Cladophora and the Beach: Implications for Public Health
Colleen McDermott, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Department of Biology and MicrobiologyUniversity of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI 54901Phone - (920) 424-1102
Fax - (920) 424-1101E-mail –[email protected]
Implications for Public Health?
• What effect does Cladophora have on beach health and the status of swimming at many Wisconsin beaches?
Freshwater Cladophora Ecology
• Filamentous, branched green algae• Often form large mats• Mainly grows attached to hard surfaces• Mats can break off and float distances• Highest abundance found in shallows of
highly eutrophic bodies of water• Although recent study found that
increased P & N not associated with increased Cladophora mats
Freshwater Cladophora Ecology
• Rarely found pure in natural systems Commonly found in communities with diatoms and
other green algae Mats resemble grey wool when dead or dying Odorous Harbor unwanted microorganisms
Cladophora Distribution Study
Ranked the presence of Cladophora on the beach on a scale of:
None (0)Low (1)Moderate (2)High (3)
ScaleLow
Cladophora minimally present in
patches on the beach.
ModerateCladophora noticeably present on the beach
and a nuisance.
HighCladophora covers beach
in wind rows.Slide adopted from WI DNR 2004.
Door County
•Out of 30 (3 inland and 27 LM) beaches monitored most had observable Cladophora at some point during 2004.•Used DNR criteria (none, low, medium, or high) for observable Cladophora and BEACH data collected on the same day to conduct a preliminary examination of a relationship between Cladophora and E.coli.
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Anclai
m
Bailey
's Harb
or
Cresen
t
Egg H
arbor
Ellison
Bay
Ephrai
m
Fish C
reek
Jackso
n Harb
or Ridg
es
Kewau
nee C
ity Park
Lakesi
de
Murphy
Park
Newpo
rt
Nicolet
Bay
Otumba
Percy J
ohnso
n Mem
orial
Portag
e Park
Sand D
une B
each
Sister
Bay
Sturge
on B
ay R
ec. C
anal
Sunset
Whit
efish
Dunes
Log 1
0 E.c
oli M
PN/1
00m
L
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
Seasonal Mean (L
og10 E.coli M
PN/100m
L)
None Low Moderate High Season Mean
2004 Observations
n=2100+E.coli samples
Table 2: Extent of Cladophora accumulation at selected Door County beaches for Summer 2004.
Beach Percentage of 2004 sampling affected by moderate to high Cladophora accumulations
Murphy Park 76%
Newport Bay 78%
Nicolet Bay 43%
Otumba Park 14%
Portage Park 28%
White Fish Dunes 53%
The Issue
• Recent research indicates: Cladophora extracts may be able to sustain E.coli
and other ‘indicator organism’ growth in recreational water.
Mats of Cladophora harbor very high levels of E.coli• Cladophora are present at many WI beach
sites.• Many questions to be asked and answered for
beach managers…….
Growth of E. coli in Cladophora leachate
Byappanahalli et al. 2003
Bacteria found in Cladophora mats in southern Lake Michigan
From Whitman et al., 2003
E. coli as an Indicator Organisms
• Intended to indicate recent fecal contamination in natural waters
• Indicator organisms can enter water from several sources (human, cattle, birds, domestic pets) and the source can tell you something about the risk to human health.
• Commensal organisms of intestines of warm-blooded animals.
• Most are not pathogenic
Host Environment — Primary Habitat
• Host provides: Warm, stable
temperature High nutrient
concentration Doubling time = 12-48
hours
Outside the Host — Secondary Habitat
• A battle for survival
• Low rate of survival
• Low probability of colonizing a new host
MAMMALIAN HOST
EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT
Sunlight Low nutrients
PredationVariable temperature, pH and moisture
Adapted from Winfield and Groisman. 2003.
E. coli as an Indicator Organism
• It is intended to indicate recent fecal contamination in natural waters
• Chosen because: Found in feces in high numbers E. coli generally will survive longer in the environment than pathogens But-should not survive for extended periods More easily detected than pathogens
Warns us of the potential of GI tract pathogen presence
Salmonella
• Hearty as far as pathogens go.
• Relatively difficult to find in the environment.
• Many sources including avian and human.
• Require greater nutrients than E.coli.
Shigella
• Does not survive very long…less than Salmonella or E.coli
• Higher requirement for nutrients
• Primarily from human sources
Campylobacter sp.
• Survival characteristics not well studied. (Nov. 2004 AEM study)
• From avian, bovine, and human (sometimes) sources
• Ubiquitous in some areas
Norovirus
• Survival is very limited once outside the primary host.
• Implicated in several outbreaks.
• Human or bovine.
Potential Cladophora help to E.coli Survival
• Block UV light
• Increased nutrients
• Moisture retention
• More stable microbial community
• Changes the minimum at each site to favor growth and survival!
MAMMALIAN HOST
EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT
Sunlight Low nutrients
PredationVariable temperature, pH and moisture
Adapted from Winfield and Groisman. 2003.
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Anclai
m
Bailey
's Harb
or
Cresen
t
Egg H
arbor
Ellison
Bay
Ephrai
m
Fish C
reek
Jackso
n Harb
or Ridg
es
Kewau
nee C
ity Park
Lakesi
de
Murphy
Park
Newpo
rt
Nicolet
Bay
Otumba
Percy J
ohnso
n Mem
orial
Portag
e Park
Sand D
une B
each
Sister
Bay
Sturge
on B
ay R
ec. C
anal
Sunset
Whit
efish
Dunes
Log 1
0 E.c
oli M
PN/1
00m
L
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
Seasonal Mean (L
og10 E.coli M
PN/100m
L)
None Low Moderate High Season Mean
2004 Observations
n=2100+E.coli samples
In the ‘Mats’E. coli
(CFU/g DW)Enterococci (CFU/g DW)
Murphy (Floating) 22,515Murphy (on shore) 17,670Whitefish Dunes (Floating) 89Whitefish Dunes (on shore) 39,501 1411Lakeshore (Floating) 470Anclam South (on shore) 110Sister Bay (Floating) 10,874Baileys Harbor (on shore) 1,729 196Sunset (Floating) 1,254
Data Courtesy of: Richard Whitman, USGS
Laboratory Studies
2005 Lab Microcosm Study•Uses lake water and Cladophora from local lake •Looks at specific influence on E.coli and pathogens in a controlled setting.•Will assist in moving to field studies.
Grow Light ( 24” 20W)
Open Container w/H2O, rock, & Cladophora
Pathogens in Cladophora
• Spike Cladopha mats with:• Spike lake water with:
Salmonella Shigella Plesiomonas E. coli
• Count organism numbers over time• Replication? Survival? Death?
Salmonella survival in Cladophora mats
CFU vs. Time
1.E+00
1.E+01
1.E+02
1.E+03
1.E+04
1.E+05
1.E+06
1.E+07
1.E+08
0 24 48 72 96
Time in Hours
CFU
/mL
Control
w/ Cladophora
Field Work for 2005•Use Ozaukee, Kewaunee, and Door County beaches as a study site.•Look at spatial and temporal effects of Cladophora mats on E.coli over the summer and specific 24 hour periods.•Evaluate the genetic diversity of the E.coli isolates recovered to determine if they are transient or stable (or replicating) during the swimming season.•Evaluate any pathogens associated with the mats and at the beaches at large.•Evaluate nutrient levels and effects.
Future Work• Submitted WI Sea Grant to study Cladophora 2006-2009• Effects of Cladophora mats on beach closures
Spatial effects Replication of E. coli in mats Pathogens in mats
• Study sites Door County and Racine, WI• Collaboration between
UW-Oshkosh University of Minnesota USGS City of Racine Health Department Door County Soil & Water Department
Implications….
•Cladophora mats could allow for replication of indicator organism, E. coli, without concurrent replication of pathogens
Premature, inappropriate beach closures?Is E. coli a suitable indicator?
•Cladophora mats could allow for replication of pathogensPublic health concernManagement issues
Acknowledgements•UW-Oshkosh “Beach Group”•Door County Soil and Water Conservation Department •Door County Health Department•Ozaukee County Health Department•Vilas County Soil and Water Conservation Department•Vilas County Health Department•WI DNR•WI Bureau of Communicable Disease•USGS
Thank You!
Door County SWCD
Preliminary Data
12-7-04
Cladophora
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Anclai
m
Bailey
's Harb
or
Cresen
t
Egg H
arbor
Ellison
Bay
Ephrai
m
Fish C
reek
Jackso
n Harb
or Ridg
es
Kewau
nee C
ity Park
Lakesi
de
Murphy
Park
Newpo
rt
Nicolet
Bay
Otumba
Percy J
ohnso
n Mem
orial
Portag
e Park
Sand D
une B
each
Sister
Bay
Sturge
on B
ay R
ec. C
anal
Sunset
Whit
efish
Dunes
Log 1
0 E.c
oli M
PN/1
00m
L
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
Seasonal Mean (L
og10 E.coli M
PN/100m
L)
None Low Moderate High Season Mean
2004 Observations
n=2100+E.coli samples
Pathogens
Table1: Pathogens detected from five selected beaches in Door County during Summer 2004. Beaches tested were Ephraim, Fish Creek, Otumba Park, Sister Bay, and Whitefish Dunes. 4 -liter water samples were taken on Tuesdays from June to September (14 weeks) at the standard monitoring site at each beach. ND= not detected from any sample for the entire summer. TNTC= too numerous to count.
Beach Salmonella Shigella Campylobacter E. coli Ephraim ND ND ND Fish Creek ND ND ND Otumba Park
6/10/04 ND ND Low 6/17/04 ND ND Moderate 365.4/100ml 6/24/04 ND ND Moderate 13.4/100ml
7/8/04 ND ND TNTC 79.6/100ml 7/15/04 ND ND TNTC 27.1/100 ml 7/22/04 ND ND TNTC 406.7/100 l 7/29/04 ND ND TNTC 52.1/100 ml 8/11/04 ND ND TNTC 88.4/100 ml 8/26/04 ND ND TNTC 35.5/100 ml
Sister Bay ND ND ND Whitefish Dunes
ND ND ND
Post Rainfall
Otumba Post Rainfall
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24Hours After 0.25" of Rainfall
E.co
li M
PN/1
00m
L
18.4
Post Rainfall - Whitefish Dunes
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24Hours after 0.25" Rain
E.c
oli M
PN/1
00m
L
5/21/04
Post Rainfall - Lakeside
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Hours after 0.25" Rain
E.co
li M
PN/1
00m
L
5/21/048/9/04
Post Rainfall - Sister Bay
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Hours after 0.25" Rain
E.co
li M
PN/1
00m
L
6/22/04
Post Rainfall - Ephraim
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Hours after 0.25" Rain
E.co
li M
PN/1
00m
L
6/22/048/19/04
Post Rainfall - Murphy
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Hours after 0.25" Rain
E.co
li M
PN/1
00m
L
6/28/04
Post Rainfall - Egg Harbor
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Hours after 0.25" Rain
E.co
li M
PN/1
00m
L
6/28/04
Post Rainfall - Fish Creek
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Hours after 0.25" Rain
E.co
li M
PN/1
00m
L
8/19/04
Post Rainfall - Otumba
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
Hours after 0.25" Rain
E.co
li M
PN/1
00m
L
6/13/04 6/18/04 7/5/04 7/7/04 7/22/04 8/25/04
Post Rainfall - Sunset
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Hours after 0.25" Rain
E.co
li M
PN/1
00m
L
6/13/04 6/18/04 7/5/04 7/7/04 7/22/04 8/25/04
Spatial Sampling
Depth Sampling of E.coli - Door County, WI
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
12" Average 24" Average 48" Average
Depth Sampled
E.c
oli M
PN/1
00m
L
EphraimFish CreekOtumbaSister BayWhitefish Dunes
n=102
Depth Sampling of E.coli - Door County, WI
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Ephraim Fish Creek Otumba Sister Bay Whitefish Dunes
Location Sampled
E.c
oli M
PN/1
00m
L
12" Average24" Average48" Average
n=102
Ephraim Depth Sampling
109.3
274.4
81.8
158.8
29.6 9.3
215.4
112.7148.3
32.9 24.3 31.6 8.4 8.9 7.90
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Outfall
1
Outfall
2
Outfall
3
12" A
verag
e
24" A
verag
e
48" A
verag
e12
L12
"M12
" R24
" L24
" M 24" R
48" L
48" C
48" R
E.c
oli M
PN/1
00m
L
n=34
Possible Beach Status Change8-5-04
Fish Creek Depth Sampling
267.5
1112.4
78.0
387.6
123.955.6
351.8404.4 410.6
100.7 105.9165.0
58.0 54.8 54.00
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Outfall
1
Outfall
2
Outfall
3
12" A
verag
e
24" A
verag
e
48" A
verag
e12
L12
"M12
" R24
" L24
" M 24" R
48" L
48" C
48" R
E.c
oli M
PN/1
00m
L
n=34
Possible Beach Status Change5-26-047-2-047-7-04
7-21-048-5-04
8-13-04
Otumba Depth Sampling
413.0
604.7
261.3
134.2
60.5
359.1
178.4246.3
82.5142.3
177.8
40.0 66.2 75.3
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Outfall
1
Outfall
2
Outfall
3
12" A
verag
e
24" A
verag
e
48" A
verag
e12
L12
"M12
" R24
" L24
" M 24" R
48" L
48" C
48" R
E.c
oli M
PN/1
00m
L
n=34
Possible Beach Status Change5-25-047-7-04
7-15-047-21-047-22-047-23-048-5-04
Sister Bay Depth Sampling
113.9 132.6
40.6 66.5 40.0 36.5 57.9107.9
33.7 39.3 55.0 27.4 39.6 44.7 24.80
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Outfall
1
Outfall
2
Outfall
3
12" A
verag
e
24" A
verag
e
48" A
verag
e12
L12
"M12
" R24
" L24
" M 24" R
48" L
48" C
48" R
E.c
oli M
PN/1
00m
L
n=34
Possible Beach Status Change7-15-048-5-04
Whitefish Dunes Depth Sampling
51.6 59.0112.3
54.6 36.4
158.5122.6
57.1 54.588.4
21.061.5 36.4 12.6
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Outfall
1
Outfall
2
Outfall
3
12" A
verag
e
24" A
verag
e
48" A
verag
e12
L12
"M12
" R24
" L24
" M 24" R
48" L
48" C
48" R
E.c
oli M
PN/1
00m
L
n=34
Possible Beach Status Change7-22-04
215.432.9
8.4
274.4
109.3
81.8
148.324.37.9
112.7
24.3
8.9
Outfalls48”24”12”
Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic Resistance Profiles
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
Ampic
illin
Augm
entin
Ceph
alothi
n
Ciprofl
axacin
Erythr
omyci
n
Gentam
ycin
Kana
mycin
Nalidixic
Acid
Novobio
cin
Polym
ixin B
Strep
tomyci
n
Sulfis
oxazo
le
Tetrac
ycline
Trimeth
oprim
Tobram
ycin
Vancom
ycin
% o
f Iso
late
s Re
sist
ant
EphraimFish CreekOtumbaSister BayWhitefish DunesHumanAvian
Antibiotic Resistance Profiles - Ephraim
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Ampicillin
Augmen
tin
Cepha
lothin
Ciprofla
xacin
Erythr
omyc
in
Gentam
ycin
Kana
mycin
Nalidixi
c Acid
Novob
iocin
Polym
ixin B
Strep
tomyc
in
Sulfis
oxaz
ole
Tetracy
cline
Trimeth
oprim
Tobram
ycin
Vanc
omyc
in
% o
f Is
olat
es R
esis
tant
EphraimHumanAvian
N=118
Antibiotic Resistance Profiles - Fish Creek
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Ampicillin
Augmen
tin
Cepha
lothin
Ciprofl
axac
in
Erythr
omyc
in
Gentam
ycin
Kana
mycin
Nalidixi
c Acid
Novob
iocin
Polym
ixin B
Strep
tomyc
in
Sulfis
oxaz
ole
Tetracy
cline
Trimetho
prim
Tobramyc
in
Vanc
omyc
in
% o
f Is
olat
es R
esis
tant
Fish CreekHumanAvian
N=156
Antibiotic Resistance Profiles - Otumba
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Ampic
illin
Augm
entin
Cepha
lothin
Ciprofl
axacin
Erythrom
ycin
Gentam
ycin
Kanam
ycin
Nalidixic
Acid
Novobio
cin
Polym
ixin B
Strep
tomyci
n
Sulfis
oxazo
le
Tetrac
ycline
Trimeth
oprim
Tobram
ycin
Vancom
ycin
% o
f Is
olat
es R
esis
tant
OtumbaHumanAvian
N=128
Antibiotic Resistance Profiles - Sister Bay
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Ampicillin
Augmen
tin
Cepha
lothin
Ciprofl
axac
in
Erythr
omyci
n
Gentam
ycin
Kana
mycin
Nalidix
ic Acid
Novob
iocin
Polym
ixin B
Strep
tomyci
n
Sulfis
oxazol
e
Tetrac
ycline
Trimeth
oprim
Tobram
ycin
Vanc
omyci
n
% o
f Iso
late
s Re
sist
ant
Sister BayHumanAvian
N=90
Antibiotic Resistance Profiles - Whitefish Dunes
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Ampicillin
Augmen
tin
Cepha
lothin
Ciprofl
axac
in
Erythr
omyci
n
Gentam
ycin
Kana
mycin
Nalidix
ic Acid
Novob
iocin
Polym
ixin B
Strep
tomyci
n
Sulfis
oxazol
e
Tetrac
ycline
Trimeth
oprim
Tobram
ycin
Vanco
mycin
% o
f Is
olat
es R
esis
tant
Whitefish DunesHumanAvian
N=174
Genetic Testing
Lets look at Cladophora
• O.K……So now we know what an ‘indicator organism’ is and what they are supposed to represent, let us back-up and look at this Cladophora issue again……
E. coli cells in lake water mesocosms
(a) E. coli cells at day 0
(b) E. coli cells at day 4 on particles without medium
(c) E. coli cells at day 4 on particles with medium
Adapted from Brettar and Höfle. 1992.
Door and Kewaunee Counties
•High levels of E.coli recovered from the algal mats.•Correlations found at 4 locations.•Relatively high amount of observable algal growth at some locations.•Very dependent on wind conditions.•From a historical perspective more observable algae in recent years.
Vilas, Onieda, and Lake Superior Counties
•1300+ lakes in Vilas County alone•Low amount of observable algae growth•Out of 45 (18 inland and 27 LS) beaches monitored none had a chronic observable issue with Cladophora (no microystin associated)•Only one occurrence in LS and lasted for 2 days with E.coli < 10 MPN/100mL•Less of a problem here that some other locations in WI.
Vilas, Onieda, and Lake Superior Counties
•1300+ lakes in Vilas County alone•Low amount of observable algae growth•Out of 45 (18 inland and 27 LS) beaches monitored none had a chronic observable issue with Cladophora (no microystin associated)•Only one occurrence in LS and lasted for 2 days with E.coli < 10 MPN/100mL•Less of a problem here that some other locations in WI.