pathogenic E. coli in recreational waters, new article

["Meredith Nevers" <meredith_nevers@usgs.gov>]

J. Great Lakes Res. 29(2):301-306


Internat. Assoc. Great Lakes Res., 2003


Prevalence of Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Recreational Waters


Lauber, Christian L., Glatzer, Lou, and Sinsabaugh, Robert L., Department
of Earth, Ecology and Environmental Science, The University of Toledo,
Toledo, Ohio, 43606.


ABSTRACT: The prevalence of pathogenic Escherichia coli in recreational
waters has rarely been quantified. Standard enumerative methods do not
identify these pathogens, and thus may not accurately assess the health
risk associated with recreational water. A collection of E. coli isolated
from bathing waters and adjacent drainage ditches of Maumee Bay State Park
(MBSP) on the southwest shore of Lake Erie was examined for the presence of
virulence genes characteristic of enterohemorrhagic (EHEC),
enteropathogenic (EPEC), and enterotoxigenic (ETEC) E. coli pathogens. The
collection, 472 isolates, was screened by DNA-DNA hybridization using gene
fragments of heat-labile toxin (lta, ETEC), heat-stable toxin (sta, ETEC),
intimin (eaeA, EHEC, and EPEC) and enterohemolysin (hlyA, EHEC).
Hybridization results were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Four
isolates were shown to carry eaeA. The results indicate that E. coli
containing virulence genes do exist as a fraction of the E. coli population
at MBSP.

KEYWORDS: Escherichia coli, enterohemorrhagic, enteropathogenic,
enterotoxigenic, recreational water.









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Meredith Becker Nevers
Aquatic Ecologist
U.S. Geological Survey
Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station
1100 N. Mineral Springs Rd.
Porter, IN 46304
phone (219) 926-8336  ext. 425
fax (219) 929-5792
meredith_nevers@usgs.gov
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