The presence of human waste in water bodies poses a significant public health risk, requiring continuous testing for fecal contamination. Current methods rely on fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) but are limited in detecting low-level contamination and determining sources. Microbial source tracking (MST) using CrAss-like phages (CLPs) shows promise in overcoming these challenges. A new study by researchers in South Korea developed a PCR-based method using CLPs to specifically detect human fecal contamination. Results showed that CLPs, particularly genus VI, were effective MST markers, offering a targeted approach to monitoring water quality and potentially reducing public health costs.
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New method detects human fecal contamination in water
