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Secondary exposure to disease causing agents while having fun in the sun at natural recreation areas was one of the surprising finds during a Lewis University undergraduate research project that is in its final stages. The study examined the exposure of people to coliform bacteria at unmonitored recreational areas, where people fish, boat, picnic and more. Coliform bacteria indicate fecal contamination and the potential presence of other disease causing agents in the environment.
Dr. Jerry Kavouras, assistant professor of biology at Lewis University, mentored five students as they monitored Tampier Lake in Cook County and Isle a la Cache Forest Preserve in Will County from May through October 2009. Thomas Soderquist represented his fellow classmates—Thomas Lynch, Nina Schubert, Cory Knickerbocker and Devon McCord—when he presented their research on the presence of coliform bacteria in recreational areas at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego.
"This project was exciting because the students were able to apply what they learned in the classroom in the field. I could practically see the light bulbs glowing in their heads as they were doing this fieldwork," commented Kavouras.
Lynch presented the research at the 43rd annual Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area Student Symposium in April at Lewis University. He added, "We were surprised that regular fishing line contained less disease causing agents than did the areas that you don't think about as being sources of contamination, such as socks and pant legs."
Clothing such as socks and pant legs were tested if the ground was still wet from precipitation earlier that day or the day before sampling. Bare feet were tested on days when the ground was dry. The results indicated that people could transfer a high concentration of coliform bacteria or other disease causing agents from these sites if they are not careful.
Coliform bacteria were regularly detected on fishing lines, but not E. coli. The number of coliform bacteria on fishing lines was low, which suggests the chances of becoming ill from a fishing expedition are very low. Swab samples taken from places where people eat, such as picnic tables and benches, tested positive for coliform bacteria approximately half the time, but rarely E. coli. The number of coliform bacteria was also low indicating the chance of getting sick from eating in these areas is low.
The levels of coliform bacteria in river and lake water samples were very high at both sites regularly indicating that exposure to dangerous levels of disease causing agents by direct interaction with the water, such as splashing your hands or ingestion, is high.
A $3,000 grant from the Colonel Stephen S. and Lyla Doherty Center for Aviation and Health Research funded the acquisition of necessary supplies for the research. The Doherty Center is located at Lewis University and it funds research and scholarly initiatives; encourages partnerships among the University, its students and the community; provides opportunities for research experiences for students with faculty mentors. Investigators supported by the Doherty Center have focused on areas such as: risk reduction in children with asthma, prediction of emergency department surge capacity, examination of the growth and spread of pathogens, and career development for mental health professionals.
"Touching Hearts & Minds: The Campaign for Lewis University" is a $30 million initiative to provide increased scholarship funding and expanded facilities to enhance learning. Plans call for expanding the current Science Building on the Lewis campus with new classrooms and labs, dedicated undergraduate research spaces and casual gathering places for faculty/student interaction. For more information about The Campaign for Lewis University, contact Jonathan Yordy at (815) 836-5875 or yordyjo@lewisu.edu.
Lewis University is a Catholic university offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 5,800 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares ethically grounded, globally aware, and socially responsible graduates. The ninth largest not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit http://www.lewisu.edu for further information.
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