Detection of pathogens in swimming pool

Abstract

As recreational activities in Singapore are on the rise, swimming is, no doubt one of the favourite recreational activities one can enjoy in our tropical climate. However, infected recreational waters can cause pool users to be exposed to etiological agents, thereby causing waterborne outbreaks and diseases. To date, there are minimal surveillance reports in Singapore which can provide insights as to what microbiological hazards may be present in the pool. Thus, in this study, we considered a two-pronged approach to determine the potential bacterial pathogens. First, culture-dependent method accounted for medical and diagnostic aspects; second, culture-independent molecular metagenomic methods were employed as to account for non-culturable and fastidious organisms. 16S rRNA gene-based studies and metagenomic studies (using Illumina and 454-pyrosequencing) were used in this study. Results showed that gram-negative beta-lactamase bacterium, Aeromonas and Chromobacterium, were found in the pool backwash units. Draft genomes of Aeromonas obtained from Illumina sequencer also provided a high discriminatory power at the species level. Gram-negative bacteria are usually the causative agents that infect aquatic environments. Thus, these results suggest the presence of etiological agents in the pool and the need to contribute pathological insights in recreational waters in Singapore.