INVESTIGADORES
LARA Ruben Jose
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
When Pathogens Respond to Human Interaction with Waterbodies in West Bengal, India.
Autor/es:
BATABYAL, P.; MOOKERJEE, S.; PALIT, A.; LARA, RUBÉN JOSÉ; EINSPORN, M.
Lugar:
Bremerhaven
Reunión:
Congreso; YOUMARES 2.0. Oceans amidst science, innovation and society; 2011
Institución organizadora:
German Society for Marine Research
Resumen:
Tropical Waters serve manifold purposes; many Indian citizens use naturalwater bodies as part of their daily livelihood. Besides, the River Ganges has aspecial place in the religious culture for the Hindus. This study focuses on samplesof fresh, riverine and estuarine waters, respectively in different parts of WestBengal. Subhas Sarovar a lake in eastern Kolkata, is used for washing food,clothes and dishes, bathing, swimming, fishing & also mouth cleaning. The samepractices are noticed with the water of the River Hooghly, a distributary of theRiver Ganges, which flows through Kolkata-Howrah, Diamond Harbour and thenfalls into the Bay of Bengal. In March, the waters reach temperature up to 30 °Cwithout any rain intrusion. This leads to transmission of pathogenic E. coli (ETEC,EHEC, EAEC, EPEC, EIEC) via natural streams. Our data reveals that the riverHooghly near Kolkata and Howrah region carries greater number of E. coli (150-400 CFU/mL; 275, 125) than at Diamond Harbour (0-10 cfu/mL; 3, 1). Higher E.coli load in Kolkata, Howrah, substantiate the fact of lower salinity (0.0 ppt) andhigher sewage disposal from the cities. Whereas the lower persistence of E. coli atDiamond Harbour support the fact of higher salinity (1.5-4.5 PSU) and less humaninteraction/sewage disposal into the river stream. On the contrary, in spite ofhaving the same physico-chemical nature, pond sample represents the variabilityof E. coli load in its different parts (eg. 750 CFU/mL at crowded place and 12CFU/mL at vacant places), indicating the influence of human interaction. Innatural water bodies like ponds, the concentration of E. coli indicates the fecalinputs and the influence of fecal matter borne pathogens. However, thedistribution of fecal indicator bacteria (E. coli) in riverine system is required to bewell understood. Accordingly, the impact of the higher E. coli concentration inriverine ecosystem on the common people should also be explored.