Arcobacter spp. isolated from untreated domestic effluent

• Published in: Letters in applied microbiology Vol. 59; no. 1; pp. 122 - 126
• Main Authors: Merga, J.Y, Royden, A, Pandey, A.K, Williams, N.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Society for Applied Bacteriology by Blackwell Scientific Publications 01.07.2014; Blackwell; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Arcobacter; Arcobacter - isolation & purification; Arcobacter butzleri; Arcobacter cryaerophilus; Biological and medical sciences; ecology; emerging pathogen; England; environmental; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology; gastrointestinal system; human population; Humans; intestinal microbiology; Microbiology; pathogens; sewage; Sewage - microbiology; Sewage disposal; Studies; Urban Population; Waste Water - microbiology; wastewater; wastewater treatment; Water Microbiology; Water Purification; Water treatment; United Kingdom; England; British Isles, England, Cheshire; British Isles; wastewater; environmental; Applied microbiology; Pathogenic; Gut; intestinal microbiology; Ecology; Effluent; emerging pathogen; sewage; Waste water; ecology
• ISSN: 0266-8254; 1472-765X
• DOI: 10.1111/lam.12256

Arcobacter butzleri and Arcobacter cryaerophilus were isolated from samples of raw untreated domestic sewage influent from nine separate wastewater treatment facilities in Cheshire, UK. This is the first report of Arcobacter spp. from sewage in the UK and suggests that Arcobacter spp. may be present in the human community. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Studies have shown Arcobacter spp. to be present in domestic sewage in several European countries. This study supports previous findings with the first report of Arcobacter spp. in domestic sewage in the UK. This study suggests that Arcobacter spp. is present amongst local human populations, implicating it as an underestimated gastrointestinal pathogen in the UK and contributing to our understanding of this emerging pathogen and its presence within the UK. Providing a confirmation of the presence of Arcobacter in sewage, which supports previous studies, this paper will appeal to fellow researchers of Arcobacter, as well as healthcare and water treatment professionals concerned with microbiology, water safety and gastroenterology, potentially having a wide impact.