Biomaterial Database

Microbial indicators of faecal contamination in waters and sediments of beach bathing zones. 2008

M C Garrido-Pérez, and E Anfuso, and A Acevedo, and J A Perales-Vargas-Machuca

Department of Chemical Engineering, Food Technologies and Environmental Technologies, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, Pol. Río San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain. carmen.garrido@uca.es

This study presents the results obtained of the microbial characterization of waters and sediments of 18 coastal bathing zones of the south-western coast of the Iberian Peninsula. To make this characterization, two indicators of faecal contamination have been selected: faecal coliforms (FC) and Clostridium perfringens (CP). The results show that low concentrations of FC and CP in water not necessarily implies that their concentration in sediment and elutriates has to be low as well. The highest concentrations were found in locations close to the mouth of rivers, and in beaches of low energy and hence low water renewal, and high accumulation of fine sediments. The concentrations of FC were lower than those obtained for CP in most of the sampling locations. Although quality standards for bathing waters do not take the parameter CP into account, it has been demonstrated that it should be a good indicator of faecal contamination.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003016	Clostridium perfringens	The most common etiologic agent of GAS GANGRENE. It is differentiable into several distinct types based on the distribution of twelve different toxins.	Clostridium welchii
D004755	Enterobacteriaceae	A family of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that do not form endospores. Its organisms are distributed worldwide with some being saprophytes and others being plant and animal parasites. Many species are of considerable economic importance due to their pathogenic effects on agriculture and livestock.	Coliform Bacilli,Enterobacteria,Ewingella,Leclercia,Paracolobactrum,Sodalis
D004784	Environmental Monitoring	The monitoring of the level of toxins, chemical pollutants, microbial contaminants, or other harmful substances in the environment (soil, air, and water), workplace, or in the bodies of people and animals present in that environment.	Monitoring, Environmental,Environmental Surveillance,Surveillance, Environmental
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001493	Bathing Beaches	Beaches, both natural and man-made, used for bathing and other activities.	Beaches, Bathing
D012623	Seawater	The salinated water of OCEANS AND SEAS that provides habitat for marine organisms.	Sea Water,Sea Waters,Seawaters,Water, Sea,Waters, Sea
D012722	Sewage	Refuse liquid or waste matter carried off by sewers.	Sludge,Sludge Flocs
D013030	Spain	Country located between France on the northeast and Portugal on the west and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The capital is Madrid.	Balearic Islands,Canary Islands
D014871	Water Microbiology	The presence of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in water. This term is not restricted to pathogenic organisms.	Microbiology, Water
D015169	Colony Count, Microbial	Enumeration by direct count of viable, isolated bacterial, archaeal, or fungal CELLS or SPORES capable of growth on solid CULTURE MEDIA. The method is used routinely by environmental microbiologists for quantifying organisms in AIR; FOOD; and WATER; by clinicians for measuring patients' microbial load; and in antimicrobial drug testing.	Agar Dilution Count,Colony-Forming Units Assay, Microbial,Fungal Count,Pour Plate Count,Spore Count,Spread Plate Count,Streak Plate Count,Colony Forming Units Assay, Microbial,Colony Forming Units Assays, Microbial,Agar Dilution Counts,Colony Counts, Microbial,Count, Agar Dilution,Count, Fungal,Count, Microbial Colony,Count, Pour Plate,Count, Spore,Count, Spread Plate,Count, Streak Plate,Counts, Agar Dilution,Counts, Fungal,Counts, Microbial Colony,Counts, Pour Plate,Counts, Spore,Counts, Spread Plate,Counts, Streak Plate,Dilution Count, Agar,Dilution Counts, Agar,Fungal Counts,Microbial Colony Count,Microbial Colony Counts,Pour Plate Counts,Spore Counts,Spread Plate Counts,Streak Plate Counts