Bacillus anthracis in American Soils: From Sample Collection to Data Application
Oral Presentation
Prepared by E. Silvestri1, D. Griffin2, J. Wood3, T. Boe4, T. Nichols5, F. Schaefer1, C. Bowling1
1 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin luther King Drive, MS NG16, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, United States
2 - U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Science Center, 600 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, United States
3 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, United States
4 - Former ORISE Fellow with EPA, 205 Founders Walk Drive, Morrisville, NC, 27560, United States
5 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC, 20460, United States
Contact Information: Silvestri.Erin@epa.gov; 513-569-7619
ABSTRACT
Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis), the causative agent for anthrax, is naturally occurring in soil and can persist for many decades. Following an intentional wide-area or indoor aerosol release of B. anthracis, there is the potential for contamination of soil surrounding the affected area. Decisions regarding what sampling and analysis for the contaminated areas would be needed in support of clearing the soil in the surrounding area. However, many factors may come into play when selecting sampling and analysis methods to be used. For example, due to the number and types of organisms and impeding chemical constituents present in soil, identifying virulent Bacillus anthracis spores within soil is a difficult task. In addition, understanding a biological agent’s persistence and transport potential is pertinent to effectively remediating and clearing a contaminated area for re-entry. Knowledge of where B. anthracis is naturally occurring in the environment could also help decision makers be better prepared for post event investigations. This presentation will discuss recent efforts to develop a comprehensive approach leading to proper remediation of B. anthracis in soil and how data gleaned from such efforts might be applied for decision making purposes. Current efforts include understanding the persistence and background of B. anthracis in soil, developing a procedure for collection of samples of soil potentially contaminated with B. anthracis spores, improving sample processing and analytical methods, understanding limitations of microbial data, and developing methods for decontamination of B. anthracis in soil. Each of these efforts will be briefly discussed in terms of how they might provide an integrated approach for decision making during an intentional release or a naturally occurring outbreak.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by E. Silvestri1, D. Griffin2, J. Wood3, T. Boe4, T. Nichols5, F. Schaefer1, C. Bowling1
1 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin luther King Drive, MS NG16, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, United States
2 - U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Science Center, 600 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, United States
3 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, United States
4 - Former ORISE Fellow with EPA, 205 Founders Walk Drive, Morrisville, NC, 27560, United States
5 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC, 20460, United States
Contact Information: Silvestri.Erin@epa.gov; 513-569-7619
ABSTRACT
Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis), the causative agent for anthrax, is naturally occurring in soil and can persist for many decades. Following an intentional wide-area or indoor aerosol release of B. anthracis, there is the potential for contamination of soil surrounding the affected area. Decisions regarding what sampling and analysis for the contaminated areas would be needed in support of clearing the soil in the surrounding area. However, many factors may come into play when selecting sampling and analysis methods to be used. For example, due to the number and types of organisms and impeding chemical constituents present in soil, identifying virulent Bacillus anthracis spores within soil is a difficult task. In addition, understanding a biological agent’s persistence and transport potential is pertinent to effectively remediating and clearing a contaminated area for re-entry. Knowledge of where B. anthracis is naturally occurring in the environment could also help decision makers be better prepared for post event investigations. This presentation will discuss recent efforts to develop a comprehensive approach leading to proper remediation of B. anthracis in soil and how data gleaned from such efforts might be applied for decision making purposes. Current efforts include understanding the persistence and background of B. anthracis in soil, developing a procedure for collection of samples of soil potentially contaminated with B. anthracis spores, improving sample processing and analytical methods, understanding limitations of microbial data, and developing methods for decontamination of B. anthracis in soil. Each of these efforts will be briefly discussed in terms of how they might provide an integrated approach for decision making during an intentional release or a naturally occurring outbreak.
