Water Research Seminar | Monitoring of Naegleria fowleri in Natural and Built Water Environments
Join us for another seminar in our Water Research Series, featuring experts examining emerging challenges shaping water, wastewater, public health, and infrastructure.
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Description: The free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri (Nf) inhabits soil and natural waters worldwide: it is thermophilic and thrives at temperatures up to 45 °C and in a multitude of environments. Three deaths in Louisiana were attributed to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by Nf infection in 2011 and 2013. Following these incidents, public water systems are now monitored for the presence of Nf in Louisiana. From 2014 to 2018, 29% (27/93) of samples collected showed positive for Nf and 68% (63/93) showed all thermophilic amoeba culture. We also determine N. fowleri, E. coli, and enterococci in water collected from Lake Pontchartrain. N. fowleri target sequence was detected in 35.4% (56/158) of the water samples from ten sites around the lake. Statistically significant positive correlations between N. fowleri concentration and water temperature as well as E. coli (qPCR) were observed. Multiple linear regression (MLR) model shows seasonal factor (summer or winter) has significant effect on the concentration of N. fowleri, E. coli and enterococci (qPCR) concentration. Significant positive relationships between E. coli and enterococci was observed from both qPCR (r=0.25) and culture based method (r=0.54). Meanwhile, significant positive correlation between qPCR and culture based methods for enterococci concentration was observed (r=0.33). In our study, water temperature and E. coli concentration were indicative of N. fowleri concentrations in brackish water environment. Future research is needed to determine whether sediment is a source of N. fowleri found in the water column.
Learning Objectives:
1. Determine the prevalence of N. fowleri in Louisiana natural and engineered water systems.
2. Assess spatial and temporal patterns of N. fowleri detection in raw and distribution water.
3. Inform surveillance strategies for N. fowleri in water systems under extreme events.
Presenter: Samendra Sherchan, Ph.D., Morgan State University
Certificate: This training has NOT been submitted for approval of continuing education credit. We will provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees, but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements.
Who Should Attend:
- Managers, owners, and operators of water systems serving less than 10,000 people, or wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
- Decision-makers for water and wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
- Consultants and technical assistance providers serving water and wastewater systems
- Professionals involved or interested in optimizing wastewater collection systems
Partner:
Organizer
Program Associate at the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center