E Coli in the Spring River

[Rusty]

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_152204516.html

[gonefishin]

I wonder where it is coming from.

[davekeim]

Crap! Don't get me started! I'm leaving it alone! Crap!

Signed,

Cardiac

[gonefishin]

Crap! Don't get me started! I'm leaving it alone! Crap!

Signed,

Cardiac

Well yeah but, I mean is it from people, cows, horses....come to think of it there is a lot of fish crap in the water too. Anyway I was just wondering what the major source is.

[davekeim]

Crap! I just can't leave this alone. Pretty much looks like a human funtion. Crap! Fish CRAP can't make it.

Escherichia coli (E. coli), is one of the main species of bacteria living in the lower intestines of mammals, known as gut flora. When located in the large intestine, it actually assists with waste processing, vitamin K production, and food absorption. Discovered in 1885 by Theodor Escherich, a German pediatrician and bacteriologist,[1] E. coli are abundant: the number of individual E. coli bacteria in the feces that a human defecates in one day averages between 100 billion and 10 trillion.[citation needed] However, the bacteria are not confined to this environment, and specimens have also been located, for example, on the edge of hot springs. The E. coli strain O157:H7 is one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium that causes illness in humans.[2]

As with all Gram-negative organisms, E. coli are unable to sporulate. Thus, treatments which kill all active bacteria, such as pasteurization or simple boiling, are effective for their eradication, without requiring the more rigorous sterilization which also deactivates spores.

As a result of their adaptation to mammalian intestines, E. coli grow best in vivo or at the higher temperatures characteristic of such an environment, rather than the cooler temperatures found in soil and other environments.

[Gavin]

The most likely source is from a few cattle operation that dont fence there cattle back from the creek. Wish they would require cattle farms to keep there cows out of the creek but the dont. Thank the Farm Bureau.

[Capt E]

I'm not trying to start an argument here, but I believe that a lot of the e coli that is being found in the Spring River is specific to human waste.

I completely agree though that farmers should keep their livestock out of the rivers. If they need water they should construct ponds.

[gonefishin]

I fish the Spring so this topic concerns me. Seems to me the source needs to be investigated so it can be properly addressed rather than just pointing fingers at possible ghosts.

Ecoli being a product of large mammal feces could come from a lot of sources other than people or cattle operations. It seems to me that it could come from horses, deer, geese raccoons, possums or a or possibly a combination of all the above. What about Beaver? There are getting to be more and more of them around.

Seems to me finding the actual source rather than just pointing fingers would be a good plan.

[Terry Beeson]

OK, guys and gals... let's get to the real story here...

First of all, saying there is E. Coli in the Spring or ANY river is like saying there is WATER in the river. It is and always HAS been present as long as there have been ruminants (cattle, goats, sheep, bison, deer, elk, and antelope) in the area. E. Coli is NECESSARY for digestion in some mammals. You have some form of E. Coli in your digestive system right now.

This was a water test of the Spring that has probably not been conducted before or not for a long time. The levels are over the EPA guidelines, but is not cause for a big scene of people running scared in the streets. This bacteria has been in our lakes and rivers at high levels for a long time. We are just now looking at what to do about it.

The strain E. coli O157:H7 is the one that is toxic in high levels in humans and causes the illness. The main way to get infected is by eating undercooked meat (beef), unwashed veggies (especially bean sprouts, lettuce, spinach), drinking raw milk, or contact with humans who are infected. You can also get it from drinking contaminated water (like in the Spring River) and possibly from swimming or wading (by getting some in your mouth or nostrils.)

The bacteria is completely harmless on the skin. It is only harmful if ingested. So, WASH YOUR HANDS with hot, soapy water and/or alcohol based cleaner before eating. Boil any water prior to drinking you suspect is infected. Cook beef, venison, etc. to a proper temperature all the way through (at least 160 deg F.) Don't drink raw milk - only pasteurized. Keep kitchen counters and utensils clean when you are cooking meat or veggies. In other words, some really simple common sense hygeine will keep you safe.

As for keeping cows out of the rivers and streams, that is not a practical idea especially fencing the river banks. The idea of pumping to drinking tanks would help a bit, but it will not keep E. Coli out of the stream.

No, farmers should not be allowed to dump cattle manure into the river or even when spreading manure on a pasture, there should be a "zone" from the stream they are not allowed to spread it on.

I'm all for improving our water quality, but we've got MUCH bigger problems that need to be dealt with before worrying so much about E. Coli.

[Rusty]

Thats an interesting take on it Terry. What would be a more important thing to be concerned about?

If we try to curb the smaller issues, then maybe the larger ones wouldn't happen. The topic wasn't started to hype or minimalize the situation. Just trying to let as many people out there know whats going on.