alexander L. Metcalf, Thomas H. DeLuca, and Matthew J. Church. “Differentiating Sources of Fecal Contamination to Wilderness Waters Using Droplet Digital PCR and Fecal Indicator Bacteria Methods.” Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 32, no. 3 (September 2021): 332–339. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2021.04.007.en_US
dc.identifier.issn1080-6032
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/16626
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rights© 2020 This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.en_US
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en_US
dc.titleDifferentiating Sources of Fecal Contamination to Wilderness Waters Using Droplet Digital PCR and Fecal Indicator Bacteria Methodsen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
mus.citation.extentfirstpage332en_US
mus.citation.extentlastpage339en_US
mus.citation.issue3en_US
mus.citation.journaltitleWilderness & Environmental Medicineen_US
mus.citation.volume32en_US
mus.data.thumbpage3en_US
mus.identifier.doi10.1016/j.wem.2021.04.007en_US
mus.relation.collegeCollege of Agricultureen_US
mus.relation.departmentLand Resources & Environmental Sciences.en_US
mus.relation.universityMontana State University - Bozemanen_US

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