The capability of non-native strains of Bacteroides bacteria to detect bacteriophages as faecal indicators in a tropical area

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the use of nonlocal, already-available strains of phages to indicate faecal contamination in Thailand waters.

Methods and results: Phages of Bacteroides fragilis strains ATCC 700786 (RYC2056PH) and ATCC 51477 (HSP40PH) were measured in 71 human and animal wastewater samples in Thailand using a double-layer agar assay. Bacteriophage RYC2056PH was detected at concentrations comparable to representative human and animal wastewater samples from European and Mediterranean countries, with 61·7 and 33·3% above the threshold value of 100 PFU 100 ml(-1) in wastewater samples of human and animal origins, respectively. On the other hand, HSP40PH was detected at low concentrations in both human- and animal-polluted wastewaters. Moreover, RYC2056PH was found in 12 canal waters with human-influenced pollution and was not detected in 6 nonpolluted river waters being tested in this study.

Conclusions: The presence of RYC2056PH could indicate nonsource-specific faecal contamination in Thailand.

Significance and impact of the study: This study provided the first evidence that bacteriophages of the European-isolated B. fragilis strain RYC2056 could be used as nonsource-specific faecal indicators in the Southeast Asian region. The results of this study support the worldwide use of Bacteroides phages as faecal indicators.

Keywords: Bacteroides; bacteriophages; developing countries; faecal indicator; water quality.