Incidence of the enterococcal surface protein (esp) gene in human and animal fecal sources
Environmental Science & Technology
By: R.L. Whitman, K. Przybyla-Kelly, D.A. Shively, and M.N. Byappanahalli
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Abstract
The occurrence of the enterococcal surface protein (esp) gene in the opportunistic pathogens Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium is well-documented in clinical research. Recently, the esp gene has been proposed as a marker of human pollution in environmental waters; however, information on its relative incidence in various human and animal fecal sources is limited. We have determined the occurrence of the esp gene in enterococci from human (n = 64) and animal (n = 233) fecal samples by polymerase chain reaction using two primer sets: one presumably specific for E. faecium (espfm) and the other for both E. faecalis and E. faecium (espfs/fm). We believe that this research is the first to explore the use of espfs/fm for the detection of human waste in natural environmental settings. The incidence in human sources was 93.1% espfm and 100% espfs/fm in raw sewage influent; 30% for both espfm and espfs/fm in septic waste; and 0% espfm and 80% espfs/fm in active pit toilets. The overall occurrence of the gene in animal feces was 7.7% (espfs/fm) and 4.7% (espfm); animal types with positive results included dogs (9/43, all espfm), gulls (10/34, espfs/fm; 2/34, espfm), mice (3/22, all espfs/fm), and songbirds (5/55, all espfs/fm). The esp gene was not detected in cat (0/34), deer (0/4), goose (0/18), or raccoon (0/23) feces. The inconsistent occurrence, especially in septic and pit toilet sewage, suggests a low statistical power of discrimination between animal and human sources, which means a large number of replicates should be collected. Both espfm and espfs/fm were common in raw sewage, but neither one efficiently differentiated between animal and other human sources.
Suggested Citation
Whitman, R., Przybyla-Kelly, K., Shively, D., and Byappanahalli, M., 2007, Incidence of the enterococcal surface protein (esp) gene in human and animal fecal sources: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 41, no. 17, p. 6090-6095, https://doi.org/10.1021/es070817t.
ISSN: 1520-5851 (online)
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Incidence of the enterococcal surface protein (esp) gene in human and animal fecal sources |
| Series title | Environmental Science & Technology |
| DOI | 10.1021/es070817t |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue | 17 |
| Publication Date | August 08, 2007 |
| Year Published | 2007 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Great Lakes Science Center |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Environmental Science and Technology |
| First page | 6090 |
| Last page | 6095 |