Antibiotic resistance genes and crAssphage in hospital wastewater and a canal receiving the treatment effluent.

Hospital wastewater is a major hotspot for the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their correlation with crAssphage in a hospital wastewater treatment plant (HWWTP) and a receiving canal. Water samples were analyzed for 94 ARGs and crAssphage relative to the 16S rRNA using high-throughput quantitative polymerase chain reaction (HT-qPCR).

High throughput qPCR unveils shared antibiotic resistance genes in tropical wastewater and river water.

The global challenge posed by rising antimicrobial resistance, and the adoption of a One Health approach, has led to the prioritisation of surveillance for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in various environments. Herein lies an information gap, particularly in the context of Thailand, where there is scarce data on ARG prevalence across diverse environmental matrices and throughout different seasons. This study aimed to fill this void, analysing ARG prevalence by high-throughput qPCR in influent (n = 12) and effluent wastewater (n = 12) and river water (n = 12).

Quantitative microbial risk assessment of the gastrointestinal risks to swimmers at Southeast Asian urban beaches using site-specific and combined autochthonous and fecal bacteria exposure data.

Recreational exposure to microbial pollution at urban beaches poses a health risk to beachgoers. The accurate quantification of such risks is crucial in managing beaches effectively and establishing warning guidelines. In this study, we employed a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) framework to assess marine water quality and estimate the risks associated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus, an autochthonous pathogen that causes gastrointestinal illnesses, and enterococci, a traditional fecal bacteria indicator.

Microbial source tracking using molecular and cultivable methods in a tropical mixed-use drinking water source to support water safety plans.

Microbial contamination deteriorates source water quality, posing a severe problem for drinking water suppliers worldwide and addressed by the Water Safety Plan framework to ensure high-quality and reliable drinking water. Microbial source tracking (MST) is used to examine different microbial pollution sources via host-specific intestinal markers for humans and different types of animals. However, the application of MST in tropical surface water catchments that provide raw water for drinking water supplies is limited.

Wastewater monitoring in tourist cities as potential sentinel sites for near real-time dynamics of imported SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) complements the clinical surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants' distribution in populations. Many developed nations have established national and regional WBE systems; however, governance and budget constraints could be obstacles for low- and middle-income countries. An urgent need thus exists to identify hotspots to serve as sentinel sites for WBE.

SARS-CoV-2 RNA surveillance in large to small centralized wastewater treatment plants preceding the third COVID-19 resurgence in Bangkok, Thailand.

Wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been a successful indicator of COVID-19 outbreaks in populations prior to clinical testing. However, this has been mostly conducted in high-income countries, which means there is a dearth of performance investigations in low- and middle-income countries with different socio-economic settings. This study evaluated the applicability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA monitoring in wastewater (n = 132) to inform COVID-19 infection in the city of Bangkok, Thailand using CDC N1 and N2 RT-qPCR assays.

Persisting antibiotic resistance gene pollution and its association with human sewage sources in tropical marine beach waters.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are pollutants of worldwide concern that threaten human health and ecosystems. Anthropogenic activities and wastewater could be ARB and ARG pollution sources; however, research on ARG abundance and microbial source tracking (MST) of contamination in tropical marine waters is limited. This study examined spatiotemporal variations of six ARGs (bla, bla, bla, mcr-1, sul1, and tetQ) against the widely used antibiotic groups and a class 1 integron-integrase gene (intI1) at two Thai tropical recreational beaches (n = 41).

Integrated analyses of fecal indicator bacteria, microbial source tracking markers, and pathogens for Southeast Asian beach water quality assessment.

The degradation of coastal water quality from fecal pollution poses a health risk to visitors at recreational beaches. Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are a proxy for fecal pollution; however the accuracy of their representation of fecal pollution health risks at recreational beaches impacted by non-point sources is disputed due to non-human derivation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between FIB and a range of culturable and molecular-based microbial source tracking (MST) markers and pathogenic bacteria, and physicochemical parameters and rainfall.