Bacteriophages active against specific Bacteroides host strains were shown to be suitable for detection of human faecal pollution. However, the practical application of this finding is limited because some specific host strains were restricted to certain geographic regions. In this study, novel Bacteroides host strains were isolated that discriminate human and animal faecal pollution in Switzerland. Two strains specific for bacteriophages present in human faecal contamination and three strains specific for bacteriophages indicating animal faecal contamination were evaluated. Bacteriophages infecting human strains were exclusively found in human wastewater, whereas animal strains detected bacteriophages only in animal waste. The newly isolated host strains could be used to determine the source of surface and spring water faecal contamination in field situations. Applying the newly isolated host Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ARABA 84 for detection of bacteriophages allowed the detection of human faecal contamination in spring water.
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Research Article|
February 03 2011
Novel Bacteroides host strains for detection of human- and animal-specific bacteriophages in water
Melanie Wicki;
1Federal Office of Public Health, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel: +41 31 324 93 80 ; +41 31 322 95 74; E-mail: [email protected]
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Adrian Auckenthaler;
Adrian Auckenthaler
1Federal Office of Public Health, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
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Richard Felleisen;
Richard Felleisen
1Federal Office of Public Health, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
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Marcel Tanner;
Marcel Tanner
1Federal Office of Public Health, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
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Andreas Baumgartner
Andreas Baumgartner
1Federal Office of Public Health, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
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J Water Health (2011) 9 (1): 159–168.
Article history
Received:
November 23 2009
Accepted:
June 28 2010
Citation
Melanie Wicki, Adrian Auckenthaler, Richard Felleisen, Marcel Tanner, Andreas Baumgartner; Novel Bacteroides host strains for detection of human- and animal-specific bacteriophages in water. J Water Health 1 March 2011; 9 (1): 159–168. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2010.165
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