Many national parks have popular geothermal soaking areas but little is known about the thermophilic pathogens that could inhabit these areas and cause deadly infections in humans and animals. Initial investigations have detected the deadly pathogen Naegleria fowleri in popular geothermal soaking areas in Yellowstone National Park (YELL), Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) and Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LAKE). The extent of this threat or environmental factors that increase the growth and density of the pathogen is unknown.

New inexpensive DNA-based assays and techniques are now available that can be applied in the field to detect the pathogen N. fowleri and other microbes of concern such as Escherichia coli. The application of these techniques alongside traditional water-quality analyses would provide many national parks with new information and better tools to quickly assess the risk of exposure to deadly infections in popular geothermal soaking areas.

This study will provide new scientific data and tools necessary to better understand the presence of N. fowleri and E. coli at popular geothermal soaking areas in YELL, GRTE, and LAKE and the environmental conditions under which these pathogens exist.

Project Publications

• qPCR results for an assessment of
  Naegleria fowleri in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
• Robotic environmental DNA bio-surveillance of freshwater health.
• Naegleria fowleri detected in Grand Teton National Park hot springs