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Mitochondrial DNA as Source Tracking Markers of Fecal Contamination

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Microbial Source Tracking: Methods, Applications, and Case Studies

Abstract

Guidelines for water-quality monitoring have traditionally focused on the use of bacterial indicators. However, efforts to effectively mitigate fecal contamination necessitate greater clarity in source recognition. Host (mammalian and avian) epithelial cells are shed in the gut lumen and expelled in feces. These cells have multiple numbers of mitochondria, an organelle with its own genome, containing species-specific DNA sequences. These properties make mitochondrial DNA sequences (mtDNA) excellent molecular targets as they are host-specific and robust. This chapter describes the development of molecular methods such as PCR, qPCR, PCR with consensus primers, and DNA microarrays to detect and quantify mtDNA in effluents, influents, and environmental surface waters. These assays represent a paradigm shift in source tracking by detecting DNA from the host rather than its fecal bacterial population. Future development to increase the sensitivity of the assays and ease sample processing of large volumes is warranted. Contamination by nonfecal sources such as skin, hair, and sputum of swimmers needs to be evaluated in the context of providing data for source tracking, i.e., presence of human activity impacting the site. The significance of meat carryover in human feces, waste from kitchen garbage disposals and abattoir or industrial manufacturing requires further study to assess their impact on species-specific source tracking.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA /ARS Food Science Research Unit, Department of Food, Bioprocessing, & Nutrition Sciences, NC State University, 323 Schaub Hall, 7624, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7624, USA

    Jane Caldwell

Authors
  1. Jane Caldwell
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  2. Pierre Payment
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  3. Richard Villemur
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jane Caldwell .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Prince Hall 401, Blacksburg, 24061, Virgin Islands, USA

    Charles Hagedorn

  2. Fac. Biologia, Depto. Microbiologia, Universitat Barcelona, Avenida Diagonal 645, Barcelona, 08028, Spain

    Anicet R. Blanch

  3. Dept. Biology, Div. Integrative Biology (IB), University of South Florida, E. Fowler Ave. 4202, Tampa, 33620, Florida, USA

    Valerie J. Harwood

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Caldwell, J., Payment, P., Villemur, R. (2011). Mitochondrial DNA as Source Tracking Markers of Fecal Contamination. In: Hagedorn, C., Blanch, A., Harwood, V. (eds) Microbial Source Tracking: Methods, Applications, and Case Studies. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9386-1_10

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