Gupta, Abhishek;
Dutt, Vandana;
Sharma, Neeraj;
Kajale, Swapnil;
Bhatt, Arun;
Shafi, Shuja;
Azhar, Esam;
... Sharma, Avinash; + view all
(2023)
Examining the microbial composition of natural springs in Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
, 195
(8)
, Article 949. 10.1007/s10661-023-11507-z.
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Abstract
Natural springs are the main source of water supply for domestic and agricultural use for humans living in the mountainous regions of Asia. Increasing anthropogenic activities with associated waste load, coupled with inadequate sanitation, and contamination of natural water resources and the environment are emerging as important public health issues. We performed a prospective microbiological and physicochemical investigation of water samples from seven distinct natural springs situated at an altitude of 1615 m in the Bhaderwah region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Bacterial groups belonging to opportunistic pathogens such as members of Moraxellaceae (Acinetobacter), Arcobacteraceae (Pseudoarcobacter), Pseudomonadaceae (Pseudomonas), Oxalobacteraceae (Massilia), and Flavobacteriaceae (Flavobacterium) were observed. The total coliform test indicated an intermediate level of risk of fecal contamination of the springs, except for one site. Through a questionnaire-based survey of the local population, we discovered that around 40% of participants had suffered from waterborne diseases including typhoid (~14%) and diarrhea (~11%). Our data suggests that increased surveillance of fecal contamination and heterotrophic opportunistic pathogens is needed to enhance water quality and reduce health risks for people living in mountainous regions.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Examining the microbial composition of natural springs in Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Location: | Netherlands |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10661-023-11507-z |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11507-z |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Natural spring water; Contamination; Environment; 16S rRNA gene; Opportunistic bacterial pathogens; Coliforms; Microbiology |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Infection and Immunity |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10178345 |
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