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Survival of indicator microorganisms and enteric pathogens in wetlands Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Karim, Mohammad Rezaul Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 28/09/2021 18:09:54 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/284066 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are In typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. 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Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 SURVIVAL OF INDICATOR MICROORGANISMS AND ENTERIC PATHOGENS IN WETLANDS by Mohammad Rezaul Karim A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF SOIL, WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1999 UMI Number 9960269 ® UMI UMI Microfomi9960269 Copyright 2000 by Bell & Howell Infomnatlon and Learning Company. Ail rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA « GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared bv Mohammad Rezaul Karim entitled Survival of Indicator Microorganisms and Enteric Pathogens in Wetlands and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Charles^.yGerba Date ' Edward P. Glenn Date irtin M. Karpiscak/ Datea ' t. Ocj__Z£j9l? Ian L.-,.Peppet J' Date Roger L. Caldwell Date Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. Dissertation Director Charles P. Gerba Date^ 3 STATEMENT OF AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be available to borrowers under the rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate aciaiowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotations from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his or her judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. Signed: 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My heartfelt thanks to Dr. Charles Gerba for his invaluable advice, motivation, excellent guidance and financial support. Dr. Gerba is one of the few teachers I have known who really cares for his students. I am proud of being his student. Special thanks to Dr. Edward Glenn for his advice and extending to me the opportunity to use the research facilities at the Environmental Research Laboratory. My sincere Aanks to the rest of my committee members. Dr. Martin Karpiscak, Dr. Roger Caldwell and Dr. Ian Pepper, for their time and support. Thanks to Dr. Kevin Fitzsimmons and Gary Dickenson for letting me use the greenhouse facility at the Environmental Research Laboratory. Thanks to everyone who made my studies at The University of Arizona enjoyable and who helped me to reach my goal. Thanks to Judi, Jan and Elenor, for all the paper work they have done for me. I gratefully acknowledge the support and cooperation of all my colleagues and friends in our lab. Thanks to Patricia for all your help and sharing good words. Thanks to Pat Rusin for your help and suggestions. Thanks to Carlos for your help and training in cell culture. Thanks to Mary for helping in sampling. Thanks to Absar for all your help and support. Thanks to my amigos George, Cristobal, Antonio and Pablo for teaching me Spanish words. Thanks to the rest of the team, Pam, Suzanne, Faezeh, Jeanette, Georgetta, Luisa, Amy, Denise, Luis, Frank, Modhumita, and Mansour for all your help and support. And finally, Jamie thanks for your help and big smile. I cannot thank my parents enough for all the support and love they have for me. It is my mother who taught me the first lessons. It is my father who always encouraged me for higher education and made it possible through his love and unconditional financial support. He was very happy to know about my study at the University of Arizona before his untimely death in July 1995. Thanks to all my sisters and brothers for their love and support. My wife, Naher has always been very loving and compassionate. Her love and patience enabled me to reach our common goals. 5 DEDICATION To my parents 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT 8 INTRODUCTION 10 Problem Definition 10 Literature Review 11 What is a Wetland ? 11 Natural and Constructed Wetlands 12 Wetland Classification 12 Natural Wetlands 12 Artificial or Constructed Wetlands 14 Wetland Plants 16 Wetland Indigenous Microbial Conmiunities 18 Pathogens in Domestic Wastewater 18 Bacteria 19 Escherichia coli 20 Salmonella 20 Enteric Viruses 21 Protozoan Parasites 22 Giardia 23 Cryptosporidium 25 Indicator Microorganisms 26 Reduction/Removal of Microorganisms by Wetlands 28 7 TABLE OF CO^^TEKTS-Continued Survival of Microorganisms in Wetlands 32 Occurrence and Survival of Enteric Microorganisms in Sediments .. 33 Explanation of Dissertation Format 37 PRESENT STUDY 38 REFERENCES 39 APPENDDC 1: THE EFFECT OF WETLAND VEGETATION ON THE SURVIVAL OF ESCHERICHIA COU, SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM, BACTERIOPHAGE MS-2, AND POLIOVIRUS 46 APPENDIX 2: FATE OF INDICATOR MICROORGANISMS AND GIARDIA MURIS IN CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS 78 APPENDIX 3: THE ROLE OF SEDIMENTATION IN THE PERSISTANCE AND REMOVAL OF ENTERIC PATHOGENS IN ARTIFICL\L WETLANDS 99 8 ABSTRACT Wetlands containing aquatic plants have been found to economically provide a mechanism for improving the microbial and other quality of wastewater. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of vegetation and sedimentation on the survival of enteric microorganisms in constructed wetlands. The first part of this study was designed to determine the effect of vegetation on the survival of Escherichia coli. Salmonella typhimurium, bacteriophage MS-2 and poliovirus in wetlands. The organisms were added to the water from six wetland systems, containing different aquatic plants. The wetland systems received either fresh water or secondary sewage. The presence of aquatic plants significantly increased the die-off of E.coli, S. typhimurium, bacteriophage MS-2, and poliovirus in fresh water and secondary sewage. Additional work on the survival of £. coli in non-sterile, filter sterilized, and autoclaved wetland water indicated that one of the plausible mechanisms of bacterial die-off in constructed wetlands is through increased microbial competition or predation. The next phase of this study investigated the survival of indicator microorganisms in wetlands similar to field conditions. E. coli, bacteriophage MS-2, and PRD-1 were added to tanks which were unvegetated or contained different aquatic plants. £. coli die- off in unvegetated tanks was greater than the vegetated tanks. Temperature was found to be significantly correlated with the die-off of E. coli. Inactivation of bacteriophage MS-2 in unvegetated tanks was also higher than the vegetated tanks. In contrast, PRD-1 inactivation was greater in the vegetated tanks compared to the unvegetated tanks. 9 suggesting that the persistence of viruses in wetlands is dependent on virus type. Thus, a combination of unvegetated and vegetated wetland would probably result in the greatest reduction of microorganisms by the wetlands. The last phase of this study was to examine the relative occurrence and survival of indicator microorganisms and pathogens in the water column and sediments of two constructed surface flow wetlands.