Evaluation of microbiological water quality in the Pettaquamscutt River (Rhode Island, USA) using chemical, molecular and culture-dependent methods |
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Authors: | Atoyan Janet A Herron Elizabeth M Amador José A |
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Affiliation: | a Laboratory of Soil Ecology and Microbiology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA b Watershed Watch Program, Coastal Institute in Kingston, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA |
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Abstract: | We evaluated microbiological water quality in the Pettaquamscutt River (Rhode Island, USA), an estuarine river. Fecal coliform (FC) and enterococci (FE) bacteria, presence of Bifidobacterium adolescentis DNA (indicating human fecal contamination), and optical brightener (OB) fluorescence (associated with laundry detergents) were determined for 14 stations from May to September 2010. Six stations had high counts of FE and FC, and the presence of B. adolescentis DNA and high OB fluorescence indicated human fecal contamination - four had septic systems as likely sources of contamination; the others were in sewered areas. The ability of FC and FE to indicate human fecal contamination was assessed against a positive B. adolescentis test. FC and FE had false positive rates of 25% and 17%, respectively, and false negatives of 44% for FC and 63% for FE. Inclusion of molecular and chemical indicators should improve tracking of human fecal contamination sources in the river. |
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Keywords: | Pettaquamscutt River Fecal indicator bacteria Optical brighteners Bifidobacterium adolescentis Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island |
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