211125 Problems Related to Detection of Pathogens in Drinking Water

Monday, November 9, 2009: 9:10 AM

H.D. Alan Lindquist, PhD , National Homeland Security Research Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH
Specific pathogens are difficult to detect and a regular program of monitoring for a set of specific pathogens would of necessity miss any pathogen that was not specifically the target of monitoring. Nevertheless, the capability to detect pathogens in drinking water is needed to protect public health. It is useful in outbreak investigations and in protecting populations against specific pathogens, if a particular risk is known or suspected. Pathogen detection in water should follow the established pattern of successful detection systems, in general. All detection systems work better as the probability that the sample contains the detection target of interest increases. This can be done by screening the sample, to reduce the number of detection assays undertaken. The potential for success in sampling is also dependent on the methods used for sampling. It is feasible to sample large volumes of water for the presence of specific pathogens. New sampling techniques must be compatible with both molecular and traditional assay formats. Some considerations of the sampling technique should be the overall cost, safety and the specific environment in which a sampling device will be used.

Learning Objectives:
Explain how health risks can be assessed though monitoring, exposure evaluation, and quantitative microbial risk assessment.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently the lead for microbiological research within the EPA’s National Homeland Security Research Center. In my capacity within the Center’s Water Infrastructure Protection Division, I oversees research programs on the detection of disease causing microorganisms on surfaces and in water samples. I coordinates microbiological research within this Center, and with other governmental agencies. I have held temporary assignments as the Acting Associate Director of the Threat and Consequence Assessment Division in the National Homeland Security Research Center, and as an Embassy Science Fellow with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo Japan. Earlier in my career at the EPA, I worked on developing methods for detection of protozoa in source and drinking water with the National Exposure Research Laboratory. I have published numerous peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and made many presentations on the science of detection of microorganisms in environmental samples. I earned my Ph.D. in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, where I studied diagnostic parasitology. I was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in the malaria control program in Thailand, and earned Master of Environmental Science and Bachelors degrees from Miami University, Oxford Ohio. Some of my publications in the past 5 years are listed here: Yang W. H.D. Lindquist, V. Cama, F.W. Schaefer 3rd, E. Villegas, R. Fayer, E;.J. Lewis, Y. Feng, L. Xiao, 2009. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in water sample concentrates by real-time PCR. Appl. Envirom. Microbiol. 2009 epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00285-09. Holowecky, P.M., R.R. James, D.P. Lorch, S.E. Straka and H.D.A. Lindquist. 2009. Evaluation of ultrafiltration cartridges for a water sampling apparatus. J. Appl. Microbiol. 106(2009): 738-747. Riner, D.K., A.S. Mullin, S.Y. Lucas, J.H. Cross, and H.D.A. Lindquist. 2007. Enhanced concentration and isolation of Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts from human fecal samples. J. Microbiol. Meth. 71(1):75-77. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2007.06.021 Lindquist, H.D.A., S. Harris, S. Lucas, M. Hartzel, D. Riner, P. Rochele, and R. DeLeon. 2007. Using ultrafiltration to concentrate and detect Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus atrophaeus subspecies globigii, and Cryptosporidium parvum in 100-liter water samples. J. Microbiol. Methods. 70(3):484-492. Brown, G.S., R.G. Betty, J.E. Brockmann, D.A. Lucero, C.A. Souza, K.S. Walsh, R.M. Boucher, M.S. Tezak, M.C. Wilson, T. Rudolph, H.D.A. Lindquist, and K.F. Martinez. 2007. Evaluation of rayon swab surface sample collection method for Bacillus spores from nonporous surfaces. J. Appl. Microbiol. 103(4):1074-1080. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03331.x Sreekumar, C., M.C.B. Vianna, D.E. Hill, K.B. Miska, A. Lindquist, and J.P. Dubey. 2005. Differential detection of Hammondia hammondi from Toxoplasma gondii using polymerase chain reaction. Parasitology International. 54(4):267-9. Allgeier, S., D. Friedman, B. Hull, M.S. Johnson, A. Lindquist, O. Vincent, et al. 2004. Standardized Analytical Methods for Use During Homeland Security Events, Revision 1.0. September 29, 2004. EPA/600/R-04/126., Revision 2.0 Revision 3.1 EPA/600/R-07/136 November 15, 2007. Lindquist, H.D.A. 2004. Emerging Pathogens and their Relationship to Drinking Water. In: Advances in Drinking Water Treatment. D.Y Surampalli, and K.D. Tyagi, Eds. American Society of Civil Engineers. Reston, VA. ISBN 078440741X. pp. 473-468. Lindsay, D.S., W.C. Collins, S.M. Mitchell, C.N. Wetch, A.C. Rosypal, G.J. Flick, A.M. Zajac, A. Lindquist, and J.P. Dubey. 2004. Survival of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). J. Parasitol. 90(5): 1054-7.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
US EPA Environmntal protection Employment (includes retainer)
Teledyne-Isco Sampling devices Patent holder and Royalties
8th International Symposium on Water Supply Technology in Kobe 2009 Water Supply Technology Consultant and Speaker's bureau and teaching engagements

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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