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Escherichia coli Capacity to Repopulate Microcosms Under Osmotic/U.V. Synergic Stress in Tropical Waters

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Abstract

In both Brazilian and European regulations, the impact assessment of sewage discharges into coastal waters is based on microbiological analyses of fecal indicators such as Escherichia coli, frequently used in prevision hydrodynamic models. However, the decay rates of E. coli vary depending on environmental conditions, and analysis may lead to inaccurate conclusions. This study aimed to analyze the decay of culturable and viable (but not culturable) E. coli in outdoor conditions, by creating microcosms inoculated with pre-treated sewage. The microcosms were filled with 9.88 L of filtered water (0.22 μm membrane), 3.5% salt, 0.1–0.2% BHI, and 1% bacterial suspension obtained by reverse filtration. PMA-qPCR of E. coli uidA gene and Colilert measurements were applied to evaluate population counts after 2 h, 4 h, and 26 h. After nine hours of exposure to solar radiation, the viable cells decreased to 2.76% (interpolated value) of the initial population, and the cultivable fraction of the viable population accounted for 0.50%. In the dark period, the bacteria grew again, and viable cells reached 8.54%, while cultivable cells grew to 48.14% of initial population. This behavior is possibly due to the use of nutrients recycled from dead cells. Likewise, populations of E. coli in sewage outfalls remain viable in the sediments, where resuspension can renew blooming.

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Acknowledgements

An informal authorization to collect raw sewage was obtained, but the responsible for the operation did not authorized to mention the name of the sewage treatment plant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The authors are grateful to CAPES (Grant # 001). JCW is thankful to CNPq for the financial support (CNPq Grant # 302741/2017-8).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Post-Graduation Program in Sustainable Systems Management (UFF) and Departamento de Saneamento e Saúde Ambiental, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Marcos T. Carneiro

  2. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Solos, Rua Jardim Botânico, 1024, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Daniel V. Perez

  3. Departamento de Saneamento e Saúde Ambiental, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Renato C. Feitosa

  4. Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Pavilion Hélio Peggy Pereira, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Lorena G. P. Macena & Marize P. Miagostovich

  5. UFF Network of Environment and Sustainable Development, Federal Fluminense University, Av. Litorânea s/n Institute of Geosciences, suíte 406, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil

    Julio C. Wasserman

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  1. Marcos T. Carneiro
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  2. Daniel V. Perez
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  3. Renato C. Feitosa
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  4. Lorena G. P. Macena
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  5. Marize P. Miagostovich
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  6. Julio C. Wasserman
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Contributions

MTC: Responsible for conducting the research; author of the first draft; participated in the laboratory and field work. DVP: Advisor of the research; conception of the research; contributions in the manuscript; helped in the laboratory work. RCF: Advisor of the research; constributions in the manuscript; helped in the laboratory work. LGPM: constributions in the manuscript; helped in the laboratory work. MPM: Advisor of the research; constributions in the manuscript; helped in the laboratory work. JCW: Advisor of the research; conception of the research; contributions in the manuscript; participated in the laboratory and field work.

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Correspondence to Julio C. Wasserman.

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Carneiro, M.T., Perez, D.V., Feitosa, R.C. et al. Escherichia coli Capacity to Repopulate Microcosms Under Osmotic/U.V. Synergic Stress in Tropical Waters. Curr Microbiol 78, 756–764 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-020-02319-2

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