Nitrate enrichment does not affect enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in aquatic microcosms but may affect other strains present in aquatic habitats

Meredith T Davis; Adam D Canning; Anne C Midwinter; Russell G Death

doi:10.7717/peerj.13914

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Nitrate enrichment does not affect enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in aquatic microcosms but may affect other strains present in aquatic habitats

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Nitrate enrichment does not affect enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in aquatic microcosms but may affect other strains present in aquatic habitats

Meredith T Davis, Adam D Canning, Anne C Midwinter and Russell G Death

PeerJ (San Francisco, CA), Vol.10, e13914

27/09/2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13914

PMID: 36187747

Appears in Recent Faculty of Science and Engineering Publications

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Abstract

Animals

Cattle

Ecosystem

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli - metabolism

Escherichia coli Infections - microbiology

Escherichia coli Proteins - metabolism

Fertilizers

Humans

Nitrates

Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli - metabolism

Water

Biochemistry

Ecology

Microbiology

Freshwater biology

Aquatic and Marine Chemistry

Eutrophication of the planet’s aquatic systems is increasing at an unprecedented rate. In freshwater systems, nitrate—one of the nutrients responsible for eutrophication—is linked to biodiversity losses and ecosystem degradation. One of the main sources of freshwater nitrate pollution in New Zealand is agriculture. New Zealand’s pastoral farming system relies heavily on the application of chemical fertilisers. These fertilisers in combination with animal urine, also high in nitrogen, result in high rates of nitrogen leaching into adjacent aquatic systems. In addition to nitrogen, livestock waste commonly carries human and animal enteropathogenic bacteria, many of which can survive in freshwater environments. Two strains of enteropathogenic bacteria found in New Zealand cattle, are K99 and Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). To better understand the effects of ambient nitrate concentrations in the water column on environmental enteropathogenic bacteria survival, a microcosm experiment with three nitrate-nitrogen concentrations (0, 1, and 3 mg NO3-N /L), two enteropathogenic bacterial strains (STEC O26—human, and K99—animal), and two water types (sterile and containing natural microbiota) was run. Both STEC O26 and K99 reached 500 CFU/10 ml in both water types at all three nitrate concentrations within 24 hours and remained at those levels for the full 91 days of the experiment. Although enteropathogenic strains showed no response to water column nitrate concentrations, the survival of background Escherichia coli, imported as part of the in-stream microbiota did, surviving longer in 1 and 3 mg NO3-N/Lconcentrations (P < 0.001). While further work is needed to fully understand how nitrate enrichment and in-stream microbiota may affect the viability of human and animal pathogens in freshwater systems, it is clear that these two New Zealand strains of STEC O26 and K99 can persist in river water for extended periods alongside some natural microbiota.

Details

Title: Nitrate enrichment does not affect enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in aquatic microcosms but may affect other strains present in aquatic habitats
Creators: Meredith T Davis - Massey University
Adam D Canning - James Cook University
Anne C Midwinter - Massey University
Russell G Death - Massey University
Publication Details: PeerJ (San Francisco, CA), Vol.10, e13914
Publisher: PeerJ, Ltd.
Identifiers: 991013092675602368
Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Nitrate enrichment does not affect enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in aquatic microcosms but may affect other strains present in aquatic habitats

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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