Exploring the Bacterial Communities of the Kaiafas Thermal Spring Anigrides Nymphes in Greece Prior to Rehabilitation Actions

Agapi I. Doulgeraki, Vasiliki Bikouli, Anthoula A. Argyri, Nikos Chorianopoulos, Elisavet Mitre, Georgia Charvourou, Patra Sourri, Chrysoula C. Tassou and Alexandra Oikonomou
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Agapi I. Doulgeraki: Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Sof. Venizelou 1, 14123 Lycovrissi, Greece
Vasiliki Bikouli: Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Sof. Venizelou 1, 14123 Lycovrissi, Greece
Anthoula A. Argyri: Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Sof. Venizelou 1, 14123 Lycovrissi, Greece
Nikos Chorianopoulos: Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Sof. Venizelou 1, 14123 Lycovrissi, Greece
Elisavet Mitre: Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Sof. Venizelou 1, 14123 Lycovrissi, Greece
Georgia Charvourou: Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Sof. Venizelou 1, 14123 Lycovrissi, Greece
Patra Sourri: Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Sof. Venizelou 1, 14123 Lycovrissi, Greece
Chrysoula C. Tassou: Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Sof. Venizelou 1, 14123 Lycovrissi, Greece
Alexandra Oikonomou: Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology and Speleology, Hellenic Republic Ministry of Culture and Sports, Ardittou 34b, 11636 Athens, Greece

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-12

Abstract: Anigrides Nymphes of Lake Kaiafas is a thermal spring that is well known for its therapeutical properties, as the hot water (32–34 °C) is rich in sulfur compounds and minerals. Nowadays, efforts are made from the Hellenic Republic to modernize the existing facilities and infrastructure networks of the area. To study the complex ecosystem of the thermal spring, we collected water from four sampling points (Lake, and Caves 1, 2, and 3). Filtration method was used for microbial enumeration. In parallel, total bacterial DNA was extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS). A total of 166 different bacterial families were detected. Differences in families, genera, and species abundances were detected between the different sampling points. Specifically, Comamonadaceae was the most common family detected in Lake and Cave 3. Similarly, in Caves 1 and 2, Rhodobacteraceae was detected at a higher percentage compared to the rest of the families. Moreover, the detection of sequences assigned to waterborne or opportunistic pathogens, i.e., Enterobacteriaceae , Legionellaceae , Coxiellaceae , and Clostridiaceae , as well as Enterococcus and Vibrio , is of great importance. Although the presence of pathogens was not examined by quantitative PCR, the detection of their sequences strengthens the need of the planned rehabilitation actions of this natural environment in order to allow human swimming.

Keywords: Kaiafas; thermal spring; water microbiome; metataxonomics; biodiversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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